Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-18
nr. Mddison's Opinion.


may be well, in addition to the citations we recent
w made from the debates of the Federal Conven-
lion, to reproduce portion ofthe remarks he made
in the Convention of lS29-'s0 on this very sub
.ject.
The reader will perceive that the great consti-
autional sage of America lays down these funda-
mental principles: that the rights of "persons
and property are the two great objects for
the nrotectinn Of -,h;-i. Government was insti-
tuted;" that property, htepersons, is emit
lied to protection; and that the only effectu-
al security must be laid in the basis and struc-
ture of the government ITSELF He then pro-
ceeds to declare his own preference for the fede-
raj basis as "the most appropriate and effectual Sc
curity that can be devised" being particularly
recommended by sits simplicity its certainty, its
stability and its permanently" If anything like
any approval of the basis of white population, or
the basis of voters, can be deserted in these ex-
pressions, we must confess it is beyond our dis
cernment. There is not, we venture to say, a
single Eastern member of the Convention, who is
not perfectly willing to abide by the position of
Mr.. Madison, and adopt the federal basis as the
rule of representation in the Legislature. But
the West contemns this basis even more bitterly
than it does the basis of population and taxation
for the reason first suggested by Rufus King and
Gouverneur Morris, the leading anti-savery men,
bers of the Federal Conventionthat it is degrading
to white men to be counted along with slaves
The federal basis, be it ever remembered was
adopted solely for the reason that it was the basis
on which the Congress of the old Confederation
had determined to assess direct taxes amongst the
States. When, therefore, the Federal Convention
determined that representation should be proper
toned to free population and three-fifths of the
slave population, it simply adopted another form of
providing that representation should be in proper
ton TO taxation or contribution. Hence is apparent
that the mixed basis, now advocated by the East
makes smaller demand of protection, than would
be secured by the original principle of the federal
basis. That basis, as we have just said, was in
fact taxation alone; whereas, the mixed basis pays
precisely equal regard to taxation and aohite pop,-
lqtion Mr.. Madison was the warm defender of
the federal basis, when it first established in
1857. and it is not surprising that he should, in
1929, urge its incorporation into the Constitution
of Virginia. Had his wise counsel been acted
upon, we verify believe that the present basis con-
troversy would not exist With the sanction Of
his high authority, we cannot suppose it possible
that the representatives of Eastern shareholders
will hesitate to insist upon basis which claims
less for the East than it would secure if Mr.
Madison's views were carried out.
Extracts from the remarks Of Mr.. Madison, in the
Virginia Conpenti0n on December I'd, 1929
II iSS rtiin hat ood
are the two great subjects which Governments are
to aet and that the rights OF persons and the rights
property are the objects for the protection OF which
Government was instituted. These rights cannot we II
be separated The personal right to acquire property
which is natural right. gives to property where ac-
oured right TO protection as social right. The es-
sence OF Government is power, and power lodged, as
it must be in human hands, will ever be liable 10 abuse
In monarchies the interests and happiness of all may
be sacrificed to the caprices and passions of despo-
In Arstocracies, the rights and welfare of the many
may be sacrificed 10 the pride and cupidy OF the few
In Republics, the great danger that the majority may
not sufficiently respect the rights of the minority.
The only efectual safeguard to the rights OF the mno-
ity must be laid such basis and structure of the
Government itself as may Afford in certain degree d.
rectly or indirectly, defensive authority behalf of
minority having right ON its sde
"To come more nearly the subject before the
Committee, viz that peculiar feature in commu-
nifty which calls for peculiar division in the basic of
our Governments mean the cooure2 part OF our popu-
ation 1t is apprehended, if he power ofthe Common.
wealth shall be in the hands OF majority who have no
interest in this species OF property that from the facility
with which it may be oppressed by excessive taxation
injustice may be done 10 its owners. 1t would SEEM
therefore, if we incorporate that interest into the
basis of our system, it will be the most opposite and
effceual security that can be devised Such arrange
nen is recommended 10 me by very important cons
deraons. 1t is due JUSTICE due to humanity due to
truth, to the sympanies of our nature in fine to our
character a people, both abroad and at home that
they should be considered much as possible in The
light OF human beings, and not as mere property As
such they acted upon by our laws and have an in
aarest in laws; they may be considered as making
part though degraded part, oil the families to which
they belong. If they had the complexion of the serfs in
the north OF Europe, the viliens formerly in England
in other terms they OF complexion much
of the difficulty would be removed But the mere crcum
stance OF complexion cannot deprive them OF the cha
racter of meo; and the Federal number called is
particularly to attention. forming basis
OF representation, by Its simplicity its certainty lis sab
ty and lis permanency. Other expedents Tor secur-
ing Justice in the OF taxation, while they amount
pecuhiary effect to the same thing, have been found
liable TO great objections and do not believe that
majority OF this Convention s disposed to adopt them
if they can find substitute they approve. Nor is
it small recommendation OF the Federal number, in
my view that conformity TO the ratio recognized
in the Federal constitution The cases. i. s true,
precisely the same; but there is more OF analogy
than light at first be supposed; if the cooured
population equally dused throughout the State,
The analogy would tails but, existing, as does In large
masses in particular parts of the distinction between
different parts OF the State resembles that between
the sayeholdng and non slayehoding States and five
reject doctrine in own State, while we claim the
benefit of in relations other States 9th er
dsagreeabe may be added to the charge
ofinconsisteney which will be brought against u.s."
The Union, of Wednesday, contains the salu-
tation of the new editor, Mr. Andrew Jackson
Donelson, with long programme of the doctrines
he means to maintain He proposes to follow the
old track which Mr.. Richie has beaten before
him.
THE MILWAUKEE, RioT.-The riot at the lee
ture Of Mr.. Leahey in Milwaukee was quite as bad
as the telegraph reported. More than score of
persons were seriously hurt, and among the most
injured were Mr. L. S. Kellogg, an old man, one OF
the prominent members of the Methodist church,
and Mr.. G. ]. Fowler connected with the Milwau-
kie Mutual Insurance Co.
III. .Ioro.,r Al .A-s.a;.aI laitu nf the Roma