Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-13
tno,t;ru.d from, Fourth Pap&)

IN " snd liberal principles have not made
~. cacsaton with referencet to the mixed basis scheme
Of 1892 but We ses at ohse that it would give Popu
i,ton about double the representation In the Conven
ton that it proposed to give to wealth or the taxes Pau
which scheme benrs strong resemblance to Inc pfoPo
aiton offered by the gentleman from Hsnrico, lMr'
Borrs) He stated that his proposition OF eonPfo-
mise would give white person about aouole Inc IN
fuence Of dollar of taxes. The mixed basis scheme
now under consideration gives TO dollar double the
foncs nersop understood from the remarks OF the
honorahle ee lsnan from Hehrico Mr. Boris that n
b;s White person woudbe about equal to two dol
lars of taxes giving to the white population OF the
state much larger representation in the legsia-
tive department than to that OF taxation. very many
gentlemen upon the other side have placed much Of
their argument upon the provision of the constitution
of the United States that fixes representation IN the
house of representatives upon FREQ population ana
orton of the slaves known the federal numbers AM
thew have attempted to sustain their proposition by th
views Of gentlemen who advocated that principle o
representation in the convention that formed the con
stuton of the United States and BY arguments IN Con
eress when the articles Of were
In order to proper understanding OF the force OF th
argument must be INDUCED in briefly trasg the history
az that dav and when do shall feel say
~ bnt sa Of the patriots Of the revolution contenaet
for principle so anifePuoncah ~ 'nA' VI tne
maintain before this committee that the principle
of the suffrage baas ia the principle Of the revolution
q ia 70
.ovaraanty OF the State for all practical purposes l.
v.ted IN the voters aud consequently every voter is
ose~eign and entitled to equal representation. Oui
fathers of the revolution acknowledged that principle
THE declaration OF independence, we all know, wa:
adopted the 4th Of July 1878 and the articles of con-
federation were reported to Congress the 18th OF the
same month though they not finally adopted unit
about l7sl You will find, by reference to the article
of confederation that the suffrage Of the States in the
Congress organized by those articles was equal each
ststs being entitled to vote. And why Becsus.
it wass confederation of soveregns, each sovereign, a.
have stated, being equal. At that day any attempt
az now contended for, to discriminate between sover
eisns would have been denounced.
In the convention that formed the constitution Of the
United States that great compact or bond Of union be
tween soYercgnties, it will be seen by reference to ht
journals that each State entitled to but vote
This suffrage basis then recognizedthis principle
that we now maintain was admitted and adopted VIZ
are enlightened by very short sketches Of the debates
that took place in the Congress that formed the articles
of confederation but have them more at large in the
Convention that formed Tue constitution u lo ch''eu
States.
ma 40 unfortunate as to interrupt at the time he ad-
dressed the committee upon this subec has referred
~ Adams to Wherspooa, to Franklin, and others who
80 in the Congress that adopted the articles Of can
fsdsraon He tells us that the question was Upon the
49,. ~ rn,resentaton in the senate IN that he has
fallen ;to an error because under the articles Of COR
federation there was no senate. lie refers US 10 Inc
foIiowi ~ remarks Of DR.. Franklin
He thouot it rery extraordinary language to be told
b anu state that they rod not coyedrats,c US mles'
IRE let them dispose Of our money!
,nd which are used before this committee tending
e. .nnnort the mixed basis. | beg leave to cal
the attention of my friend from P'ttsyvaia to the re-
MARK of Dr. Franklin in the Convention that framed
said :. now think tina, the number Of representatives
should bear proportion to the number Of the re.
presented" 80
10 other remarks Of Mr. Witherspoon than those reerec
10 nv that gentleman Mr.. TREDwAY Il will be seen,
however by reference to them that he spoke of the
ereigur of the States, and maintained that the States
n. sovereign until they parted with their sovereignty
nd he the constitution Of the United States portion
&c thai sovereignty was parted with, and hence the
f seLtation in the Congress Of the United
S,ates . The gentleman called our attention to the
following remarks Of alr. Adams
:. Tho, reason, Justice, esa equity nerer had aeigh
,oo6 ON The face of the earth to govern the eounscls 81
.,, it is interest alone rhich does IT, and Hts nteres
"Ioe hich can be trusted Therefore, the interest within
doors should be maheat'eal repressntdt're me IN
tsrs,, ,r;not doors 4 has ESQ, $500, FL, 900 j"
1aruerI;p Is It just tha. they should equally dispose
. the ,ncacy Of tise partneTsaipf
Ia these remarks have almost =, entire argumen
unon tho other side chey were, as you know mad,
IN the Congress that formed the compact or articles
confederation bctweenrarsiJ sovereign States:
II seems our friends upon the oler side get their whole
arpneu from Mr.. Adams. They NOT only adopt 1t II
substance but word for word will read another par
aeraph from tho same speech:
.Tne confederation is to make one individual only
it is to fuse u.s. like separate parcels OF metal into ono
common mass. .
i..,ia making this reference to the remarks Of Mr.
S5.s Here is consolidation for you 10 your heart.
.ontent And it is referred to BY States rights dem
pn IL our ie,tds upon the other side have the right
70 refer to the views OF members OF 10 sustain
their pos;ion here have we not the same right to refer
rho of other distinguished members to sustain ours
h,p to call the attention Of the committee to what was
laid by Dr. Rush, when speaking OF representation II
Gorpress under the articles of confederation. He said
"wky is /. not equally necessary there sholid De al
the whole body Of the people together, they would de-
terne the questions submitted to them by that majority
Whv should not the same majority decide, when voting
here BY their representatives"
= Now here is the argument of the suffrage basis We
that this matter Of representation is intended merely
as the people would speak were they personally
nresent. And DR.. Rush in that Congress- proclaimed
tha, that was the true principle And it is the true
nrincple and the only principle which can last. Rep
rssentaon is adopted merey from necessity and it is
intended that the voice of the people should be spoken
through their representatives, and any attempt to re-
that voice either by constitutional provisions OF
otherwise is an usurpation and infringement upon
their rights But We have the opinion Of another
member of that body. Mr.. Wilson said, HThat tax
ation should be in proportion to wealth, hut thai
representation should accord with the number Of
frsemen. That government is collection of the re
sults Of the Wills Of AL Thaf any government coulc
sneak the will Of ALL it would be perfect and that Sc
far as it departs from this it becomes imperfect
Gould words be more plain Could correct princi
~les re more clea,ly and explicitly laid down. How
aTarsst from the declaration Of those who endeavol
here to susan the usurped powers of the
maj Jcty.
Nv the provisions Of the articles OF confederation the
outrage or representation of each State in Congress
eoua The taxes for the support of the government thu
organized we're to be levied upon lands An effort
made to base the contribution upon population. Som,
d.sred to have those contributions upon the whole pop
Nation, slaves as well as free whites. Hear what Mr.
Chase cf Maryland said the subject "That negroes
"A fact should not be considered as members Of TIT
State moro than CATTLE and that they have no more in
,erest in it," We have the views of gentlemen repre-
sen,ing the slave interest at that time They place t
species of property in its proper condition How doe
that accord with the remark Of the gentleman from Pitt
sylyania, (Mr. WHrrLE,) that portion Of the sore
reignY is in the saves' Mr. Chase at that early day
told YOU that negroes were property nothing thar
cattle @. horses as such concede that they L
be protected but not represented The worthy gentle
man from Pttsylvania, Mr. TRsDwAr, refers US TO thu