Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/377

 RECOKDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 37I Vednesda MADISON zlugust judge of the effects of slavery on character. He said how- ever that if it was to be considered in a moral light we ought to go {arther and free those already in the Country.--As slaves also multiply so fast in Virginia & Maryland that it is cheaper to raise than import them, whilst in the sickly rice swamps foreign supplies are necessary, if we go no {arther than is urged, we shall be unjust towards S. Carolina & Georgia --Let us not intermeddle. As population increases; poor laborers will be so plenty as to render slaves useless. Slavery in time will not be a speck in our Country. Provision is already made in Connecticut {or abolishing it. And the abo- lition has already taken place in Massachusetts. As to the danger of insurrections from foreign {nfluence, that will become a motive to kind treatment of the slaves. Mr. Pinkney- If slavery be wrong, it is justified by the example of all the world. He cited the case of Greece Rome & other antlent States; the sanction given by France Eng- land, Holland & other modern States. In all ages one half of mankind have been slaves. If the S. States were let alone they will probably of themselves stop importations. He wd. himself as a Citizen of S. Carolina vote for it. An attempt to take away the right as proposed will produce serious objec- tions to the Constitution which he wished to see adopted. General Pinkney declared it to be his firm opinion that if himself & all his colleagues were to sign the Constitution & use their personal influence, it would be of no avail towards obtaining the assent of their Constituents. S. Carolina & Georgia cannot do without slaves. As to Virginia she will gain by stopping the importations. Her slaves will rise in value, & she has more than she wants. It would be unequal to require S.C. & Georgia to confederate on such Unequal terms. He said the Royal assent before the Revolution had never been refused to S. Carolina as to Virginia. He con- tended that the importation of slaves would be for the[interest of the whole Union. The more slaves, the more produce to employ the carrying trade; The more consumption also, and the more of this, the more of revenue for the common treasury. He admitted it to be reasonable that slaves should be dutied

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