New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-10-23
nAa1s ID MISREPRESENTATION.

w6aIS OF REPRESENTATION
i -ss-
IN Mississippi the representation in the Legislature
il founded exclusively upon white population. The
Mssissppians in their organic law, entirely ignore
the representative quality of the negro, although
their statute laws do not fail to tax that description
! Of property BY any manner Of means. The oonse-
quence is that the largest taxpayng counties have
smaller representation in the legislative branches of
the Government than some Of the smallest taxpayng
counties This is, at least to q considerable extent,
taxation without representation" and as FART goes,
is yolatiye of that cardinal principle, the outraging
ofwhch by the British Parliament led to the Ameri.
can Revolution, What would our neighhors say if
the three-fths representation of their slaves in the
lower house Of Congress was refused them? They
would become justly indignant, and would raise
tremendous clamor for their rights, in which we
would join them heart and soul-but what crushing
reply Freeso House Of Representatives could make
to them by saying "You refuse the Shareholders of
your own State slave representation in your own Le
gisature. BY what show Of right, justice Or equity
can you ask US, enemies Of the Institution of slavery,
to allow you that in the Congress of the United States
which you deny your own immediate eitizens?"
But is not our purpose to discuss this branch Of
the subject at present. and besides it is matter rest
ing particularly with our neighbors We should not
have alluded TO it Of all but for the fact that discus
sion in regard to it is being carried on in our sister
State. Mr. Henry Hughes, of Claiborne county, has
been writing series of able letters to Mr.. R. Il.
Purdom, editor Of the Jackson Eagle Of the South.
The points principally touched upon refer to State
policy and many reforms are urged with much yigor
and ability The following paragraph in relation to
the basis Of representation, however, is it seems to
u.s. worthy extended circulation and even those who
may differ from its premises and conclusions may
find in it matter worthy serious reflection Says Mr..
Hughes
statute providing for the adoption of at least the
Federal basis OF representation is Indispensable
Atpresent, our representation is based on the num-
Der Of whites and the negroes are not counted. In
the Federal basis, threeifths OF them are counted
But if justice is the rule if representation ought to
be proportional to taxation, ii agraranisIn ought to
be repr0bated it the concurrence of the classes ought
to be essential to the passage of law ii negroes are
not bTutes but entitled to be represented through
their masters, whose interests are from the nature of
the case, with those of the negroes, if masters
are entitled in these alarming times to legislative
power adequate to the protection of their rights and
their negroes rights then at least the Federal basis of
representation ought to be established AS it now is
one swamp county pays three times the taxes Of some
counties which have three times the representation
If the next Legislature does not take steps against
this Ubiquitous and stultifytng system think that
can safely predict armed resistance against the next
revenue law. Anything 80 notifying to State pride
will trust be iudcioasly obyiated. The true policy
is that taxation shall be proportional to representa-
ton. Let the policy be ordained for whatever con
tradicts it is agrariansm and our policy is to repro
brate agfaranism. The principle OF the enumeration
Of negroes is justice in representation. In Louisiana
it based on the total populations the least possible
compromise is the three fiths basis,
Referring to the letter in question: and to the ex
tract above given, the Yicksburg True Southron Of
the Goth SAYS:
Ii the Federal basis is a right and just basis for
representation in Congress- why is it good basis
for representation in the Legislature Of Mississippi
Is there any greater diversity Of opinion and interest
between the several States of the Union than there
is between the several sections of the State And if
this diversity between counties exists as it unGues-
tionahly does, why, If justice and right be desired
should not the Federal basis be adopted in our own
State
The time man come when a Convention will be |
called to remodel the Constitution of the United
States. The North looks with no favor on the Fed
eral basis and whenever convention meets North
ern representatives will earnestly endeayor to abolish
it, The South, on the other hand will, Just as earn
estly, strive to retain it. And yet when our repre-
sentstYes deeaim eloquently in favor of that basis
what answer can they make, when pointed to the fact
that in not single slave State in the contederacy
have we adopted it in apportoning Representatives
iii the Legislature
With what face can we demand this good thing of
the North, while we practically repudate and ignore
it 1T homer
The True southron is mistaken in one particular.
Louisiana adopted in 1852 the total population basis,
and believe that basis has given quite general sat
isfaction. Demagogues have attempted to disturb it
now and then but only to be discounted. In this
State, if in other slave State, taxation and repre-
sentation go together, as they always should.
If this Union lasts ten years an effort will be made
and probably successful one, to remodel or change
the Federal Constitution The chances are that the
freesoi States will have the constitutional preponder
ance and if they don't abolish slavery outright they
will certainly cut off slave representation in Congress-
They may spare slavery on account Of the profits
they reap from its continuance, and for no other
reason, but they assuredly will not etsip the oppor
tnnity Of curtailing the influence ofsayeholders no
matter how predominant their own majority and
power.