Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-11

| WI. Sou'kKNEuR MORRIS 'noged to insert free
before the t1ord inhabitants" Much, he said WouIc
depend on this point. He never would concur in IN
| holding slavery: 1t was nefarious institution II
was the curse of heaven on the States where pre-
Vahed. compare the free regions of the Middle States
where rich and noble cultivation marks the
and happiness OF the people, with the misery and pov
ery winch overspread the barren wastes of Virginia
1861 l.
And, in this strain, Mr., MORRIS expatated, at
length, on the evils ofslavery which he pronounced
1.-THE most prominent feature in the aristocratc
countenance ofthe proposed constitution"
MIR. MoRR1s's proposition was, be it observed,
that the Legislature should "regulate denuznber o.
representatives blythe number of the free inhabi-
taTts:" in other words, the modern "Whte Basis. >
1t received no vote but that of New jersey
The line of Mr.. Morris's argument against the
protection of slave property is particularly in.
structive.
Having now put Mr.. Smiths two monarcbical
authorities on the side of the white basis, let us
proceed with his representatives of true republi-
can principles.
Mr.. Madison's Opinion.
On the 9th of july a committee of five having
reported ratio of representation for the several
States in the first branch Che House, and re-
commended general provision that, in future al
terations, representation should be proportioned to
a0ealth and number of Inhabitants Mr.. PATTER-
SON, of New Jersey, opposed the proposition be-
cause he objected to the representation of slaves,
and held that none but voters should be represen-
ted.
| Mr.. MADISON reminded Mr.. PATTERSON that his
q yNh in l.
he genuine must forever silence the pretensous
the small States to an equality of votes with the large
ones; Ihey ought to vote in the same proportion in
which their citizens would do if the people of ali the
States were collectively met He suggested as pro.
per ground OF compromise, that in the first branch the
States should be represented according to their number
OF Tree nhabtans; and in the second which had for
one OF its primary objects the guardianship of property
according to the aohole number, including slaues
debates, 1855.
This passage was very triumphantly quoted by
Mr.. Smith, TO show that Mr.. Madison considered
the suffrage basis "the genuine one.'' But it is
evident, either that Mr. Madison has reported himself
imperfecty or that the opinion he expressed on
the 9th Of July is inconsistent with his own propo-
position, and was renounced by him on the 18th,
when he used this unequivocal language
"He could not agree that any substantial objection
lay against fixing numbers for the perpetual standard
IL was SaQ tnaL representation
taxation were to go together that taxation and wealth
ought TO go together that population and wealth
not measures OF each other He admitted that in differ
climates under different forms of government and
in different stages of civilization the inference was per
tectly just He would admit that in no situation num-
bers OF inhabitants measure of wealth
He contended however, that in the United States it was
sufficiently so Tor the object in contemplation
bates.
To understand what Mr.. Madison meant here
by numbers as the proper basis of representa-.
ton, it is only necessary to consider that the pro.
position pending, and which he was advocating,
was resolution that representation be according
to the number of free whites and hree-fths of all
others; and that Mr.. Madison followed in the dis.
cussion Gouuerneur Morris, who denied "tbat
numbers would be just rule at any time," and
objected to admitting the blacks into the census'
because "the people of Pennsylvania would re-
volt at the idea of being put on footing with
slaves" AS "the measure of wealth" was. in
Mr.. Madison 8 view, the desideratum to test the
degree of representation, he can hardly escape be-
ing included in Mr.. Smiths category of the "mon-
| archy men" and "money party"
George Masons Opinion
On the 18th of July, Mr.. MASON said:
Gle did not object to the conjectura ratio which
was to prevail IN the ouset but considered revision
| from time to time, according to some permanent and
precise standard essenta the fair representation
required in the first branch, H. the lower House y
not always precise standard of wealth. was suffi.
GENTLY tor every substantial purpose."-[ Debates
| 1864
| How Mr.. MASON thought it best to estimate
| numbers as the standard of taxation, and thus
of representation he afterwards explained.
On the same day, the pending proposition being
that representation should be regulated bya CEN
sus of "the free white inhabitants and three-fiths
of those of other descriptions"
"Mr. BUTLER and General PINcKNEY insisted
that blacks be included in the rule of representa-
ton equally with the whites; and for that purpose
moved that the words "three-ffths" be struck
out"
"Mr. MASON could not agree to the motion notwith-
standing it was favourable to Virginia, because he
thought UNJUST 1t certain that the slaves were val
liable, as they raised the value of land increased the ex-
ports and imports, and OF course the revenue would sup
ply the means ofteedng and supporting an army, and
might in case ofemergency become themselves soldiers
AS IN these important respects, they useful to
the community at large, they ought not to be erclud
ed from the estimate OF Representation He could not
however regard them as equa to treemen, and could
not vote tol them as SUCH" debates, 1868.
From this it appears that Mr.. MASON was for
adherlng to the proposition, to proportion repre-
sentation to the white and three.ffths OF the
black inhabitants, which was finally adopted
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina and Geogia, 6, voting aye, New
Jersey and Delaware, 2, no; Massachusetts and
| South Carolina 2, divided
We think we may now claim to have turned
Mr. Smiths authorities exactly against him, and
shown that Hamilton and Morris were the advo-
Gates ofthe White Basis, in the Federal Conven-
| ton, and Madison and Mason the defenders of the
| principle OF slave representation.
| The WHEAT CRoP.-Accounts from different parts
of Eastern Pennsylvania, afford cheering hope of an
abundant wheat crop the ensuing season. We learn