Massachusetts Proposition for Abolishing the Slave Representation as Guaranteed by the Constitution

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456 Tl1e llfassachusetts P roposition for Abolishing lhe Slave Repre,enlation. hers, and thereby increase the majority of membe rs free States-the fi1rther that slavery recedes from from the free States to 68. Jn 1790 the S lave-hold. Massachusetts, the more hostile she becomes to the iug States had 4D rcprescotati\'CS out of 106 : they ins titution, and the more prejudicial she esteems it now ha\'e 88 out of 223 members composing tl1e to her inte rest and happiness. She came chfler­House of Hepresentati,·es. From 1790 to 1840 fully iuto the Union and rat ified the Constitution at their representation in the lower house was dimin- a time when there were slaves in 1\ew Hampshire, ishcd from 46 to 3!:1 per cent of the whole number Hhodc Island, Connecticut, New. York, New J er­in the House of Representati\'CS. The polit ical sey arHl Pennsyhania. 1n 1800, tho:! slave popula­power of the non-Slave-lwlding States has greatly tion North of Korth C arolina was 55 percent,and augmented, and that of the Slave-holding States has in 18,10 it was reduced to 22 per cent-the fact declined during the last half a century. The cen- exhibiting a. g reat emigration of the slaves from the sus returns of each decade incontes tibly prove the North to the South. So long as s la\'ery pre\·ailed position, In the Senate, the Slave-holding States in the Northern States, M assachuscus said nothing once had 16 out of 30 Senators, or more than half; against the s lave reprcsemation, uor did she then now they have 26 out of 52. The new States of oppose the recovery of fugitive slaves, but the Iowa aud Florida are not embraced in these state- Korthern States having abol ished slaHr)·,and many mcnts, and if included, would not c hange the dews of their c it izens ha\' ing, with their usual forethoug ht presented. Jn the fa~e of these facts, the S outhern and sagacity, sold their sla\·es to Southern pla n­States ha,·e been in vited to concur in supporting an ters, Massachusells opened her eyes to all the innovation, the immediate efl'ect nf which would be horrors of the institution, and tn rt1ed amazingly pious to depri,•c them of nearly one fourth part of the and philanthropic. As the al!egecl cause of e\·il political power which they now possess in one receded, she thought the liability to injury was aug­branch of Congress. The relative number ofmem- men ted, a rattle-snake being, in her opinion, more bers from the Southern States has diminished, and <lang-erons at the distance of one mile than one foot. will probably continue to decline. To maintain the To the nasal organs of Massachusetts, the odor of position which they held on the floor of the House a s l:n·e is offensive in the ratio of the distance to of llepresentatives in 1700, they ought to return which he is removed beyond her territorial limits. 101 out of the 223 members of which the House The number of sla\'es in the United Statt:s in is now composed. 13y the present apportionment, liDO, was 607,8!:17: in 1840 it was 2,487,355: the according to the three- fifths principle, the 88 metu- proportion between the two periods being- 1 to 3.56. hers from the Slave.Jwlding States represent each During the same pe riod, the wllite population in­SI2,386persons, and $23,0i3,863 of capital, \\hich creased from 3 ,172,461 to 11,180,705: proportion is vested in agriculture, commerce, manufactures, 1 to •L47. From 1790 to 1840, the slave popula­trades and the lisheries. Jf their whole popu- tion, so far from having increased unduly has di­lation, s lave as well as free, were represented, they minished, in its relativ-e proportion to the whites, would have 102 members. The 102 representa- from 17. 76 per cent in 'DO to l 'L 58 per cent in ' ·10. ti\'CS from the Slave States would each represent The white population increased more rapidly than 71,10!] persons, and $10,906,862 of capital; the the slave, not only when the tchole U11 ion was rc· 135 represenlal ives from the free States would then g-arded, but a cotnjlarison of the census returns of each represent il,!Ol) persons and $20,•106,521 of 1830 with those of 18,10 will show that this was capitaL • When the articles of Confederation were the cas(l, in the Slave Slales alo11e, during the ten unde r discussion, John Adams observed, that" Rea- years inte rvening. The slave population has di­son, justice ami equality never had weig ht enoug h minished in its relati,•e proportion to the free popu­on the face of the earth to go\·ern the councils of lation-the slaves have been gradually removed men. It is inte rest alone which does it, aud it is from the Northern States to a more congenial eli­interest alone which can be t rusted, that therefore mate,• and the relative political power of the free the interests, within doors, should be the mathe- S lates has ste:tdily advanced for the lasL fifty years. matical reprcsentat[,•ee of the interests without Weighing these facts separately or collectively, doors." There is much force in these suggcs1ions, Massachusetts has no cause to apprehend any dan­and, according to them, tlu: Slave States ought to ger from the institution of slavery. have 102 representatives, instead of 88 as at present, The Constitution decl:tres that, " H.e presenta.­or 67 as implied in the proposition of J\lassachu- tives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among setts. the several S tates which may be included within The relative representation of the Slave.Jwlding States has dimin ished, and while this process of •From 1830 1~ 18-10, the sl11vfl population of.Maryllwd reduction has been stP-adily progressing, slavery has d~c.lined J_3,257 m .number, anJ the ."!ave poput11110n of ~ir-continued to ~e,cedt' furth er and ~u~ther from Mas- ~~~~~i~~;::i~pi ~~~:.~:=3~;~ ~~;.~:l~r~~~~it~~~es!~:~.!';pou:a~,~~ sachusetts. I he greater the poltucal power of the bnma 135,983. While the ~lave~ of Kentucky, for that de· cade, increased 17,015, the sla,·es of Louisiana increased •<;cnsus Tables. 58,8C. 1. 1845.] TIIC llfassachusells Proposition for A bolishing the Slave Representatio11. 457 this Union, according to their respective numbers, Massachusetts : "No power is gi,•en to the G ene· which s h<tll be dt!lermined by adding to their whole rat Government to interfere with respect to the number of free pe rsons, including those bound to property in sl:lvcs now held by the States. "-(El­service for a term of years, and excluding ln!lians liot's Debates, 3rd ·col.) not taxed, three fifths of all other persons .'' Eve ry Not" one word in the Cons tit ut ion recognizing tyro in politics knnws, that the expression, ' ' tl1ree- the rigln of property in p~rsoos !" Of course, by fifths of all other persons," has reference only to this logic, the Southern people have no right to t l10 slave population. T his language was used by demand the delivery of their fugitive sJa,·es, as the Con\'Cntion out of respect for the f:1stidious thr.rc can be no "property in persons." "The scruples of some of the Nor1hern membe rs, who Constitution does not atknnwledge slaves to be expressed a desire, that slaves should not be men. property," say l\ledsrs. Adams and Giddings. 1f tinned eo nomine. In the Con\·e nt ion of 'I\urth slaves are not propf'rty, \\h~.t are they~ T he abo~ Carolina, ~lr. I redell said, '· Though the wurd li1ionists must be ashamed to see such sophistry slave be not me1Hiuned, this is the meaning of it. and quibbling resorted tu by their c hampions on the T he Northern delegates, owing to their peculiar tlnor of thn House of Representatives. ''lt has scruples on the suhjcct of slavery, did not clnlOSt! hccn maintained by plausible .. rgument," (say the word .~lave to be mcn1ioned." Judge Story, Messrs. A. and G .. ) ''that the words • all other in his Commentaries, admits that" it was agrcerl perwns,' cannot, in fair cons truction, he understood that slaves should be represented ttndcr lhe mild to include s l.t.\'CS." They 1hcn remark, that they appellalion of · other persons.' " \ Vith all thesl:' ·• do not assPnt to that opinion." Dissent ing from thinqs, J uhn Quinr:ey Adams is perfectly familiar, that opinion, how can they escape the alternative, yet he and l\lr. Gtddings laid before Congress a 1hat the wMds "all 1,thcr persuns" reft'rred to Heport, in wllich they obscn-e, that ·• it it~ a grave s la,•es ~ and with what truth could 1hey assert it and gratuitnus ern1r to assume that the Const itu- lObe a ~ratn i1 o11s error, to assume th·1tthe CorBti­tion ackr1<~wl1•dges sla\'CS tn he property." They tution acknowledges s [a\·es to ht prnJWrty! deny thrtt there '' is one word iu the Consti1u1iou J\Tessr8. Adams and Giddin2s maintain tln.l the rec·o~uizin~ the ri~ht uf property in pc rsn11s .' slave rcprese ntati"n is rPpu~uant to the .. sdf-evi­T he CouSI\tUliou pro\·idt:'S, t h;Jt •. ~I) person be lli dclll tmths'' prm:bi ned iuthe o~f'l ar .• ti '"of [uric­to service ur labor iu one s.1are under the ]a\1 s vendf'1H;e, and should thercfure be a',oltslmd The thereof, esc:1piug into anothe r. shall, ill cunsequerwe Occlaration is nnt a 1reat ise on the >'U' •jCl't or' T!'JHe­nf 3ny law or rPgu lalion tbcrt'iu, he disdiHged scutat ion, and it Jne:~ not pree<·rihl• wh 11 sh d l hi" rf!· frum su~.:h Sf'rvice or l.dwr : hut .sha ll he ,lelivered ~ar(led n fi ~ iu~ rhe b,,st.s of CPJITE'S.- ntattLIIJ li1r wle­up on the t:larm of rhe pan,v, to 11 houl su~h ;;;Pr- pendeut and s II'Cn·igu .Sra11•s assuera!t~ l !, lrke ours, vice or labor nny be due.'' 1)1,] the FedPral Con- 111 a 1·oufederated Ht•puhlt<·. If ad :\!Pssr;; Ad" rus vent ion intrnd by this pnH' ision to di vesl frCf' rtiCll and Gidtliugs .,s,crted that the exule11ce of ,Javet')' of their liberty. <>.nd perlrlit them ro he >iCizcd au11 til these1·e ral Sta!f'S was Tf'jlll,!!"narlltfl the pnnr·iples delivered up 10 reud~r ·• servi1·e ur lahnr !" Surt'lV of the Dccl:'lratiuu ,,f Ju,1ependcucf', rh·• uh,ervation John Quilh'ey A<l,uns wtll uot have the lwrdihoo~l would uot ha,·e !Tit•ritt>d uut ief', hut \\ Care nut able to nwtnlatll rlw affir111 ltlf>. lie knm1s. and kt1011·,: In 1wrceil'e \\hat t lu;> ques1ion of the ha-.is o!' rf'prf'. thor"111.dd1, th;11 by th1s •·l:wse the C on1euti11n de- ~e u•. 1tiun ha~ tf1 du 11ith the ri~hts of lil'Ul Ill a Mate sigut•d thai 8hnl'.S ~lwll not be '·d i ~d1Hged , ' ' but of n.l\ure. ThP ll'lt ur .. d ri).!hr;,. of nnn 1111y he ad ­• · , h :~lllw dt'II'Pred up" to their m:~s te rs Xo in- 01itLed, but \I hen tll''ll ab ttlJlon a S!:ltf' nf nature. tell igPnt a nd unprt'JU·Iwcd mind can, r.,r 011p 1110• unite in sot'iety aurl n'>'nh·e h' nrrr·•ni:t.t' a go,·Prn­mf'nt, doub: tl ~ ~ tl11~ provision was iu"•'rt<•cl in th1 hJetd, the qtu•;:;tion of r('presPII\11ion Hil'e~, nut as C ,, n~ ttl ll t ••II ,o)t·h !n f'IL1hle thcpt'O jllt• oftheS[ave a QllC>'tit1n nf natnr:Li ri~ h t. but flS <t polit t(·aJ prol.J­l JUJdr u ~ :-:it:l\1'" tu re.·LUIIJ their fu !! i tirt~ ~l:tVP~ wheu lcm, to he dell'rlllincd hy a variety ( Jf c·i n·un,~tan ­t hey cec:tpe iuw ut hf>r ~~ !l~s, '' hl'rr ,.Ja,·uy dol's cf's . .. Jf all men are hy nawre CC]'Jally free, it not e~ist. Sut·h 11as lite tnl<'rpn·t;tlion g i\' CII cn-temporaueuu., Jy hy the authors ot' the ( 'ons t ttUilllll , • The iniuliTHl•le Dun Qnixolr w:1s not :norc f'nnmored such is the interprc t,ttiuu ari~ i ng from a rev iew of wi1h l..n i ~:~:ht crraut ry. 1h:1n Jolw Quinre\· AdR<us profr~.~es the cir~.:um.st :lrl ces which indueed tht'l Cunv('nticm to be wi•h the uh.-1r,,ct lrnth.'! of the Oel'hHal i,ln df lnde- to int~oduce the clause, ,and snt:h is the only cun- ~:~~.r:~,.':":;;e ~;;~~rtl~~'l:~~~;~;;:;i,:,)~:1;s~l"~ !:e~"~',:~f. ~~~~r~ stru~twn wa.r.ra 1~1 ~d by liS l :u~guage: lu the ?~Ill · tJ;npte holding s t,H·cs routd i:o~>~ne such a ON·Iarat ion? \'etllton of' trguua, when th1s p:~rt rc nlar pto\' lSIIHI The 1ws" rr of reason and of friendship 1\ HS, the Dcctura· was under cons ideration, ~J r . Mad ison obsen ed, tion iuelf i"' 1he a!.olition of ,.;l.u·ery." that the clause •• was expressly inserted to enable If so, "'hy Hi Ill"£ so much eoncrrn for the t.Ltcks? owners of sJa,·es to reclaim them." H e al'ailcd Thr Boston Gauue of J~1 ly '76 puLll>~hed 1he Oec!Rra-himself o~ that occasion to make the fo llowing re- ~i::~~~! 111~~~::;:~~~.~~:~~:'~5 11~c~~ 0~:.;;:):o::;· ~~:::1\:~:i mark, whrch \\C, by the way, take leave to com- for sale, :md the P1i11ter refe rretl to fur informal ion. The mend to the special attcntiiJn of the people of Continental Journal of Boston puU\ished ad\'Crtiscmenu VoL. XT-58