On the other hand, without inflicting any stigma upon the Constitution or upon the Republic, without abandoning any principle, without making any concession to the States, without tying the hands of Congress, and without any compromise of human rights, it does rearrange the basis of representation so as to accomplish all that is proposed even by the most sanguine supporters of the other attempt, and it does this effectually, without the opportunity for evasion afforded by the other proposition. The alleged inequality in operation, owing to excess of females over males in certain States, may make you hesitate; but better take representation founded on voters, even with any such alleged inequality, than do a grievous wrong. Better wrong yourselves than wrong others. Let me confess that I was tempted to this proposition by the conviction that I was carrying out the cherished idea of Massachusetts embodied in her own Constitution. According to a recent Amendment, the representation in both branches of the Legislature is founded on “legal voters,” and not on population. Here are the words. “A census of the _legal voters of each city and town_ on the first day of May shall be taken and returned into the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.… The enumeration aforesaid shall determine the apportionment of Representatives for the periods between the taking of the census. “The House of Representatives shall consist of two hundred and forty members, which shall be apportioned by the Legislature, at its first session after the return of each enumeration as aforesaid, to the several counties of the Commonwealth, _equally, as nearly as may be, according to their relative numbers of legal voters_, as ascertained by the next preceding special enumeration.… “The Senate shall consist of forty members. The General Court shall, at its first session after each next preceding special enumeration, divide the Commonwealth into forty districts of adjacent territory, _each district to contain, as nearly as may be, an equal number of legal voters_, according to the enumeration aforesaid.… Each district shall elect one Senator.”[252]