Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-18
RICHMOND WING.
THURSDAY MORNING......JAN. Is, 1866
Mr.. Blaine's Speech.


unknown MANN che House OF Commons to
speak on some question under consideration
He spoke FIVE minutes, and sat down with his
reputation established as one Of the Soundest
constitutional lawyers in England. If may
credit the representations Of Washington let
ter writers, somewhat similar feat was re-
Gently performed by the lion. JAMES e.
BLAINE, of Maine, in the House OF Represent
atives.
1t was announced in all the newspapers that
way of preserving the integrity ofthe Republican
party, a mode OF harmonlzing all differences OF
opinion, and of securing the cooperation ofthe
President had been happily eontriyed. This
was in the nature ola compromise, by which
1t was agreed that the Constitution should be
so amended as to make voters, instead Of pop
ulation, the basis of representation-in other
words, TO give to the States, in future, rep
resentatiOn proportional to their voters in-
stead of their inhabitants. The object OF this
was to do indirectly what the President eN-
pressly declared in his message the Federal
Government could not dO--coutrol the elective
franchise in the States. IL was intended To
force the Southern States to confer suffrage
upon the negroes, by Ordaining that, unless ne
groes are allowed suffrage, they shall not be
included in representation. 1t was known
that this would greatly diminish the number Of
Southern representatives in Congress, and
would thereby act as an inducement to the
Southern States to extend suffrage to the freed
men. All at once this Shrewd and illicit de-
vice became immensely popular, especially
with the New EnglanderS, who regarded 1t rs
a sovereign remedy for all existing political
evils. Just at this iuncture Mr.. BLAINE took
the floor, and delivered speech which, from
its length in print could hardly have occupied
more than ten minutes in the delivery. He
had scarcely spoken three minutes before he
had so successfully punctured the bladder as
to cause it to collapse. New England shrewd-
ness had outwitted itself. In setting trap Tor
the Southern States, it came near catching il
itself. Mr.. BLAINE, Shrcwder than the shrewd-
est, opened the eyes Of the astoniShed New
Englauders to the perilous situation in which
this continuance would place them.
Mr.. BLAINE acknowledged that, as "an alb
stract proposition" population is the true ba-
sis of representation, but cOntended that it
should not be recognized now, rs it would CON
tinue non-voting negroes Is the basis of repre-
sentatiOn. He said q Were the negroes en-
a. franchsed throughout the South to-day, no
one would insist on the adoption Of this
" amendment and yet if the amendment shall
" be incorporated in the Federal Constitution,
It's Incidental cells irW abide IN The loyal States
tong after the direct cell, ,rLici aims 10 cure,
may haze been erdiicdtcd u, the SOUtteIl
e States He then proceeds to show that the
ratio of voters to population differs very widely
in different sections, varying in the nineteen
free States las he calls them from minimum
Of nineteen per cent. to maximum OF :Vty-
eight per cent, and that the changes which this
fact would work in the relative representation
ofcertain States - would be monstrous." Says
Mr.. BLAINE:
For example California has 4 population Of
35S no and Vermont 3l4, 800, and each has three
representatives this floor to-day. But California
has 100000 voters, aud Vermont has SI,OOO As
suming voters the basis OF apportiOnment, and al
lowing 10 Vermont three representatives California
with nearly times the population Of California,
would have but little more than twO-and-a-halt
times the number OF representatives and New ORR.
with quite eleven times the population OF California,
would have, in the style of apportiOnment less
than five times as many members Of this HOuSe.
California il may be said presents an extreme cas-,
but no more than will continually recur Tor lhe
next century under the stimulus 10 the emigration
of young voters from the older states 10 the inviting
fields of the Mississippi Valley and the Pacific
slope.
= But cases less extreme than California will pre-
sent quite as clearly the injurious working oil the
proposed change. Take two States-Oue in the Fast
and one in the West-nOt greatly differing IN aggre-
gate population, for example, Massachusetts and IN
diana-the former with 1921 ~ inhabitants, Tue
latter with 32S7 lO Massachusetts has to-day tcn
Represe natives on this floor and Indiana has eleven
an exactly fair appOrtiOnment But Massachusetts,
has only 227 429 voters, while Indiana has 3loo2t
and therefore ON the new basis, n Massachusetts,
should retain her ten Representatives Indiana would
be allowed about fifteen, and IL Indiana should he
confined 20 her eleven, Massachusetts, would be re-
duced 70 seven. And I might addUce many other
Instances showing the gross inequalities Of repre-,
sentatOn to which the proposed amendment would
subject the loyal States
In order to hurt the South as much as posi-
BILE, and to avert all injury from New England,
Mr.. BLAINE offers proposition Of his own as
a substitute for the scheme of making voters
the basis Of representation. He says;
THE Constitution Of the United States, article
one section two, clause three, reads follows to
the frst period;
REPRESENTATIVES and direct taxes shall be ap-
portioned among the several States which may be
included within this Union according to their respec-
tive numbers which shall be determined by (cddtHS
TO the WhOle HHmber IF free persons, inci2eNg
those bound 10 Serrice for term IF years, and er
Gliding IndiaHS not tGret, thTeeftthS Of all other
Pers0nS.I
theses has become meaningless and nugatOry by the
adoption of the constitutional amendment which
aboiishes the distinction between " free persons and
all other persons" aud being thus dead letter
might As well be formally struck out; and in its
stead propose 10 insert the words following IN
cuded in parentheses 50 that the clause as amended
will read thus:
Representatives and direct taxes shall be appor
toned among the several States which may be in
cluded within this Union according 10 their respec
tive numbers. which shall De determined by taking
the irhOie number IF persons ercePt thoSe 20 rhom
ciriI or political rights or pr1rtegcS ere DENIED Or
abridged by the Consultation or iaarv II any state
on account Of race or cotor)
This is a very simple and very direct way, Il
seems TO me- Of reaching the result aimed At with
out embarrassment to any other question or interest
IL leaves population. as heretofore the basis Of Ppre-
sentatiOn, does not disturb IN any manner the hAr-
monous relations Of the loyal States and eonclu-
svely deprves the southern states Of all representa-
ton in Congress on account of the cOlOred pOpula-
ton, so long those states may choose 10 aDridSt
deny to that population the political rights ant
privileges accorded 10 Others. The adoption OF th's
amendment as a part Of the Federal Constitution
would venture 20 predict secure the right Of Sui-
age 10 the eolOred population throughout the south
in a very few yearS And ! doubt If in any other
mode that right can be secured 50 speedily 50
tainly and 50 enduringy.'
This brief speech Of Mr.. BLAME settled the
fate Of the nOstrum that had gained so much
favor, at least with New Englandcrs. They
are all as much opposed TO it now as they were
in favor of it before. Mr.. BLAINE became AT
once a great man-a leader statesman ot
originality and scope OF mind, who could Sc,
the bearings Of an important measure NOR,
clearly than any other member of the House
Mr. BLAINE openly ayOws that his object i
to compel the Southern States to extend sui
frage to the negroes, without putting in jeo
pardy any Northern interest. All OF the IA
ideals are agreed as to one thing-that is to in
Aict upon the Southern people as heavy blow
as possible, but not to harm hair Of an