The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-21

custom of a member from Alabama or a
member from North Carolina to consider
himself as representing at least fourteen
other States, and speaking for them as
though he was directly responsible to the
local constituencies of each for what he
says. This is diluting the local relations
of representative and constituent without
the national ones of either.
1t confuses all ideas of allegiance, and
acts upon the supposition of direct respon-
sibility where none exists, immediate or
remote.
Not only does this perversion of ideas
arise from the new the Dry of representa-
ton, but some very serious difficulties are
likely to flow from it. Let us see if none
are in sight already. AS yet there has
been but one subject upon which the
new doctrine has displayed itself; one,
too, upon which it might be supposed
there would be as much unanimity as upon
any other. A member from North Caro-
lima (Mr. CLINGMAN) arises in the House
to relieve himself of months elabora-
ton of the slavery question. He takes
up his slate and commences cyphering up
the great advantages Southern confede-
racy would be to Louisiana, Maryland,
Delaware, and all and singular the other
slaveholding States. AS conducting to a
probable rupture of the Union, he adduced
a newspaper paragraph to prove that a
few counties in Maryland had, through
the efforts of the Aboitionists, lost in six
months one hundred thousand dollars
worth of slaves; and the testimony of a
gentleman Of the highest standing to show
that the little State of Delaware lost,
through the same means, one hundred
dollars worth of slave property
annually.
The little State of Delaware was not
wont to stand such foray upon her prop
erty without making row about it. And
we apprehend that the people of the few
counties in Maryland felt, upon learning
the extent to which they had been robbed,
much like the client did who shed tears
over an enormous amount of wrong he
had suffered, without knowing any thing
about it until his grievances were unfold
ed to him in the eloquence of forensic dis
play. Neither the Senators nor the repre-
sentative of Delaware had any notion of the
of the evils their constituents
endure, and it may 60 hard with them if
they do not take hint from the repre-
sentative from North Carolina, and re-
dress wrongs which it is their peculiar
duty to look to. We regard this case as
a pointed illustration of the Inconvenience
which this enlarged theory of representa-
ton is likely to produce.
Take another, and the one we COM
menced this article to present. A gentle
man from Alabama, (Mr. INcE,) in des-
canting upon the condition of the South in
case of dissolution of the Union, dwelt
upon the fact that, holding the mouth of
the Mississippi, the Southern confederacy
would raise large revenues by levying tri-
butte upon the commerce of the northwest
ern States with New Orleans. We had
some doubt, at the time of reading this
passage in the gsntleman's speech, lift was
likely to seduce Louisiana from the Con-
federacy. We have a shrewd suspicion
that the people of that State will see
where the money goes if contributions are
levied upon the little Of her internal COM
merce that system of tribute would not
drive through the lakes and by railroads to
a northern market. The prospect, it must
be confessed, was rather dismal for that
section Of the new confederacy. To break
up her commerce and divide the spoil of
the little that would be left amongst four
teen other States, was for her a sorry ar
gument in favor Of secession.
Nor were we alone in this estimate Of
it. In speaking of the formation Of the
new confederacy, in the event Of DISCO
luton of the Union, Senator from Lou
isiana (Mr. Downs Owe will not say or
insinuate to avoid the levying of tribute
upon the commerce Of New Orleans
finds it necessary so to expand his repre-
sentative relations as not only TO include
the whole South, but lap over into some
Of the free States-Pennsylvania by name,
and the northwestern tier of States by ne
cessary inference. He says the new con-
federacy will consist Of the whole South,
and the valley Of the Mississippi, including
the Keystone State, Ohio, Indiana, ILL
nois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota when
admitted, Nebraska when ready for adj
mission, and how many others in embryo,
an 4