SUPPRESSION OF SLAVE INSURRECTIONS. (Const. Art. 1, sec. 8; Art. 4, sec. 4.)
Luther Martin, in the speech before alluded to, used the following language:--
"It was further urged, that, by this system of government, every State is to be protected both from foreign invasion and from domestic insurrections: from this consideration, it was of the utmost importance it should have a power to restrain the importation of slaves, since, in proportion as the number of slaves are increased in any State, in the same proportion the State is weakened and exposed to foreign invasion or domestic insurrection, and by so much less will it be able to protect itself against either, and therefore will by so much the more want aid from, and be a burden to, the Union."
In the Virginia Convention, Mr. George Nicholas said:--
"Another worthy member says there is no power in the States to quell an insurrection of slaves. Have they it now? If they have, does the Constitution take it away? If it does, it must be in one of the three clauses which have been mentioned by the worthy member. The first clause gives the general government power to call them out when necessary. Does this take it away from the States? No; but it gives an additional security; for, besides the power in the State governments to use their own militia, _it will be the duty of the general government to aid them with the strength of the Union, when called for_. No part of this Constitution can show that this power is taken away."
Mr. Madison, respecting these clauses, says:--
"On application of the legislature or executive, as the case may be, the militia of the other States are to be called to suppress domestic insurrections. Does this bar the States from calling forth their own militia? No; but _it gives them a supplementary security to suppress insurrections and domestic violence_."
THE CONSTITUTION ACCORDING TO THE PRACTICE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Uniform practice under a law is one of the highest proofs of the meaning of that law.
APPORTIONMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Const. Art. 1, sec. 2.)
The Constitution (Art. 1, sec. 2, par. 3) provides that the enumeration of the people of the United States (upon which the apportionment of representatives and direct taxes was to be made) "shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct."