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Show ) 30 ARTICLES OF 80NFEDERATION. tiono.l vote will endanger the smaller States. We answer, that an equal vote will end:wger the larger. Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts, arc the three greater colo· 11 ies. Consider their uisLanee, their diiTcrcucc of produce, of interests, and of manners, and it is apparent they can never have an intcre. t or inclination to combine for the oppression of the smaller; that the smaller will naturally diYiuc on all questions with the larger. Rhode Island, from its relu.tion, similarity, and intercourse, will generally pursue the same objects with Massachusetts; J crsey, Delaware, and ~1aryland, with Pennsylvania. Dr. Rush took notice, that the decay of the liberties of the Dutch republic proceeded from three causcs-1. 'fhc per· feeL unanimity requisite on all occasions; 2. Their obligation to con ·ult their constituents; 3. Tbcir voting by provinces. This last destroyed the equality of representation; and the liberties of G rcat Britain, also, are sinking from the same defect. rrhat a part of our rights is deposited, in the hands of our leg· islaturcs. There, iL was admi tied, there should be an equality of representation. .Another part of our rights is deposited in the hands of Congress. Why is it not equally necessary there should be an equal representation there? Were it possible to collcet the whole body of the people together, they would determine the question submitted to them by their authority. Why should not the same majority decide, when voting here by their representatives ? The larger colonies are so providcnLioJiy divided in situation, as to render every fear of their combining visionary. Their in· tcresls arc different, and their ci1·cumstances dissimilar. It is more probable they will become rivals, and leave it in the power of the smaller States to give preponderance to any scale they please. The voting by the number of free inhabitants will have one excc11cnt effect-that of inducing the colonies to discourage slavery and to encourage the in· crease of their free inhabitants. ARTICLES OF CONFEDEHATION. 31 Mr. llopkins observed, there were four larger, four smaller, anu four middle-sized coloni es. That the fout· largest would contain more than lmlf the inhabitants of the confederating SLates, and therefore would govern tho others as they shoulc.l please. That history a[ords uo in· stance of suc;h a thing as equal rcprcscn taLi on. The G crmauie bouy votes by StaLes ; the Ilcl vctic body docs the same; and so docs the Belgic confederacy. That too liLLie is known of the ancieut confederations to say what was their practice. Mr. Wilson thought that tuxation should be in proportion to wealth, but that representation should accord with the number of freemen. 1,hat government is a collection or result of the wills of all; that if any government could speak the will of all, it would be perfect; and that, so far as it departs from this, it becomes irn perfect. It has been said that Congress is a. representation of SLates, not of iudividuals. I say, that the objects of its care arc all the individuals of the Stutes. It is strange that annexing the name of 11 State" to ten thousand men, should give them an equal right with forty thousand. This must be the effect of magic, not of reason. .As to those matters which are referred to Congress, we are not so many SLates; we are one large SLate. W c lay aside our individuality whenever we come here. Tile Germanic body is a burlesque on government, and their practice on any point is a sufficient authority and proof that it is wrong. The greatest imperfection in tho constitution of the Belgic confederacy is their voting by provinces. 'rhc interest of the whole is constantly sacrificed to that of the small States. The history of tho war in the reign of Queen .Anna sufficiently proves this. It is asked, Shall nine colonies put it into the power of four to govern them as they please? |