Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1865-09-29
The Basis OF Representation.


Juuge Upbam, of Vermont, in re.
cent letter has published the following
valuable suggesti0ns: - t.I
1T will be borne in mind that, by she
provisions of the Constitution, rs now
Established, representatives ia Congress
and electors of President and Viee.P Pres
ident Of the United States are appor.
lined TO the several States OH the basis
of adding To the whole number of free
persons in each State three fifths of NIL
other persons fgi3a fIe-t t.aa.
BY the census Of 1860, there were,
in the Southern States, nearly four mill.
ions OF slaves. Three fifths of that mum
bvr, or twenty.four hundred thousand
of them. are therefore, by the Constiiu-
tion us II now exists, entitled To be rep.
resented, and, under the present appor
tionment OF members Ia Congress, tho
voting population of the Southern States
would have eighteen representatives ia
Congress and n like number of electors
moro thnn the same voting population
Of the Mouth.
'Wuhrslavery abolished. the remain.
ing two iiilhs are represented, cuusing
n farther inequality ot twelve rcpresetrp
,atlvIs, r thriy IN all, making the rep.
resonia,ion Ia Congress to which tho
South would be entitled ninety -seren
meu bers, when they should have but
rix y-sevcn; nn inequality, by ilirce
votes, greater than tho entire reprts SON
tation oi Now England, or her .ntlre
voice ~ tie selection of Prcsidsnt and
Vice President. tFtf
"lt is manifest that this astounding
insquhi1, should not bc tulernted. We
cannot afford 10 stultiiy ourselves N this
dsy OF cur final reekoning with tho
South, by tho longer contiuuance of such
prcpondciance Of power Ia disloyal
lntds. :. The mode most usually
advocated ~ 10 act on lbo Southern
$ tea directly by tho power Of the Ex-
ccutiye ana Congress apd enforce such
demands 10 lhey may hold escn,a! .t
peace.
ut 10 Questionable whether tho course
proposed Ia tho best adapted for this
trial. I'll. peremp,ory. based on terms
presented by the Executive on Congress
ulone; and II these terms are not acccd-
cd To, tho South is To be withheld from
hll political union with u indefinitely
How Iong this dead lock should " arise,
can bc sustained before M excited pub.-
llu. wih0ut serious deletlment 10 tho
country or roirOnction Ia oIr canre, "
IN impOHuible TO say. IL IN Olstrly dos
sfnble 81 10 ifBme our cOiliee ha 90 mhku
some progress from the first with tho
South, aud farther, In case Of direct Ia
sue with ihem, II would tend very much
To strengthen eur position, could we
show a concurrent action VI tho people
Ia its favor. ~ I.a.faHa EH gHlH
Any movement nnde should also bc
general aud peaceful IN ita character II
u oa N ba 40. raj her than adopted ap q
punish mont, or confined 10 ~ single stu.
tiob OF tho country We should place
The Whole people 10 the same relation
% the avlored faos IN reference 10 their
civil rights, rather thas attempt 10 en-
iofee on others what we are not willing
cordially ~ adopt ourselves ~ matter
OF duty and priipiple. iI IS l.
~ will now proceed 10 consider y
mode OF REORGANIZATION that seems 10
me more preisfaileI that Ia, by making
such changes ~ the Consultation or or
gaaIe law ~ shall secure the desired fe'
hahF ..Hlamt fI
THE hml inquiry which arlseA here
ID, whether such ebangds uan be made,
This depends much on the number of
States wboHe assent IN tho preseHt uon'
d ton of the country 10 required Tor
THIS purpose,
"Prior 20 The rebellion, tho States
were lhlrlyihlg IN number, eleven OF
whom seeded. reducing the number ~
tho unlon 10 twenty tive, by whom ell
legislation Tor tho Iast tour yeara has
beep perfected, and the war has been
carried 90 " Ito teal triumph, During
all this time, neither in Legislation, 10
strife, orin lrinmph, have tho seesded
States constituted, practically, any por'
ton OF tho Union. Wo have voted Ia
admit new Stsios, We have elected q
President aud Vloe-p esldenl; have
conducted most critic negotiations
abroad, apd discharged allihe functions
lof nation. Our banner has Heated