ually strong, and equally wealthy, the tenth is ten
times as wise, ten times as strong, or ten times as rich; if
for this reason he is to have ten votes for each vote of
either of the others, the nine might as well have no vote at
all; since, though the whole nine might assent to a measure,
yet the vote of the tenth would countervail and set aside
all their votes.

If this tenth approved of what they wished to adopt, it
would be well, but if he disapproved, he could prevent it,
and in the same manner he could carry into execution any
measure he wished, contrary to the opinion of all the
others, he having ten votes, and the others all together but
nine. It is evident that on these principles the nine would
have no will or discretion of their own, but must be totally
dependent on the will and discretion of the tenth; to him
they would be as absolutely slaves as any negro is to his
master; if he did not attempt to carry into execution any
measure injurious to the other nine, it could only be said
that they had a good master; they would not be the less
slaves, because they would be totally dependent on the will
of another, and not on their own will. They might not feel
their chains, but they would notwithstanding wear them, and
whenever their master pleased he might draw them so tight as
to gall them to the bone. Hence it was urged the inequality
of representation, or giving to one man more votes than
another on account of his wealth, etc., was altogether
inconsistent with the principles of liberty, and in the same
proportion as it should be adopted in favor of one or more,
in that proportion are the others enslaved.

These are the words, not lightly uttered, nor to be by us lightly
considered, of one of the framers of the Constitution; and in
complete accord with this principle of entire equality of
individual right, see how those men who had fought through the
War of Independence did their work. Upon what broad and
comprehensive foundations it is laid. Examine the Constitution,
the work of their hands. Do we find any recognition of inequality
of rights? Not a syllable. On the contrary, every safeguard is