The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-01-06
REPORT OF THE HON. z. PRATT.

Anneraiion Of Teras-Hs Effects on Slapsry
demonstrated by unerriag statsticai eaIeu-
cations.
The following Report Will be found TO con-
tain facts which will put 10 flight the much
hseknied objection TO annexation, that il will
.'increase slavery"
The country is much indebted TO Col. Pratt
for his valuable and patriotic labors:
The non-sla yehoIding States Tor what, in these
obseryaions, will hereafter be termed the nOlisrn
sIaIes) arc Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Mas
.aohusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York
New Jef.ey PenDsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Indians
limos, aud Michigan, and lh. Territories Of Iowa
aud W Iseonsn. They contain, in round numbers, a
surface Of 20 200 rquare miles. he slayo.holding
States Tor what all hereafter be termed the southern
States) Maryland, Virginia, Nonh CArOllns,
South Carolina, Georgia Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala
b.ma Tennessee, kentueky, Missouri, and ATkan-
sas 20 which add the Territory Of FLORIDA aud The
DIS .rct of Columbia. This section contains q sur
face Of 627, 400 square miles.
The northern States had in 1910, population Of
9,S07 OO7 persons OF whom 3 73i were slaves, and
1877 ,644 Tree cOloTeJ persons.
The southern s siss had in 1910, population Of
300 3iG prisons OF whom 2 4eJ OIL were slaves,
and 100 6i9 free eolor,d people
rLeTe we're therefore, 9,6l5.629 white persons in
the northern States, and 457iOI6 IA the southern
States.
The power OF the two sections, therefore, as Tepre-
scented by thiI respective white populations Ia 1910
and population cenainly forms an important els-
ment, ana IL evidently the foundation Of physical
po~sr-was as 9,6l5629 TO I,57i 076i that s, thr
power OF the northern States 10 that of the
souihern States as ~ TO 10. The militia returns,
however, as stated 10 the Army Register for lo4l,
do not agree with this ratio. They give the mum
4 "a. n. a. - II ~
IN the southern States a. 6OO,74l; being only about
IS 10 10
But other elements, besides mere physical force,
enter into the attribute Of power and Of these,
knowlrd .r, mental energy, climate, as affecting health
and ongeyIyi aud soil, as affecting production, inJl-
udusl and collective industry, commercial enterprise
mechanical skill, public Institutions, and personal
eondset, are among the most influential.
TThe remaining statistics by which the committee
illustrate the several positions, occupy sixteen pages
Of the report; but, without further quotation from
lhcm pass the concluding portions Of the docu-
ment which relates chiefly 10 ,sp,ry and It's connec-
ton with the annexation question, as follows
The southern States have representation IN II,
Houss of R,prsseniatires based upon agreement and
omprumise; and no one, who wishes to preserve
good fa d and peace aud harmony between the two
sections OF the Union has any desire to disturb ms
arrangement. Whatever may be our individual opt
mons respecting it, or, the principles Involved by 10
ope alton IL is easy to perceive that It must, through
the silent working o. great principles, graiually be-
come les, operative and that 1t has not al present
near the influence in the organization OF the House
Of Representatives which it had twenty yea" ago
At this time the proportion Of white persons IN the
southern States, who rel urn a member TO the House,
is to the number Of white rsoos IN the northern
States who possess that privilege, as to l-3 or as
SO, OO) persons to 10000. Very nearly the same
proportion has en isted since 100.
Bot the relative n,nnbsr Of members sent by the
southern States has diminished, aud IS diminishing.
To MAINTAIN the position which they held in 1890,
they ought TO return l0l out Of the 223 members Of
which the Hou Of Representatives is composed at
the present time but they return only 81.
The follow ing table will show the gradual opera
ton Of this diminuton and though the effect may
be considered slow one, it has already produced
important results and has changed, TO a considerable
degree, the numerical strength of the respective
ectious under consideration