1. DEBATE OVER CONSTITUTION

By this mode of apportionment, the representatives of the different
parts of the union, will be extremely unequal; in some of the southern
states, the slaves are nearly equal in number to the free men; and for
all these slaves, they will be entitled to a proportionate share in the
legislature-this will give them an unreasonable weight in the govern-
ment, which can derive no additional strength, protection, nor defence
from the slaves, but the contrary. Why then should they be represented?
What adds to the evil is, that these states are to be permitted to con-
tinue the inhuman traffic of importing slaves, until the year 1808-and
for every cargo of these unhappy people, which unfeeling, unprinci-
pled, barbarous, and avaricious wretches, may tear from their country,
friends and tender connections, and bring into those states, they are
to be rewarded by having an increase of members in the general as-
sembly. There appears at the first view a manifest inconsistency, in the
apportionment of representatives in the senate, upon the plan of a
consolidated government. On every principle of equity, and propriety,
representation in a government should be in exact proportion to the
numbers, or the aids afforded by the persons represented. How unrea-
sonable, and unjust then is it, that Delaware should have a represen-
tation in the senate, equal to Massachusetts, or Virginia? The latter of
which contains ten times her numbers, and is to contribute to the aid
of the general government in that proportion? This article of the con-
stitution will appear the more objectionable, if it is considered, that the
powers vested in this branch of the legislature are very extensive, and
greatly surpass those lodged in the assembly, not only for general pur-
poses, but, in many instances, for the internal police of the states. The
other branch of the legislature, in which, if in either, a faint spark of
democracy is to be found, should have been properly organized and
established-but upon examination you will find, that this branch does
not possess the qualities of a just representation, and that there is no
kind of security, imperfect as it is, for its remaining in the hands of the
people.
It has been observed, that the happiness of society is the end of
government-that every free government is founded in compact; and
that, because it is impracticable for the whole community to assemble,
or when assembled, to deliberate with wisdom, and decide with dis-
patch, the mode of legislating by representation was devised.
The very term, representative, implies, that the person or body cho-
sen for this purpose, should resemble those who appoint them-a rep-
resentation of the people of America, if it be a true one, must be like
the people. It ought to be so constituted, that a person, who is a stran-
ger to the country, might be able to form a just idea of their character,

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