Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-19
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

slave Representation in Congress The
three-ffths representation of slaves provide
IN the constitution is generally regarded as
concession made by the North to secure tn
harmony without which the constitution itself
could never have been formed. Even Story has
taken this view, and says that though seen
to be unequal in its operation, it was a neces-
sary sacrifice to that spirit of Cancellation on
which the Union was founded "-(Ccumep.
on Const. 642.)
1t Is well known that in the convention
which framed the constitution great differ.
ences OF opinion and interests prevailed upon
two points These were, first, as to EQUALITY
Of representation i'll both branches Of Copyress
Tor which the smaller States contended; and
secondly, as to representation of slayes-tbe
eouthern States contending that the entire
number Of slaves ought to be represented
and the Northern that as slaves were proper.
~ they were no more entitled to representa-.
ton than other species Of property.
These differences we're comp-omi.ed bv tho
adoption OF the provisions now found in the
Constitution. We maintain that, on the latter
point, the concession was made chiefly bv 10
South The mere statement Of the one siio,
shows ID at there was concession ON bofb s;dao
as the views Of neither fnallz nrevo;,ad
Why then, is 1t called exclusively a Northern
concession, unless it be said that the demands
Oh TIE South were SO preposterous as To mari,
no consideration? But is it so7 An,or,h
slaves are property, they are cortainIv ns,-
sons as WELL and are recognized as such
Dy the laws They form the mass of the
iaoorins population of the South D.; and. %
such, I'LL TIA place which otherwise von,d b.
cc'oPied oy freemen- If, then, population
DC taken as the basis Of representation. "a II
Is In republican governments, it is proper that
the entire population be considered.
We, therefore, claim that slaves ought TO be
represented in their relation as psrsOus. nj.
though they may sustain another relation rs
property In like manner, minor ebiIdren
are enumerated as persons eonstitnt;n, . ,o,-
population to De represented per
'4p''0' although their parents possess a ,neciss
VI properly In their services. So. too With
regard 70 apprentices who owe ss,v;o. -
masters In precisely the same zna,,,.xy
gree as slaves, except as to the duration ~
such services. In all these cases, the tue
iations cf property and persons ought 70 h,
Kept distinct; and it is only in the latter :,
pacity that slaves are represented at all
taxing this view, We think that the consent o.
'ne South to a enrtaiisd representation of il,
sisVe population was q concession Of grss,
magnitude, made, in a spirit of patriotic de-
'oton' Tor the common interest and welfare
Ii the three millions of slaves were declared
iree tomorrow, they would become entitled n
iul enumeration, ard the South uould ,ho,.h,
receive an addition of about tbirtv-sva usS
ber' to the House of Representative, v., -.
POP iopola'iOn IN that section would b. precisely
consistency!-Ths delegates to the ,.,.
National Wing Convention were scorcb,,.,w
ardent In the expression Of their devotion :,