north america-2-第55章
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also。 And the discrepancy has greatly increased as young States have been added to the Union； while the old States have increased in population。 New York； with a population of about 4；000；000； and with thirty…three members in the House of Representatives； sends two Senators to Congress。 The new State of Oregon； with a population of 50；000 or 60；000； and with one member in the House of Representatives； sends also two Senators to Congress。 But though it would seem that in such a distribution of legislative power the young nation was determined to preserve some of the old fantastic traditions of the mother country which it had just repudiated； the fact； I believe； is that this system； apparently so opposed to all democratic tendencies； was produced and specially insisted upon by democracy itself。 Where would be the State sovereignty and individual existence of Rhode Island and Delaware； unless they could maintain； in at least one House of Congress； their State equality with that of all other States in the Union？ In those early days； when the Constitution was being framed； there was nothing to force the small States into a union with those whose populations preponderated。 Each State was sovereign in its municipal system； having preserved the boundaries of the old colony； together with the liberties and laws given to it under its old colonial charter。 A union might be and no doubt was desirable； but it was to be a union of sovereign States； each retaining equal privileges in that union； and not a fusion of the different populations into one homogeneous whole。 No State was willing to abandon its own individuality； and least of all were the small States willing to do so。 It was； therefore； ordained that the House of Representatives should represent the people； and that the Senate should represent the States。 From that day to the present time the arrangement of which I am speaking has enabled the Democratic or Southern party to contend at a great advantage with the Republicans of the North。 When the Constitution was founded； the seven Northern StatesI call those Northern which are now free…soil States； and those Southern in which the institution of slavery now prevailswere held to be entitled by their population to send thirty…five members to the House of Representatives； and they sent fourteen members to the Senate。 The six Southern States were entitled to thirty members in the Lower House； and to twelve Senators。 Thus the proportion was about equal for the North and South。 But nowor rather in 1860； when secession commencedthe Northern States； owing to the increase of population in the North； sent one hundred and fifty Representatives to Congress； having nineteen States； and thirty…eight Senators； whereas the South； with fifteen States and thirty Senators； was entitled by its population to only ninety Representatives； although by a special rule in its favor； which I will presently explain； it was in fact allowed a greater number of Representatives； in proportion to its population； than the North。 Had an equal balance been preserved； the South； with its ninety Representatives in the Lower House； would have but twenty…three Senators； instead of thirty； in the Upper。* But these numbers indicate to us the recovery of political influence in the North； rather than the pride of the power of the South； for the South； in its palmy days； had much more in its favor than I have above described as its position in 1860。 Kansas had then just become a free…soil State； after a terrible struggle； and shortly previous to that Oregon and Minnesota； also free States； had been added to the Union。 Up to that date the slave States sent thirty Senators to Congress； and the free States only thirty…two。 In addition to this； when Texas was annexed and converted into a State； a clause was inserted into the act giving authority for the future subdivision of that State into four different States as its population should increase； thereby enabling the South to add Senators to its own party from time to time； as the Northern States might increase in number。
* It is worthy of note that the new Northern and Western States have been brought into the Union by natural increase and the spread of population。 But this has not been so with the new Southern States。 Louisiana and Florida were purchased； and Texas wasannexed。
And here I must explain； in order that the nature of the contest may be understood； that the Senators from the South maintained themselves ever in a compact body； voting together； true to each other； disciplined as a party； understanding the necessity of yielding in small things in order that their general line of policy might be maintained。 But there was no such system； no such observance of political tactics among the Senators of the North。 Indeed； they appear to have had no general line of politics； having been divided among themselves on various matters。 Many had strong Southern tendencies； and many more were willing to obtain official power by the help of Southern votes。 There was no bond of union among them； as slavery was among the Senators from the South。 And thus； from these causes； the power of the Senate and the power of the government fell into the hands of the Southern party。 I am aware that in going into these matters here I am departing somewhat from the subject of which this chapter is intended to treat； but I do not know that I could explain in any shorter way the manner in which those rules of the Constitution have worked by which the composition of the Senate is fixed。 That State basis； as opposed to a basis of population in the Upper House of Congress； has been the one great political weapon； both of offense and defense； in the hands of the Democratic party。 And yet I am not prepared to deny that great wisdom was shown in the framing of the constitution of the Senate。 It was the object of none of the politicians then at work to create a code of rules for the entire governance of a single nation such as is England or France。 Nor； had any American politician of the time so desired； would he have had reasonable hope of success。 A federal union of separate sovereign States was the necessity； as it was also the desire； of all those who were concerned in the American policy of the day； and I think it way be understood and maintained that no such federal union would have been just； or could have been accepted by the smaller States； which did not in some direct way recognize their equality with the larger States。 It is moreover to be observed； that in this； as in all matters； the claims of the minority were treated with indulgence。 No ordinance of the Constitution is made in a niggardly spirit。 It would seem as though they who met together to do the work had been actuated by no desire for selfish preponderance or individual influence。 No ambition to bind close by words which shall be exacting as well as exact is apparent。 A very broad power of interpretation is left to those who were to be the future interpreters of the written document。 It is declared that 〃representation and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union； according to their respective numbers；〃 thereby meaning that representation and taxation in the several States shall be adjusted according to the population。 This clause ordains that throughout all the States a certain amount of population shall return a member to the Lower House of Congresssay one member to 100；000 persons； as is I believe about the present proportionand that direct taxation shall be levied according to the number of representatives。 If New York return thirty…three members and Kansas one； on New York shall be levied； for the purposes of the United States revenue； thirty…three times as much direct taxation as on Kansas。 This matter of direct taxation was not then； nor has it been since； matter of much moment。 No direct taxation has hitherto been levied in the United States for national purposes。 But the time has now come when this proviso will be a terrible stumbling… block in the way。 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 mat
