Year: 1865

THE THREE-FIFTHs RULE.


Under the old order of things, in choosing
members of Congress, five slaves counted the
same as three white men, or rather three
free men, for it is not restricted by the word
white;" and we know that free negroes
were reekoned at the par value. That is in
making the apportionment for Representa-
tiyes to Congress, all free persons, white or
colored, were reckoned, and three-fflhs of
all the slaves. Not that the masters We're
allowed to vote on their slaves as some have
supposed, but they were simply included in
the way we have mentioned, in making the
apportionment


But the war has made great limo
vations - wrought great changes. Now
there are no slaves to apportion-virtually
so-for slavery is abolished by the war pow
or or State action, in all the States except
Kentucky and our own little Delaware
(lsnt that tish-bone in her throat the
sting Of bee that no longer affords honey?)
And the question is, what will become of
the three e-tifths ruleg How are these slaves,
or rather freedmen that were slaves to be
reckoned nowg OF course the number of
Representatives from the South, so far as
they are allowed to be represented at all,
will remain-as determined by the census of
1880 and the apportonment then made on
the slave basis-til the next census, and
new apportionment But what will be the
basis Of the new apportionment in reference
to the blacksS These freedmen will not be
reckoned as they were when slaves; neither
will they be left out The South would not
consent to this. They would be entitled to
some twenty Representatives less than un-
der the old order of things, even if the black
population did not increase. Undoubtedly
they will be counted the same as white men
The Constitution determines this. 1t is ex-
pressly required in these words" Repre-.
sentatiyes, and direct taxes shall be appol-
toned among the several States which may
be included in this Union, according to their
respective numbers which shall be deter
mined by adding TO the tchole number of
FREE PERS0NS-including those bound
to service for term of years, and exclud-
ing Indians not taxed-three- e-ihhs of all
other persons. Art l, Sec. 9, So.


Now that this three -fiflhs rule, like the old
Scotch clergyman's thirdly, has, as we have
seen, stepped out, what shall fill the gap? The
Freedmen will do this, so Tar rs the appor
tionment is concerned. But there are other
principles disturbed by these changes Will
the North, in adjusting the balance of pow
/ 10 hos Ill
not only as much as when they were slaves,
but equal with the white voters of the North
and yet consent TO see them denied the right
to vote? VIII the South be permitted to
count them as citizens in eectng their mem
bers OF Congress, while they are deprived of
this and other privileges that go to make them
valuable tax paying citizens? Will the
country at large consent to release the rich
men OF the South from the obligation to pay
taxes on the negro, as they were obliged to
do under the old ruleP Or will they consent
to take the negro himself, disfranchised and
stripped of nearly every thing that would
make him good tax-paying citizen? Never
We are confident they would not. The ne
gro must be made freeman, or at least we
must have our full share of taxes on his
head, to help pay the expenses of this costly
shareholders war,


But will the Southern people he willing 10
pay taxes on the negro now that they can
no longer have the benefit of his labor.
whether we reckon five negroes the same as
three white men, or count them as free men,
man for mani win not the latter rule make
it the harder for men of property who will
have the taxes to payf


Perhaps we shall be told that according to
the present system, taxes are levied not by
the head, as formerly, but upon property,
and that alike, in all parts of the country
But even five grant this, has not the whole
country, and especially the South, all that
they can stand under? And is it not the only
way to make the negro pay his full share of
the taxes, to make him citizen, and conse.
quently an intelligent industrious, selfreli-
ant, property-owning man? 1t seems To Il.
that all classes, and all parts Of the country,
nave an interest in eleyating the negro. if
we would not sink the nation. ~