“The privilege of importing them was unreasonable; and it was inconsistent with the principles of the Revolution, and dishonorable to the American character, to have such a feature in the Constitution.”[151] Afterwards, in his address to the Legislature of Maryland, he announced that both in the Committee and in the Convention he was influenced by the argument,-- “that Slavery is inconsistent with _the genius of republicanism_, and has a tendency to destroy those principles on which it is supported, _as it lessens the sense of the Equal Rights of mankind_, and habituates us to tyranny and oppression.”[152] Thus was a “sense of the Equal Rights of mankind” one of the principles on which Republicanism rested. And here is one more word from Virginia: it is Colonel Mason, who always spoke with so much point:-- “The true idea, in his opinion, was, that _every man_, having evidence of attachment to and permanent common interest with the society, ought to share in all its rights and privileges.”[153] Again we have a plain recognition of the Revolutionary idea. * * * * * Here, also, is another authority. I quote a Virginia writer on Government,--John Taylor, of Caroline:-- “The end of the guaranty is ‘a republican form of government.’ The meaning of this expression is not so unsettled here as in other countries, because we agree in one descriptive character as essential to the existence of a republican form of government. _This is representation. We do not admit a government to be even in its origin republican, unless it is instituted by representation_; nor do we allow it to be so, unless its legislation is also founded upon representation.”[154] I close this array, illustrative of opinion, with the words of Daniel Webster, in harmony with the rest:-- “Now, fellow-citizens, I will venture to state, in a few words, what I take these American political principles in substance to be. They consist, as I think, in the first place, in the establishment of popular governments on the basis of representation.… _This representation is to be made as equal as circumstances will allow._”[155] Then again, on another occasion, he said:-- “This is the true idea of a State. It is an organized government, representing _the collected will of the people_, as far as they see fit to invest that government with power.”[156] Thus, at every stage, from the opening, when Otis announced the master principle, “Taxation without representation is Tyranny,” all along to Daniel Webster, we find “Representation” an essential element in the American definition of republican government. * * * * *