But Before We Go Into That Matter Of Taxation, I Must Explain How
The South Was Again Favored With Reference To Its Representation.
As A Matter Of Course No Slaves, Or Even Negroes - No Men Of Color -
Were To Vote In The Southern States.
Therefore, one would say, that
in counting up the people with reference to the number of the
representatives, the colored population should be ignored
altogether.
But it was claimed on behalf of the South that their
property in slaves should be represented, and in compliance with
this claim, although no slave can vote or in any way demand the
services of a representative, the colored people are reckoned among
the population. When the numbers of the free persons are counted,
to this number is added "three-fifths of all other persons." Five
slaves are thus supposed to represent three white persons. From the
wording, one would be led to suppose that there was some other
category into which a man might be put besides that of free or
slave! But it may be observed, that on this subject of slavery the
framers of the Constitution were tender-mouthed. They never speak
of slavery or of a slave. It is necessary that the subject should
be mentioned, and therefore we hear first of persons other than
free, and then of persons bound to labor!
Such were the rules laid down for the formation of Congress, and the
letter of those rules has, I think, been strictly observed. I have
not thought it necessary to give all the clauses, but I believe I
have stated those which are essential to a general understanding of
the basis upon which Congress is founded.
The Constitution ordains that members of both the Houses shall be
paid for their time, but it does not decree the amount. "The
Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their
services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of
the United States." In the remarks which I have made as to the
present Congress I have spoken of the amount now allowed. The
understanding, I believe, is that the pay shall be enough for the
modest support of a man who is supposed to have raised himself above
the heads of the crowd. Much may be said in favor of this payment
of legislators, but very much may also be said against it. There
was a time when our members of the House of Commons were entitled to
payment for their services, and when, at any rate, some of them took
the money. It may be that with a new nation such an arrangement was
absolutely necessary. Men whom the people could trust, and who
would have been able to give up their time without payment, would
not have probably been found in a new community. The choice of
Senators and of Representatives would have been so limited that the
legislative power would have fallen into the hands of a few rich
men.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 157 of 275
Words from 80734 to 81235
of 142339
