Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/226

 220 RECORDS OF THE FEDEF. AL CONVENTION Wednesday MADISON .,tugust 8 Mr. King wished to know what influence the vote just passed was meant have on the succeeding part of the Report, concerning the admission of slaves into the rule of Represen- tation. He could not reconcile his mind to the article if it was to prevent objections to the latter part. The admission of slaves was a most grating circumstance to his mind, & he believed would be so to a great part of the people of America. He had not made a strenuous opposition to it heretofore because he had hoped that this concession would have pro- duced a readiness which had not been manifested, to strengthen the Genl. Govt. and to mark a full confidence in it. The Re- port under consideration had by the tenor of it, put an end to all these hopes. In two great points the hands of the Legis- lature were absolutely tied. The importation of slaves could not be prohibited--exports could not be taxed. Is this reasonable? What are the great objects of the Genl. System? . difence agst. foreign invasion. z. agst. internal sedition. Shall all the States then be bound to defend each; & shall each be at liberty to introduce a weakness which will render defence more difficult? Shall one part of the U.S. be bound to defend another part, and that other part be at liberty not only to increase its own danger, but to withhold the compen- sation for the burden? If slaves are to be imported shall not the exports produced by their labor, supply a revenue the better to enable the Genl. Govt. to defend their Masters?- There was so much inequality & unreasonableness in all this, that the people of the N(orthern) States could never be recon- ciled (to it). No candid man could undertake to justify it to them. He had hoped that some accommodation wd. have taken place on this subject; that at least a time wd. have been limited for the importation of slaves. He never could agree to let them be imported without limitation & then be represented in the Natl. Legislature. Indeed he could so little persuade himself of the rectitude of such a practice, that he was not sure he could assent to it under any circumstances. At all events, either slaves should not be represented, or exports should be taxable. Mr. Sherman regarded the slave-trade as iniquitous; but

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