Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-08
THE REPUBLICAN ADVOCATE.

THE REPUBLICAN ADVOCATE.
The organ of the friends of the White Basis
made its first appearance on Monday last. The
editor, Mr.. Daniel Woodson, formerly of the
Lynchburg Republican, address es the public in
quite spirited salutatory, ind icating the plan and
purpose of his paper. Its leading feature is of
course to be its advocacy of what it terms "the
Free basis principle" and that principle Mr..
Woodson uphods because, although identified
with Eastern Virginia, he considers it the true re-
publican principle of representation, and one
which has worked no injury where it has been
tried, and which is specially sanctioned by the au-
thorty of Thomas Jefferson. We feel very little
disposed to enter now into an argument of he"bass
question" Our opinions are well known to our
readers, as we have heretofore had frequent occa-
sion to declare and defend them. We hold that
slaves ought to enter into the basis of representa-
tion for reasons quite as strong those which
apply to women, children, idiots and unatcs; and
we believe that the ''mixed basis" so far from i'm
posing any injustice to the West, falls very far
short of Justice to the East. But we utterly es-
chew the policy of fixing in the new constitution
any arbitrary and unaterabe arrangement of re-
presentation such that prescribed in the present
constitution. In our judgment some uniform
principle should be adopted, the adaptation of
which to the varying circumstances of the people
should devolve at regular periods upon the Legis-
lature. With the mixed basis principle thus es-
tabished in the fundamental law, we believe thai
it would not long give occasion for complaints
even from the North West. The Valley and
South West would beyond doubt be content.
In regard to the authority OF MIR. Jefferson,
which is adduced by the "Republican Advocate"
for the white basis, we have only to say that the
opinions of that statesman on any subject which
involves the question of slavery are by no means
to be accepted with implicit reliance. If we were
unhesitatingly to adopt all the views of the Sage
of Monticello we should soon find ourselves in
the camp of the Abolitonists 1t is perfectly
we'll known that he condemned slavery as moral
and political curse, and in terms so unequivocal
that they now form the texts of half the anti
slavery harangues in the North What Southern
men wou Id now call the unsoundness of Mr. JEFF
ferson, with respect to the subject of slavery, is
indeed curiously exhibited in the very passage
which is cited by the "Republican Advocate"
from his letter of Sept. 9th, 1916, to Samuel Ker-
cheval to establish his opposition to the principle
os misrepresentation. We copy the extract:
"Since writing my letter of July the 18th, fin which
he had mentioned equal representation in the Legsa
ture" among the reforms he would have in the old
constitution | have been told, that the question of
equal representation, fellow citizens in Sec
tions of the State claim peremptoriy right represent
tation for their slaves. Principle will in this in most
other cases. open the way tor us to correct conclusions
Were State pure democracy, in which all its in
habans should meet together TO transact all their BUSH
ness, there would yet be excluded from their debera
tons: L. In ants, until arrived at years of discretion
2. Women, who TO prevent deprivation of morals and
ambiguity OF issue, could not mix promiscuousy in the
Unfortunate state of things aph us takes away the
right OF will and otproperty Those then who have no
will could be permitted to exercise in the popular
assembly, and OF course. could delegate to an
agent in representative assembly The business, in
the first case would be done by qualified citizens only
and in the second, by the representatives of qualified c
tizens only. 1t is true that in the general constitution
State is allowed larger representation account
OF its slaves But every one knows that the constitution
was matter OF compromise; capulation between |
conflicting interests and OPT mons. In TRUTH the con-
don of different descriptions ofnhahitnnts in any coun-
try is matter of municipal arrangement OF which
foreign country has right to take notice. All its in
habitants to them. Thus, in the New En- |
gland State have the powers OF citizens but those
whom they call reemen; and none are treenaen until
admitted by of the freemen OF the town. Yet
in the General Government, these non freeemen are
counted in their quanum Of representation and OF tax
alton. So slaves with have powers citizens, |
vet representation in the General Government, they
count in the proportion of three to i've; and also in
taxation. Whether this ia equal, is not here the |
question 1t is capiuation of discordant sentiments
and circumstances and is obligatory that ground
But this view shews there is no inconsistency in claim,
ing representation for them from the other States and
refusing it within our own"
Mr.. Jefferson has, fortunately, left behind him |
many better proofs of his sagacity as political |
reasoner, than this most extraordinary sentiment |
that, because the three-fth's principle of repre-
sentation was compromise or capitulation, there
fore slave State may consistently take no &C.
count whatever of the slave population in its in
ternal government. Why, what was compromised
by the contracting parties in the federal consttu-
ton in this matter of representation The South.
ern States Justly claimed that the aohole popula-
tion slave and free, should be taken as the basis of
representation. The North resisted the Southern
claim; and finally "capituaton" was struck on
the three fifth's principle. Mr.. Jefferson's argu-
ment implies that the South was wholly in the
wrong, and that what it obtained was all clear
gain. If the advocates of the white basis, at the
present day, are prepared to take the same ground
in the face of the pending controversy between the
North and the South, we hope at least that they
will frankly show their hands.
The "Republican Advocate" by way of show
inc how strong an interest certain Western coun-
ties have in the adequate protection OF property,
produces the following returns OF the new CEN
sus
No. Of Whites. No, Of Sapes.
Alleshany. 2,764. .......... sos
Augusta .............. .lS, 1893. .........5 ,057
Bath .............."....2 4l. .......... ga6