Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-10-14

F9r A5oiis..ag fat Stare Representation a. Guar
aahed Jgfie Constitution.
IcuSrI>g.pj
II has hsen cor.en led. lha. slaves IRE proptrib.
and therefore entitled to representation TO: ,:!c:.
lhan auy oiheG kind OF property. i Inc Northern
people consider them only in lie lig, oil P-0pc'iy.
and mol as persons, why DO they manifest So much
concern and sympaihy2 Their zeal III favor Of
Abolition shows that they recognize slaves as
;coplc also, and whv not then allow Them 10 be
repfesenlrd as people? II The Southern States
had not Save lahore!s, they would have an equal
ii not a larger number OF free laborcIs, all Of
whom, according 10 the Constitution. would be
entitled 10 representation in The House OF Repre-
sena,ives. 10 The sla-eholding States, The slaves
cultivate The soil and render services similar 10
those rendered hy the free white lal'oieis in other
States. "A slave my indeed, (said Nit John
Adams, from The custom 81 speech, be more pro-
perly called the wealth Of his employer hui as Ia
the STATE, both are equally is wealth. and should
therefore equally add TO the quota OF lis tax. nd
why, then, should they not add equally 10 the
quota OF is representation
In The Report made 10 the Legislature oil Mas
.achusclls by John Adams grandson, Charles f.
Adams, il is alleged, that as representation Of
ihree-hths Of the slaves was conceded by The
Federal Convention, in consideration OF The
same ratio and as The Government has rarely re-
sorted 10 rect axalion the Southern States ought
no, 10 possess tie right OF slave representation
without the burden OF dir, CT taxation; mat while
the latter has been occasional only, The former has
been enduring Do mol The Southern States con-
sumo imported articles in proportion 10 their
gross population We are confident that such is
The case, and il So DO they not pay more revenue
by indirect than lher would be required 10 pay by
direct taxation Southern men have advocated
direct taxation in lieu OF the Tariff System, as a
means Of avoiding excessive and unequal bur
d-ns, but we believe they have rarely, il ever
been cheeled hy the voice, or sustained By the
votes OF Northern politicians We venture tc
| assert, that The Northern people will never pro-
pose bona f4e that the Federal Government
should abandon The Indirect system Of the Tarif
| for any plan of direct taxation, which the vii Of
man can possibly devise. The North has ioc
large iund Of saeacily 10 originate or support
any scheme OF The kind The omission Of The
Federal Government 10 resort constantly 10 dlrcc
taxes is IN perfect harmony with the wishes OF tie
| Massachusetts Convention which ratified tie
Constitution. SO averse were the members OF
thai Convention 10 the imposition OF direct taxes
by Congress, that they submitted Il proposition IL
amend lie Constitution, and prohibit Congress
| IRON laying direct taxes until she moneys arts
ing from the impos. and excuses are insufficient Tor
Tue public exisences." he Federal Government
has pursued The policy recommended bv Massa.
chuses; and heI citizens, while opposed now IL
any change of the system Of taxation, are COM
| planning as though The Constitution was respon-
sibe, instead of the Federal Government.
| Judge Story thinks The slave-holdins States en-.
| Joy great advantage in the exemption OF two
ffhs Of the slaves from Federal taxation. linoae
OF The slaves Were counted in ascer;ainins The
nj pl IN u mo St1,c
holding States are entitled these States would
! have fewer representatives, and as necessary
consequence, would contribute less in The wav Of
direct taxation. The representation OF The Slave
holding States would be decreased, and their d.
rect taxes decreased in the same proponion.-
Such would Re the result 50 long as taxation is
propor,nned 10 representation, as required by the
Constitution. That Instrument rrcvoe. The
same Iule for representation, as for conribu-
li,n-il recognizes slayes as persons as we'll as
prnper,y-and whether considered as persons or
property or partakins OF the character OF both.
the South is entitled 10 representation inr them.
We refer 10 Inc 54th number Of he Fcderalisr,
In which this provision Of The constitution is dis
cuss-d. The writer denies ''ihe TACT that slaves
are considered merely as properly. ard in no re-
specl whatever as persons. The true state Of The
case is. thai they par,aSe of both these qualities:
being considered by our laws, in some respects,
persons, aud in ether respects as properly" The
writer Tins continues: al is agreed on all sides thai
Dumhers (meanins gross numbers, The bond and
tree are The best scale oil wealth and taxation as
they are The only proper scale OF representation
Would The Convention have been impartial or
consistent il they had rejected The slaves from
the list OF nha hiaDis, when the shares OF repre-
senialion were 10 be calculated, and inserted them
on the lists. when the iaiia OF contributions vas
10 be aoJusiedl Could it be reasona blv expected,
that The Southern States would concnf in sys-
ieln which considered their slaves in some degree
as men, when burdens were be imposed, but
refused 10 consider them in The same light, when
advantages we're 10 be cunicrrei?" In The srGnel
Of the same essay, il is said: "After sll, may mol
another ground be aken on which this article Of
The constitution will admit OF q still more ready
defence W. have hitherto projected on the
ides. that rePr> -entston related 10 persons only,
and not al all 10 property. But is il just idea1
GcveTnmcnl IS instituted no les FIR hs p,o'setten
Of Mf proprty, than Of The persons OF individuals
The oee, as we'll as the other, therefore, may be