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

confcderates are disposed to adher it.
Authorities Misapphed.
Mr.. Smith, of Kanawha, in his speech or We'd
nesday last, in the Convention, broadly assumed
that the ''monarchists" ofthe Federal Convention,
as he styled Alexander Hamilton and Gouverneur
Morris, were in favour of the principle of repre-
sentation sustained now by the "money party" and
that the Republican statesmen of that body, such
as James Madison and George Mason, were for
the basis of white population. And this Mr..
Smith undertook to establish by citations from the
Debates, as reported by Mr.. Madison, in 1.-THE
Madison Papers," No statement ever gave US
greater surprise for it was contrary to all our i'm
pressions of the history of the Federal Conven-
ton, and we, accordingly, lost time in referring
to "The Madison Papers, to test the accuracy of
Mr. Smiths readings. A necessarily hasty glance
through Mr.. Madson's sketches has treasured us
in our first conviction and enables us to show by
few short citations, that Mr. Smith has exactly
reversed the record. 1t was Hamilton and Morris,
who contended for the doctrine of the white basis
whilst Madison, Mason, and Edmund Randolph in
sisted that slaves should be included in represent
tation.
An extended review of the deliberations of the
Federal Convention on the question of representa-
ton in Congress would require more time and
space than are now at our disposal But, to meet
the points raised by Mr.. Smith, let the following
quotations suffice
Alexander Hamiion's Opinion.
On Wednesday, May Both, 1887, the third day
after the Convention commenced its business. q
resolution offered by Mr.. Randolph, of Virginia
was taken up viz: 'that the rights of suffrage in
the National Legislature ought to be proportional
to the quotas of contribution or to the number OF
free inhabitants, as the one or the other rule NAV
seem best in different cases."
"Col. HAMILTON moved to alter the resolution go AZ
TO read that the rights of suffrage in the National LIE
gisaure ought to be roportoned to the number of free
Inhabitants "-[Mad. Pap. $50. y ''~e
Without now inquiring into the justice of Mr..
Smiths appreciation of Hamitons political cha
racter, lis enough to say that his moving this
single proposition proves that, if he was a Mo-
narchist, he was also for the White Basis.
Gouuer1,eur Morviss Opinion.
GGuvERNoR MoRRIs,s views appear to have
been good deal modified in the progress of the
Conventions deliberations.
He was chairman of committee of five (con-
ssting OF himself, Mr.. Gorham, Mr.. Randolph.
Mr.. Rutledge and Mr.. King) which, on the 9th
of July, reported "'Oeohh and number of inhabi-
ta1ats'' as just basis of representation and he
admitted that property ought to have it's weight.
but not all the weight" Afterwards. when the
propostont to apportion representation to the num-
Der of whites and three-ftths of all others. was
under consideration, Mr.. Morris objected that sit
Will not consist with the resolution passed on
Saturday last, authorizing the Legislature to ad-
just the representation, from time to time. on the
principles ofpopulation and wealth, nor with the
principles of equity" ellis great objection was,
that the number of inhabitants was not a nroner
standard of wealth." Debates, 1869. Again:
Another objection with him aga inst admitting the
blacks into the census, was that the people OF Pennsy
wanna would revolt at the idea of being put on foot
ing with slaves They would reject any plan that as
to have such an effect. "-i Debates, 1879.
Thursday, July l2th Mr.. MORRIS said,
HE verify believed the people of Pennsylvania will
never agree to representation ofnegroes What can
already been proposed-that the Legislature shall from
time to time regulate representation according TO popu.
lauon and wealth?"-lp. 1882.
The next day, Mr.. MORRIS again opposed negro
representation, arguing that "if negroes were to be
viewed as Inhabitants, and the revision was to
proceed on the principle of numbers of inhabi-
tants, they ought to be counted in their entire
number and not in the proportion of three-ffths. -
tie declared, after "deep meditation" that he saw
that Southern gentlemen would not be satisfied
unless they saw the way open to their gaining a
majority in the public councils" in which even,
they would "inevitably bring on war with Spain
for the Mississippi"
Thus far, Mr.. MORRIS was willing. like most
other members of the Convention, to base rep.
resentation in part upon wealth; but the discus.
sions finally brought him to very different posi-
tion and that position was renewal of Gen.
Hamton's proposition to establish the White
Basis.
On the 9th of August, the Convention was con
sderng the form of a Constitution reported by
| the Committee of the Whole Art. 4. Sec. a. re-
quired the Legislature "to regulate the number O
representatives by the number of inhabitants, &C
cording to the provisions hereinafter made. at thf
rate OF one for every 10000" This lanpua pf
was, on motion of Mr.. WILLIAMSON. modified bx
striking out according to the provisions bereinaf
'er made' and substituting according to the rul,