The Constitution a Pro-slavery Compact: Or, Extracts from the Madison Papers ...

thought it proper that no fetters should be imposed on the power of making commercial regulations, and that his constituents, though prejudiced against the Eastern States, would be reconciled to this liberality. He had, himself, he said, prejudices against the Eastern States before he came here, but would acknowledge that he had found them as liberal and candid as any men whatever.

p. 1451.

Mr. PINCKNEY replied, that his enumeration meant the five minute interests. It still left the two great divisions of Northern and Southern interests.

Mr. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS opposed the object of the motion as highly injurious. A navy was essential to security, particularly of the Southern States.

Mr. WILLIAMSON. As to the weakness of the Southern States, he was not alarmed on that account. The sickliness of their climate for invaders would prevent their being made an object. He acknowledged that he did not think the motion requiring two thirds necessary in itself; because if a majority of the Northern States should push their regulations too far, the Southern States would build ships for themselves; but he knew the Southern people were apprehensive on this subject, and would be pleased with the precaution. Mr. SPAIGHT was against the motion. could at any time save themselves from ing ships for their own use.

- p. 1452.

The Southern States oppression, by build

Mr. BUTLER differed from those who considered the rejection of the motion as no concession on the part of the Southern States. He considered the interest of these and of the Eastern States to be as different as the interests of Russia and Turkey. Being, notwithstanding, desirous of conciliating the affections of the Eastern States, he should vote against requiring two thirds instead of a majority. — p. 1453.

Mr. MADISON. He added, that the Southern States would derive an essential advantage, in the general security afforded by the increase of our maritime strength. He stated the vulnerable situation of them all, and of Virginia in particular.

Mr. RUTLEDGE was against the motion of his colleague. At the worst, a navigation act could bear hard a little while only on the Southern States. As we are laying the foundation for a great empire, we ought to take a permanent view of the subject, and not look at the present moment only.

Mr. GORHAM. The Eastern States were not led to strengthen the Union by fear for their own safety.

He deprecated the consequences of disunion; but if it should take place, it was the Southern part of the Continent that had most reason to dread them.

On the question to postpone, in order to take up Mr. PINCKNEY'S motion :

Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, aye - 4; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, no-7. The Report of the Committee for striking out Section 6, requiring two thirds of each House to pass a navigation act, was then agreed to, nem. con.

Mr. BUTLER moved to insert after Árticle 15, "If any person bound to service or labor in any of the United States, shall escape into another State, he or she shall not be discharged from such service or labor, in consequence of any regulations subsisting in the State to which they escape, but shall be delivered up to the person justly claiming their service or labor," which was agreed to, nem, con. - pp. 1454-5-6.

Article 18, being taken up,

THURSDAY, August 30, 1787.

On a question for striking out "domestic violence," and inserting "insurrections," it passed in the negative: New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, aye -5; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, no-6. pp. 1466-7.

MONDAY, September 10, 1787. Mr. RUTLEDGE said he never could agree to give a power by which the articles relating to slaves might be altered by the States not interested in that property, and prejudiced

against it. In order to obviate this objection, these words were added to the proposition: "provided that no amendments, which may be made prior to the year 1808, shall in any manner affect the fourth and fifth sections of the seventh Article." -p. 1536.

THURSDAY, September 13, 1787.

Article 1, Section 2. On motion of Mr. RANDOLPH, the word "servitude was struck out, and "service" unanimously inserted, the former being thought to express the condition of slaves, and the latter the obligations of free persons.

Mr. DICKINSON and Mr. WILSON moved to strike out," and direct taxes," from Article 1, Section 2, as improperly placed in a clause relating merely to the Constitution of the House of Representatives.

Mr. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS. The insertion here was in consequence of what had passed on this point; in order to exclude the appearance of counting the negroes in the representation. The including of them may now be referred to the object of direct taxes, and incidentally only to that of representation.

On the motion to strike out, "and direct taxes," from thir place:

New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, aye-3; New Hamp shire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, no 8.- pp 1569-70.

SATURDAY, September 15, 1787. Article 4, Section 2, (the third paragraph,) the term "legal. ly" was struck out; and the words, "under the laws thereof," inserted after the word "State," in compliance with the wish of some who thought the term legal equivocal, and favoring the idea that slavery was legal in a moral view.— p. 1589.

Mr. GERRY stated the objections which determined him to withhold his name from the Constitution : 1-2-3-4-5-6, that

* See page 372 of the printed journal.

three fifths of the blacks were to be represented as if they were freemen.

p. 1595.

LIST OF MEMBERS

OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION WHO FORMED THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

From

New Hampshire, 1 John Langdon,

Attended July 23, 1787.

John Pickering,

2 Nicholas Gilman,

66 / 23,