Page:An Appeal in Favor of that Class of Americans Called Africans.djvu/124

110 was probably an increasing tendency to view this part of the compromise not merely as a concession of the large to the small States, but also of the largely slave-holding, to the free, or slightly slave-holding States. The two questions of direct taxes in proportion to slave representation, and of perfect equality in the Senate, were always connected together; and a large committee of compromise, consisting of one member from each State, expressly recommended that both provisions should be adopted, but neither of them without the other.

Such were the equivalents, directly or indirectly offered, by which the free States were induced to consent to slave representation. It was not without very considerable struggles that they overcame their repugnance to admitting such a principle in the construction of a republican government. Mr Gerry, of Massachusetts, at first exclaimed against it with evident horror, but at last, he was chairman of the committee of compromise. Even the slave States themselves, seem to have been a little embarrassed with the discordant element. A curious proof of this is given in the language of the Constitution. The ugly feature is covered as cautiously as the deformed visage of the Veiled Prophet. The words are as follows: "Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the States according to their respective numbers; which shall be ascertained by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other persons." In this most elaborate sentence, a foreigner would discern no slavery. None but those who already knew the venomous serpent, would be able to discover its sting.

Governor Wright, of Maryland, a contemporary of all these transactions, and a slave holder, after delivering a eulogy upon the kindness of masters expressed himself as follows: "The Constitution guaranties to us the services of these persons. It does not say slaves; for the