Slave Representation

The qu3Stion wliether there ought to be any representation of property has been a subject of discussion for many years - and it is very remarcable that the Constitution of this Comtaonwcallh had, vhen' it was rust made, a provis-ion to this effect, for the ropresenlaiion of property which Ims been gradualy removed. The State of Massachusetts, prepared an address to ihe people in whica this subject was mentioned, and the people were tö prononnce upon it, whether it ohould be adopted or not. In that address. it was expressly stated, ihat in the farm of government which lliey liad made, the House of representaiives was to represent the persons, and the Senaie'were to représent the property.- These are pómts, pon which tiiere has been of ti.o Contitntion ror.omMfndeii, ilii-: ve;v yoar, hy ííic ii)rernOta'ístrney'. [{o has actunHy recommendéd fiíaí thc lasl spnrkof i br; principie' of the representotion of property in the Legiblatme should be rxiinugiiished. 1 mean that of r?fTuinng any tax to procede the right of suíiYoge.- : It is somewhat extraordinary, tliat while such has been thechange of opinión in the tninds of the people of this Cotnmonwealth, that even the representatives who had originañy,after deliberation, insefted it n'e a part of the Constitution, há?e agreed to' its beiiig expunged, and thus that the répressiataiioñ in both' branches of the Legislatura should r.ow bé founded upon the principie of representation." of persons alone, that still they shoutd submit to the Constitution of the United States,' wberem it is expressly deciared in the very words of the Constitution that both branches should be a represenïatiorï of pBrsons,yet, that under the name of othèr personé, should be included the represcntatiöriof chattels or prop-' erly. (Applau.se.) And what property? - The owners of tliat property, as persons, aró jiist as noch represented as we are, and yet pioperty is excluded by the very letter óf the' Constitution. Thus property is at óïice excluded. and cdmitted in the nunie of other persons. Now, I say, Fellow Citizens, that never was this calculated upon by our Reprcscntatives - how the effect of it is to be guarded against, I will notnow undertake to say- but cali your attention to the effect of it upon you and your interesfs - You have ten Representad ves of the persons in this Commonwealtb, you have no representation of property. Your pröperiy, wbat you liave vii'iuously and honestly acquired. is excluded. while the owner of the slave is not only represented, as you are, in his person. bui also in the persons of hh slaves. Does the slave give liis vote? No. Vho gave the vete? - The owner öf the slave. He has a vote fór himself and three votes for e very fiveslaves of'which he is the owner. And, iri considering this subject in its effects and consequences, we see twelve hundred millions of dollars represented by ninety members - where you have ten-- Slavery has ninety members; and all these ninety are boiind together by ties of such a nature, they are all the representativos, of one person; they are the representativos of fhat property. I ask you, Fellow Citizens to reflect upon this; in the first place - in point of principie. If there be an objection against property being represented. how strong must be that objection, to property of such a characteï . ïf there be a proprielyin admitíing a representation of property.upon what ground is it that your house and land, your shop and merchandise, should not be représentcd as well as slave property in the Councils of the Nation. Andexperience bas shown, that the representation is of the massof those who, on every question, inriiich the inierests of tbc country are concerned, vote together. And how think you it is possible in this state of things that right andjustice can prevail. Out of two hundred and twenty three members here are ninety Represeriiatives of that property, all combined together, and all going together. I beg that it may be undêrstood that I am not now speaking as an abolitionist. I do not put it upon the question of tho propriety or the justice of the abolition of slávery, but upon the ground of your equal rights, in the constitution of the United States, and in the representation of thera in the legislative body. The same inequality operates against you in the ëlection of President and Vice Presideut. TÍie electorial college is foüncfed upon the same principie. Ánd consequently, the chance of those who represent freemen, to be elected President of the United States, to that of those vho liold slaves, is about as one to one hun- dred. ín flie second place, that representationconstituties añ aristocracy, or rather an oligarchy. Your country is no longer a dernocracy, it is no longer even a republic - it is a governnïent of 2 oV 300,000' hoíders of slaves, to the utter exclusión of the remaining part, aiidall thc populatiotí of the other States in the Ünioñ; Ánd fhe wrong is as great upon the mass of the popuïation of the slave-holding States themselves, as upon the free States. It has been show'n ihat ihere ar