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


OF that common aih having no connection with
il, except through lie political relations cxisting
between The several States composing oGr CoLied-
rracy, TINS petition must 5e understood as sSpEess-
ing wish 10 see such alterations inane IN Inc
Constitution O; The rnit,i SIaies, rs would III
evllabi. cause tie abolition al slavery Though
Oh; The Uaon. The petition was referred 10
Joint committee oi The Massachusetts Senate and
House Of i,epIes enlaiiyrs and subsequently, an
elaborate Report was introduced Is Tue Chair
man, Mr.. Charles Francis Adams The Report
shows; that the Committee were much einoatass-
Ell Us Ia the character ofthe amentnfntS which
they should suggest, but, alter due deitelaiun,
they recommended that the Legislature oi ..las-
sarhnsetIs should submit 10 Congress pEopo-
sIion Tor atoishing the slave representation
The Committee acknowledge, that The change
proposed twill not OF itself, errn il adopted b.
The requisite rumbei oil States effect The purpose
intended hy The petitioners. There are sevsral
passages al The Constitution, besides that fixing
The basis OF representation, which connect the
free States with slavery. They are however, OF
secondary consequence when compared with HAT,
CT a. - 'acVdJGD Meif riiaLiy fr0M 50 Mey Fon!d
dc ieiHl Il. Tie ~. 81 6on
HE Constitution al the Save eprcseniation, i,
alone. in The opinion OF your Committee, be CT
iorce enough 10 carry with il The remaining Vista
c'es 10 that eompei' AMI ,Utcf;ts%paratnn t'0m all
c0nnfction dgRt Sareie, hich The petitioners de-
sire"
The Interior views, and Tie consummaton so
deyon;iy wished ale here disclosed without re-
serve. 1t is evident that The anEiIilaiivn Of lie
slave representation Vas urged, not Is al end
70; Is an object desirable 1cr $. oniy--bnt g, a
means 10 attain an end, which end is no less than
the abolition Ct slavery throughout The o. States.
Tie legislature of Massachusetts sanctioned The
recommendation oi the Committee. and The proro-
si;ion was submitted 10 Congress hy Mr.. John q.
Adams. II was referred 10 committee of The
H. Of Representatives, and Messrs. Adams anc
Gidiings made report in behalf OF The minority.
sustaining The proposition oil Massachusetts, ana
invciahing with great severity asainstthe qualified
representation oi slave property. II acrimoni-
Gus and EnspariEg denuarialiun Of that provision
Of The Constitution which authorizes the repre-,
sen,aton Of tie slave population, could convince
the public mind and obliterale this feature OF The
Constitution then Messrs. Adams and Glddngs
might ihdulsr confident hopes oil success; but II
remains 10 lie seen. whether The people Of the
United States X i'll enGanser the existence OF The
Union and The peace OF The country BY any ei!cfl
10 propiiiac The Abo.i,ionists.
Although the Massachusetts proposition found
but few advocates in Congress, the signs Of lie
times indicate very plainly, that The Abol,ion;ss
will continue 10 urge Ihis innovation upon The al
lrnlion Of Congress and the conntIy and there
fore NC iru,t 10 le ,n!ulsed in Giving II liiei
notice
A reference 10 The origin OF the slave repre>cE-
ta;iUr as mere PROPOSITION, and us subsequent
incorporation mo The Federal Constitution, Will
show the principles upon which il was founded.
II appeared first during the discussion OF The arlI-
cies of confederation in the Congress .! lib
~. -, 4. II,ots oh
Of war. and all other expenses that shall he in
Cured for he common defence and allowed by
the United States assembled shall be betrayed
out of common treasury, which shall be sup
plrd hy the s. ycral colonies IN proportion 10 Inc
number Of inhabitants ofevery age, sex and qua
ly, except Indians not paying lakes, IN each CO.
lonv" The article exempted none from taxation
except Indians II included tic slave as well
as be Tree man. During the debate, Mr. Chase
or MARYLAND moved ha, the quotas should tie
paid n,t hY the Inhabitants as Just indicated, bu'
oy The Number oi white inhabitants. lie ar
.ned that negroes were properly 10 The SCUM
and caul. were property 10 the North: that The
Southern planter laid out his surplus profits In
| negroes and lie Northern farmer his in cattle
and horses and that il would he no more unjust
| 10 tax the later than the former. The debate
was continued by Mr.. John Adams; and Mr.
| Harrison, Of Virginia, by way OF compromise
! PROMO. ell that Two slaves should be counted as
| one freeman.
The question being aken on the amcndmen
offered by Mr. Chase i, was rejected Delaware
nIaiy,ana. Virginia. North Carolina and Sou'i
Carolina being in he affirmative, and in favor
4 basis OF Gree While inhabitants" and New
HamrshiIe, Massachusetts, Rhode lSianj, Ton
necricut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsyl
Yania voting ainsl The amendment, and in iavo
Of basis If taxaion inciuiirg all persons, 0
every aye, sex and qualify" and, OF course
| slaves. Georgia was divided. (lst vol. 81 IN
Madison Papcrs.) Subsequently, me bass o
LANDS, buildings and Improvements was moor
| poracd among The articles OF confederation, 0u
his plan proved unacceptable 10 The PEOPLE "
AIassao husctls, ms Mr.. Gorham Of that Slate re
presented, in srona ie;nlS, the inequality and ella
mors that had been produced by The valuation
| OF la nds," and said that il "was weakening III
Ties OF The Union among the States" The sui
eci was again discussed and several proposition
| submitted as Ia the ratio which ". slaves shout
bear IL The Tree inhabitants. AZ length, Mr. Ma
i.on PROPOSED that they should IL rated as M
10 three in the iue Of appoTlionineD', and uli
msleIy this plan prevailed T.isast 0VaosAloa :
The property basis was abandoned, and The ia
sis as existing in The present Constitution W.
agreed ID BY general consent. IN ihe feder'
Convention Of lTs1, tho same subIeciin releieht
to taxation was discussed, in conjunction VII
the question OF re presentation. 10 trace The ~,
ccssige Steps which lei 10 the adoption of The
clause Of article / section 9, OF the Federal Cor
stitu;ion, wouli on this occasion, he unnesessa
~. Ia adopting il, the Convention ac'cd npo
the theory. that the number Of persons, WITHOUT u
gard 10 "sne. sex, or condition. was he true "
dex Of he productive POWER OF stale, us weall
and capacity 10 pay taxes: and upon The grea
maxim, that taxation ought no 10 exist WilL"t
representation, a maxim, upon wnch the Anne
rican revelation turned.
No morbid philanthropy, or ianaiical frenzy
:. i..o,-.' the members 81 The Federal CONVEX
non. hni tG.~ (. IL tie spil!t u r.. &c
auriously sought 10 advance nDd s'Grl. =
manen; interests Vi the whole Union. Their wi'
dom is ate,ied by their work. Mr.. Madison ie
il his du,y 10 express his "rroicnnd and soiem
conviction derived from an intimate orporinn,l
OF observing and approaching The views q ~
Convention cole, lively and Individually, III;
there never war an assembly Of men, charge
with pfea, and ardnous ,fnst, who were MOI
purc in their motives, or more exclusively q
voted 10 The object Of drvi,iag and proposing
constitutional system which should tea secure u
De,udae,n lbyiu and hnEpiatS ~ Heu tonnfrt
Without denying the abstract truths oil the ~
clararion OF lrd.pe ndtnoe, or vaInly a'temptlh
| 10 e1uaIiZe HE condition "f mankind, lhey COZ
sidered The diversity ii our populalion-Ihe ,pn
,uiIs Of The different, cla>ses-hc varied prodnc
Of the several States, their conflicting Intere,
and views. nd hen devised that Constitution !
The operation OF which III. United States have
Greatly prospersd during The lasl halt century.
sThe structure" (said distinguished Jurlsi
Massachusetts, } "has leen erected by archl'cc
: Of consummate skill and fidelity is foundation
are solid is compartments are beautiful, as We
as useful; it, arrangements are full oil wisdo
and order; and its deftnces are impresnabr, iro
without. /, has been reared for immortality,
the work Of man mag justly aspire 10 such ann
!, NAV. nevertheless, pcIs' in an honr by the ic
IL. or corruption, or negligence OF It's only sse
els. lie pcop'c. "-fStory -,
Appealing from the rresen, inhabitants Of Ma
sachuseils 10 their ancestors oil The Revolution,
us see in what estimation the latter regarded !
Federal Constitution, when il was subiai!'ed I
the ratification or rejection Of their Stale ConVe
."hll discussions, on the excellence OF Governn'S"
m.rsly on abstract principles. and without tie,s y,
The given circumstances, futile ne scIsht "
vernment no more abstract one IMAM .a.sh,n;