and slave population,
Mr. Lawrence deduced the following facts: "New Hampshire, with a white
population of 325,579, has but three Representatives, while Louisiana,
with a white population of 357,629, had five. California, with a white
population of 323,177, has but three Representatives, while
Mississippi, with a similar population of 353,901, had five. In South
Carolina 72,847 white persons had one Representative, while the ratio
of representation is one for 127,000 persons.

"Under this mode of apportionment, the late slave States had eighteen
Representatives, by the census of 1860, more than their just share, if
based on free population. The whole political power of Ohio was
counterbalanced by slave representation. It was equal to two-thirds of
all the representation from New England. In South Carolina 14,569
votes carried as much political power as 25,400 in the free States."

Freedom having been given to the slaves, "the effect will be, so soon
as lawful State Governments are created in the rebel States, to
largely increase their representation in Congress and the Electoral
College. The slave population, by the census of 1860, was 3,950,531.
Three-fifths of this, or 2,370,318, has heretofore entered into the
basis of representation. Now, the additional 1,580,213 is to be added
to that basis. This will give ten additional Representatives to the
late slave States--in all twenty-eight more than their just proportion
upon a basis excluding the late slaves. If this injustice can be
tolerated and perpetuated, and the late rebel States shall soon be
admitted to representation, they will enjoy as the reward of their
perfidy and treason an increased political power. This will reward
traitors with a liberal premium for treason."

As to the proper time for amending the Constitution, Mr. Lawrence
said: "But if ever there could be a time for making fundamental changes
in our organic law, and ingrafting on it irreversible guarantees, that
time is now. The events of the past four years demonstrate their
necessity, and our security for the future imperatively demands them
at our hands. The great events which have transpired, and the altered
circumstances that surround us, admonish us that we will be recreant
to our trusts if we fail to inscribe justice on the Constitution, and
fortify it against the encroachments of treason, so that it shall be
eternal. One of the elements of our past misfortunes, and which gave
power for evil