Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/456

 450 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Wednesy MADISON 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 liber- alit 7-- He had himself, he said, prejudices agst the Eastern States before he came here, but would acknowledge that he had found them as liberal and candid as any men whatever. Mr. C17mer. The diversity of commercial interests, of necessity creates difficulties, which ought not to be increased by unnecessary restrictions. The Northern & middle States will be ruined, if not enabled to defend themselves against foreign regulations. Mr. Sherman, alluding to Mr. Pinkney's enumeration of particular interests, as requiring a security agst. abuse of the power; observed that, the diversity was of itself a security. adding that to require more than a majority to decide a ques- tion was always embarrassing as had been experienced in cases requiring the votes of nine States in Congress. Mr. Pinkney replied that his enumeration meant the five minute interests-- It still left the two great divisions of Northern & Southern Interests. Mr. Govt. Morris. opposed the object of the motion as highly injurious-- Preferences to american ships will multiply them, till they can carry the Southern produce cheaper than it is now carried-- A navy was essential to security, par- ticularly of the 8. States, and can only be had by a navigation act encouraging american bottoms & seamen-- In those points of view then alone, it is the interest of the S. States that navigation acts should be facilitated. Shipping he said was the worst & most precarious kind of property. and stood in need of public patronage. Mr Williamson was in favor of making two thirds instead of a majority requisite, as more satisfactory to the Southern people. No useful measure he believed had been lost in Congress for want of nine votes 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 ] necessary in itself, because if

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