The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1857-09-03

slnnk from the discharge Of their duty
and their yete as Legislators, or attempt
ed to check by insidious amendment, OF
by open opposition measure Of the deep
est moment to the welfare Of the people
The reasons upon which are grounded
the Instructions, for which Mr.. Ely NOV
ed, ere SO clesssbso strong and SO irdis.
putable, that no direct answer TO them
has been attempted either in the Legis-
laturh, or in the newspaper speculations
which have appeared on the subject
The rule Of representation prescribed By
the Constitution Of the United States is
universally admitted to be UNEQUAL, and
when combined with the practice under
the Constitution il oppressive and on all
States holding few or no slaves. At
Ipresent the people of the United States,
consist of two classes. \ privileged or
der Of slave-holding Lords, and race of
men degraded to lower station, merely
because they are not shareholders. EY-
cry planter South of the Potomack, has
one vote for himself, and votes in effect
for every 5 slaves he keeps in bondage !;
while New England farmer, who con-
tributes tenfold as much to the support
Of the government, has only single vote
our share of representation is only pro-
portionate to numbers, their share is in
the same proportion Of ofnumbers, and their
property is represented besides. At the
time when the Constitution was formed
this provision was admitted on the ground
that the burden of taxation should be ap-
portioned to the benefit Of representation
The experience Of fifteen years however
has proved the errour Of these calcula-
tions. The experience Of fifteen years
has proved that four fifths of the bur
dens Of this government must be sup
ported by the States. which have no rep
rascntation for slaves The benefits
pledged to US. rs compensation for in
adequate taxation is not secured to us =
we are doubly taxed, and they are doub-
ly represented.
The necessary consequence Of this has
been the loss OF all our weight aud indu-
ence in the Councils Of the Union. It is
fact we'll ascertaincd that the excess Of
Southern Representation decided the fate
Of the last election for President and
Vice president Of the Cnited States the
same event must inevitably follow every
contest in which the interests Of the
North and those Of the South shall be at
variance. While the present system of
representation continues, an even balance
in the National Councils must not be ex-
pectcd. The slave representation like
the sword of Brennus, will forever be
thrown into the Southern scale, and must
forever make ours kick the beam. @
In a moral and political view, this rep
resentation Of the slaves is alike objec-
ticnable The number Of those misera-
bic beings already existing in some States
Is such as to occasion the most serious
alarm in all humane and thinking minds.
MIR Jefferson has said that the populace
of large cities, no more add strength to
the body politick, than sores to the natu-
raj body. If this comparison be just the
slaves of our Southern noigbors are ab-
Isccsses of the deepest and most danger
Gus matter to our national body. In
J stead Of strength they are dist2mpor,
which if it cannot be eradicated, ought
: at least not 10 be fostered and stimula-
ted. BY allowing representation for
, slaves, We encourage and reward the in
famous trafick Of human flesh and ac-
cordingly We fRd that although at one
; period this traficll was prohibited in al
our stataa, set the temptation to allow it
has already ovcrpowercd every other con
t sideration in South Carolina, and she has
opened her ports to that disgracetul
: trade.
: 1t will not be necessary at this day tc
prove that in the eye Of morality this pur-
chase aud sale of man, is criminal. The
/ laws of the United States have long since
: declared it so, and as such it is prohibit
ed to every citizen of the United States
on the seyerest penalties THUS the Con
stitution instigatcs aud urges the South.
9 ern States 10 that which the laws pun
: ish as a crime 1t makes the highest
: privilege of frecmen, the purchase of ac
t cumulatcd slavery. 1t says to the North
:. crn and navigating States, you shall not
: trade in slaves. lfyou do your ships anC
/ their cargoes shall be confscated, you1
: estates shall be ruined by fines, and your
: persons shall be buried i'll dungeons, anc
: at the same breath 1t says to the South
: ern States deal in saves-muItiply the
: fetters of yogr bondage, and for ever,
: five victims of avarice and cruelty
: you import within your territories, yol
! shall have an increase Of three votes to
: wards composing the legislative and ex
e e0utiye authorities of the nation For il
= the very same act it offers bounty t,
e one citizen, while it brandishcs tn
!. scourge over another. Can anything b
!. more mhuman? Can any thing be NOR
T absurd
: Thus in whatever point of view W
contemplate this provision in the Cot'