Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-08-31


National Constitution, TO "Republcan
principles. in number Mirty-nihc Of the
"Federalist," Mr. Madison says: "rhe
first question that offers itself is, whether
the general form and aspect of the Gov
ernment be Republican. ltis evident that
10 other form would be reconclable with
the genius of tie people Of Americe w'M
The fundamental principles Of tile ReOola-
ton !; or with that honorable determina-
Itienswllcha hapimatss every yotary Of froe-
dom, to rest all our political experiments
upon the capacity of mankind for self
government. If the plan of the Conven-
ton. therefore, be found to depart from the
Republican character, It's advocates must
abandon it as no longer defensible. =
After inquiring into the distinctive char
acters of the Republican FORM" after
citing Holland, Venice, Poland and Eng
land, which he considers examples "nearly
as dissimlar to each other as to genuine
republic" he says: "It is essential to
such Government, that it be derived from
the great body of society, not from an IN
considerable proportion, or a. fa0ored class
Of IT," This, taken in connection with
his idea, that "where slavery exists the
Republican theory is fallacious, (sce
above) we consider case strong and
unanswerable as regards his views of the
utter incompatibilty of Republicanisnl
and slavery. Query. Was Madison a
"Block Republican %
Wednesday, May 13, 1887 First
Session of the first Congress under our
present Constitution.
Mr.. Parker, Of Virginia, moved to in
sert a clause IN the bill on imports) i'm
posing duty on the importation of slaves,
of ten dollars for each person.
After several members had expressed
themselves upon this motion, James Madi-
son, of Virginia, spoke as follows: 81
cannot agree with gentlemen who think the
present an improper time or place to enter
into Discussion of the proposed motion.
If it is taken up in separate view, we
shall do. the. same thing at a graa,ers. rsxs
pense Of time. But gentleman say it is
improper to conduct the two objects, be-
cause they do not come within the title OF
the bill but the objection may be obviated
by accommodating the title to the contents.
There may be some Inconsistency in COM
bining the ideas which gentleman have
expressed, that is, considering the human
race as species of property but the evil
does not arise from adopting the clause
now proposed it is from the importation
to which it relates. Our object in emu
merating persons ON paper with mer,
chandise, is to prevent tie practice Of
actually treating them as such, by having
them in future form part Of the cargoes of
goods, wares, and merchandise to be i'm
ported into the United States. The motion
is calculated to avoid the very evil intima-
ted by the gentlemen. (The evil of con-
sidering human beings as property.
1t has been said that this tax is partia
and oppressive but if a fair view is taker
of this subject, l think We may form /
! different conclusion. But if it be partia
or oppressive, are there not many instances
in which we have laid taxes Of this nature;
But are they not thought to be justified by
national policy? If any article is war
ranted on this account, how much more
are we authorized to proceed on this oc
count /? The dictates Of humanity, til,
principles Of The people, tile national sqtet.
and happiness, and prudent policy requir,
IL OF us. The Constitution has particu
larly called our attention to it, and of al
the articles contained in the bill before U.S.
this is one of the last l should be willing
to make a concession upon, so far as am
at liberty to go, according to the terms o
the Constitution or principles of justice
l would not have it understood that M,
zeal would carry me to disobey the invio
liable commands of either.
Understand it has been intimated, tha
the motion was inconsistent or uncon
stitutional. believe, sir, my worthy col
league has found the words with particular
reference to the Constitution any how
SO far as the duty is expressed, it perfect.
accords with that instrument. If ther,
are any Inconsistencies in it, they may b.
recti6ed, l believe the intention is wei
understood, but am far from supposins
the dIctiOn improper. If the description
Of the persons does not accord with til,
ideas of the gentleman from Georgia
{ Mr. Jackson) and his idea is a proper one
for the committee TO adopt, see no diff
fieulty in changing the phraseology.
/ conceive the Constitution, in that par
ticular, was formed in order that the Gov