Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-10-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
TuE MASSACHUSETTS PROPOSITION,

MlSCELiL AN TAoS,C.
THE MASSACHUSETTS PROPOSITION,
Fer A5plistins The Stare Representation as GUAR
Gni;cd by Inc C"natt@l'0''.
(coNcLuDED.J
TIE p,,her of slaves 10 the Unite1 STATES in
,-oo was COZ ss7: in 1910 il was2 49, ,355 the
n,ooor,ion between the two periods being TO 5 DO.
nnf;ne the same period, the white population in
c,easel from 3, III i6i 10 a. is9 705 proportion
,nia7 From 1879 10 1910, the slave population,
sotar from having increased undnly, has diminish
"a in lis relative proportion to the whites, rom
-; nar cent in 90, to Ii 5S per cent. IN 10
'rhe white population increased more rapidly Than
The slave. not only when the 'raoc Union was re-
eor,ed. bu, comparison OF The census returns OF
GS30 with those OF 1910, will show that This was
The case in the Slave States alone, during the zen
years intervening The slave population basdi-
,n;nshel in is relative proportion 10 The Tree po-
nula,ion-the slaves have been gradually removed
f,om the Northern States to more congenlal ell
mata and the relative political power OF The iree
STATES has steadily advanced for the last t!ty wears
yVe;obinp these facts separately or collectively,
aisssach9set,s has no cause 10 apprehend any
anger from the institution ci slavery.
Jbe Constitution declares that, Representa-
tires and drectlaxs shall be apportioned among
The several States which may be included within
hers which shall be determined b. adding 10 their
.yhole number of Tree persons, including those
bonnd 10 service Tor term OF years, and eXclud-
inc Indians no, taxed three-ths OF all other per-
sons" Every ,yro in politics knows, that The ex-
preston. s',hree-6l;hs of all other persons, has
reference only 10 the slave population. Ihis
language was used BY The Contention out OF re-
snec, for the fastidious scrupes o! some OF The
Northern members, who expressed desire, that
slaves should not be mentioned c" nmne In
The Convention OF North Carolina, Mr.. iiede
said. Though the word STARE be not meniiJnec,
this is the meaning OF it. The Northern dele
gates, owing 10 their peculiar scrnpies OF me sub
,ect of slavery, did not choose the word STARE 10
be mentioned" Judge Story in his Commepta-
ries admits that iii was agreed that slaves should
he renr.santed under The mid appreciation Of 'other
nersons'" With all these things, John Quincy
Adams is perfectly familiar, YET ne ana Mr.. Gid
ninss laid before Congress Report, in which
,hey observe, lha, y, is grave and srauitous
error 10 assume ti.at The Constitution acknow-
lodges slaves 10 be property" They deny that
there sis one word in the Constitution recooniz-
ing the right OF property in persons The Con-
stlution provides, thai "No person held TO ser
vice or tabor in one State under the laws thereof,
escaping into another, shall, in consequence oil
any law OF regulation therein, be discharged
from such service or labor; but shall be delivered
up on the CLAIM Of the party TO whom such SER
vice or labor may lie due" Did the Federal
Convention intend by this provision 10 divesl
ireemen of their liberty and permit them TO be
seized and delivered up 10 render service or Ia
bora" Surely John Quincy Adams will not have
The hardihood IL maintain the affirmative. lie
knows, and knows thoroughly tina, by this clause
the Convention designed that slaves shall not be
discharged" but "shall be delivered up" 10 their
masters. No intellieen! and unprecedented mind
can for one moment, doubt that This provision
was inserted in the Constitution solely 10 enable
The peoole of the slaveholdins States 10 reclaim
,heir fugitive slaves when they escape into other
States, where slavery does not exist. Such was
The Interpretation given coiemporaneouslv by the
authors Of me Constitution; such is The inierpre-
lation arising from review OF the circumstances
which induced the Convention TO introduce the
clause, and such is the only construction war
ranled by lis language. in The Convention Of
Virginia, when this particular provision was I'M
der consideration, Mr.. Madison observed, that
the clause twas expressly inserted 10 enable own
4rs of slaves 10 reclaim them" He awaited him
self OF that occasion 10 make the following re-
mark, which We hy the way, take leave TO COM
:nend to the special attention Of The people Of
Massachusetts: ".No po,-cr is given TO the Gene
raj Government to interfere with respect 10 the
property in slaves now held by the Stales. Ell
lots Debates, 81 vol.
No, tone word in the Constitution recognizing
the right of property in persons!" or course, by
this logic The Southern people have no right 10 de-
mand the delivery Of their fugitive slaves, as
there can be no property in persons" "lThe
Constitution does not acknowledge Slaves 10 be
property. say Messrs. Adams and Giddngs. u
slaves are not property, what are they 7? The
aboliloRsts must be asha 10 see such sophis-
try and quibb,ing Icso;ted 10 by their champions
T. 7,
has been maintained b. plausible argument.
(say Messrs A. and Gu that The words all other
persons Cannot in fair construction, be under
stood 10 include slaves They then remark, that
they edo moi assent 10 that opinion" Dissenting
from that opinion, how can they escape the alter
native that the wcsds "all other persons" referred
TO slaves and with what truth could they assert
il TO be graluitous error TO assume that The Con-
sttuiion acknowledges slaves 10 be property
Niessrs Adams and Giddings maintain that
the slave representation is repugnant 10 The self
evident truths" proclaimed in the Declaration OF
Independence, and should therefore be abolished.
The Declaration is no: treatise on the subject
Misrepresentation, and il does rot prescribe what
shall! be regarded in fixing The basis OF represen-
ialion for dependent and sovereign States, as
socia,sd, like ours in a contederatcd Republic
Had Messrs. Adams and GiidinSS asserted that
The existence of slavery in the several States was
Iepusnan, TO the principles ol the Declaration OF
independence, the observation would not have
meriled notice; but we are not able TO perceive
what The question Of the basis OF representation
has 10 do with the rights Of man in state Of ma
ture. The natural rights Of man may be admit
ted, but when men abandon stale oil nature,
unite in society ard resolve 10 organize govern.
ment, the question Of representation arises not as
question OF natural right, but as political pro-
blem, to be determined by variety OF circumstan-
ces.t IL all men are by nature equally free, i,
does not prove that all are therefore entitled to
equal political power II would be unreasonable
10 expect that rights resulting from and recos-
uizei by Government; should be controlled by
abstract principles, applicable 10 stale of things
existing anterior 10 the formation OF Government
From le30to $780, the slave population of Maryland
declined 257 In nunber aud the slave population OF
Virginia 40 During HE same period, Oh, slave po
pu'aton Of Mississippi increased l29 $50 and hn slaves
OF Alabama 1885, S3 While the slaves of Kentucky
for that decade Increased l7U5 the slaves Of Louis
ana increased So, Ssh
The nimitable Don ouxote not more enamor-
ed with knight enantry than John Qhincey Adams pro-
fesses tho abstract OF the Declaration
of Independence. M the question asked, tsee his
Report against the slave representation il ask
ed, how people holding slave, could issue such De
ciataton the of aud of friendship
Inc Declaration Itself Ia the abolition of slavery
IL so, why evince much concern for the blacks
boston Gazette OF July 10 published tie Drcara
ton OF Independence, and In the paper "a stout,
heathy negro man, about p years of age was adver-
tsed Tor sale, and the Printer referred information
.he continental Journal of Rosiun published advertise
saents Offering savestof sale 1884, years sfur the
PRONUNCIATION OF the Declaration of Independence.
The declaration Of Rights, adopted by Massachusetts,
IN MATCH l'o declares that all barn free and
equal and nave certain essential and ia,enahe rights
&c What was the commentary upon thar text? I,y
her Constitution of l95o limited the rclt
ofslage 10 persons ming freehold estate worth $40
ayea, property to the vaiuo Of $500 Probably one
third Of her adult male oaniacn was thus denied The
right Of suffrage. This Constitution was cont nued frrv
years, In oppositen 10 her own Bill Of Rights which
proclaimed hat 'an born free and equal ~
Could Mr. Adams discover TO discrepancy between The
precept inculcsted and the practice pursued by Massa
chuset's Al Massachusetts held the doctrine of equal
rights, will he explain Why She in 1885, prohibited the
intermarrisge of white persons and negroes under
penalty Of ifty pounds