Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. I.djvu/205

 JAMES MADISON 165 their slaves. In endeavoring to apportion equitably the quotas of revenue to be required of the sev eral states, it was observed that, if taxation were to be distributed according to population, it made a great difference whether or not slaves were to be counted as population. If slaves were to be counted, the southern states would have to pay more than their equitable share into the treasury of the general government; if slaves were not to be counted, it was argued at the north that they would be paying less than their equitable share. Conse quently at that time the northern states were in clined to maintain that the slaves were population, while the south preferred to regard them as chat tels. The question was settled by a compromise that was proposed by Mr. Madison; according to this arrangement the slaves were rated as popula tion, but in such wise that five of them were counted as three persons. In 1784 Mr. Madison was again elected to the Virginia legislature, an office then scarcely inferior in dignity, and superior in influence, to that of dele gate to the Continental congress. His efforts were steadfastly devoted to the preparation and ad vocacy of measures that were calculated to increase the strength of the Federal government. He sup ported the proposed amendment to the articles of confederation, giving to congress control over the foreign trade of the states; and, pending the