The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-17

lJecI Ior the purpose OF correcting many impressions
and opinions which wholly erroneous. And FIRST
lest my motives should be misunderstood will premise
ihai am wholly opposed to slavery in any and every
form, institution fraught with abundant evils as
wen as reproaehes heartily wish the country rid
OF and while have thought that the action of
me aoohonsts as party would in its effects be
favorable 10 emancipation, have always been and
now ready to cooperate in any legitimate and conslu-
| uonai means TO effect so desirable object
me ,HreeYPMs principle in representation is that to
winch would invite attention. Many think and speak
and write the supposiion that this principle involves
an inequality favorable the South and vorabe to
the North, and that gives unjust preponderance to
the slave interest But, careful examination, will
be found that directly the true The principle
In question relates TO the basis of representation Con-
gress Every ten years Congress by law apporons the
number OF representatives of each State according the
population OF each respectively. But the question is, in
ascerlaning the population of the States with reference
TO TINS apporhonment and congressional representation
what persons shall be included in the computation Shall
we count women, children, aliens, slaves, Indians
sqnaws, creoes and negroes, well qualified voters
All OF these classes of persons found in the country
and shall we exclude any, and which OF them, making
up this basis of representation in Congress? The con-
suton has settled the question, and shall speak Tor IT.
! self. lSee art /, 3.
Representatives direct shall be apporioned
among the several States winch may be included within
ms Union accordngto their respective numbers, which
shall be determined by adding the whole number of free
persons including those bound for years.
sons"
| Now, on which side is the inequality? We turn to
the South and say"You have the advantage of an I'M
equal representation, because every five of your slaves
count three IN making up the number which forms the
basis OF representation" To this the southerner replies
SIN the free States every human being found within your
borders, except Indians not taxed matter what may
be his condition or to what class he may belong, is in
Guided IN making up this number; and we demand ICON
hnues the southerner that every human being in our
borders the same as in yours, shall be included in this
computation for representative purposes, instead of
curing that Ue shall count only three Is it not per-
iecty plain that the inequality is entirely in favor of the
North Instead OF having just grounds to complain
OF three hfths representation, the South has better
| nlaIn that
one with them the it does with us-no matter
whether that person be black or white male female,
bond or Tree TO make the thing perfectly equal, the
South might require that the other wo fhs of all other
persons should enter into the number which to make
up the basis OF southern representation.
IL Is sheer nonsense to find fault often done, be-
cause voter OF southern State may cast his vote not
only for HIMSELF but also for several others, for whom
he Is allowed to speak, and whom he represents in the
exercise OF the elective franchise In the first place. the
federal constitution does not directly fix the qualifications
OF voters for federal officers but refers to the State
constitutions for such qualifications (See art ~
The State constitutions fix the qualifications of voters for
Stale officers, and then the federal constitution adopts
those as the qualifications of voters for Of
hcers OF the United States Now, who will deny the
right of each State to fix the qualifications of electors for
officers OF such State What right has South Carolina
to dictate to Michigan the conditions upon which the
lection we are now considering would give her that right
The federal constitution and Congress, by their appor
tonmen under that constitution, to the States You
and each OF you may have such and such number OF
representatives In Congress; and your relative number
OF congressman shall be and so, according to your
populaton but the mode OF appointing those congress-
men, and The qualifications OF voters for them leave
entirely to yourselves" The federal constitution looks
only to see that no State shall have greater representa-
ton than Its population entities it to- which brings the
question back again to the basis of representation and
the persons who shall enter into if.
Again the number of electors compared with the
whole population varies in each State, and depends on
the qualifications which each State requires of such cleo
Tors and OF course the voters every State fall far short
of the whole population. Women and children enter
atIOn. huf thew do uOf vote
Free negroes enter into the basis of representation but
IN many OF the States they do not vote Michigan has
sa 10000 voters and she has say) 900 population,
which enter into the basis of representation Only
IN eight OF our own free population has right of voting
Now, would be no more absurd to object wrong in
principle that each voter here casts his vote not only for
HIMSELF but Tor seven Others than it is to object that
planter OF Virginia casts his vote not only for himself
but also for his slave, his wife. and children. Where
only part OF the population represented has right to
vote, (Which must be the everywhere unless you
admit women and children well negroes to this
ranchlse those who do vote must speak for and repre-
sent those who do and the question: how many each
shall represent-in other words, what shall be the
qualifications OF voters and consequently what proper
ton the voters shall bear to the whole popuation-must
depend on the State constitutions, where the federal con-
stituon has most wisely left it.
Again: this alleged inequality of three-fths repre-
sentaton is urged as ground of emancipation. Very
well will not object to any plausible reason which
may be given why should get rid of slavery by any
five negroes count three in the basis Of representation
and at the time demanding that those very five
grOes shall not only count three but fUe, in the
northern States All free negroes enter into the basis
of representations and the moment the slaves of the
South are set free, they, too would enter fully, in
stead of partially into this basis and consequently, the
South could of right demand proporonate increase Of
her representation in Congress. To illustrate: Suppose
South Carolina has free population of 100000,
and also 100000 slaves and suppose the ratio of repre-
senation to be representative for every 100 900
South Carolina would be entitled TO five representatives
for her free popuation and three hree ths) for her
slaves But you emancpae those slaves, and she would
instead
the same time, the word white" would remain in her
constitution the it does in Her basis of
representation would be increased but her voters would
not be lncreased and each planter would then vote and
speak for more represented negroes than he does.
This Is certainly interesting subject, and it is
and amusing to trace the changes OF opinion upon
it, aude to what is called the compromise OF the
constitution, in relation to this matter expression
which many use, but which few understand. 1t will be
observed Constitution, article l. section 81 that represen
taon and direct taxation united in that instrument
they most Intimately connected in principle. AT the
formation of the constitution they treated in
separable subjects Now, who would believe it IT'S
true read IT, We northern freemen-the South then
contended that slaves human beings, while the
North contended that they chdtteis, prop
erty! The reason was this the constitution gave to
sonaby supposed that the public exgences would require
them to be imposed to large amount, to extrcate the
country from debts incurred in the Revolution. The
South, therefore, wished to avoid the burdens which
their slaves would have to sustain property by direct
taxation. At the tme persons formed the basis
OF representation, the South very strongly urged that
negroes and slaves were persons and such entitled to
be represented in Congress They wished on the one
hand to lessen their taxes and the other to increase
hair in he Uepe