The Delaware abolitionist. (Wilmington, Del.) 1847-18??, 1848-12-31
No.14.


slaves who cover the rice-swamps of south
Carolina" Mr.. Gerry declared we fought TO-
be careful not TO give any sanction 10 it,
All the North was at first opposed to Slave
ry and the slave trade. Both parties seemed
obstinate the question of "Taxes on exports''
and of Navigation lawsn remained to be decid-
ed. Gouverneur Morris recommended that the
whole subject Of Slavery might be referred to
committee +" including the clauses relating
10 the taxes on exports, ard 10 the navigation
laws. These things may form bargain
among the Northern and Southern Sates.''
Says Luther Martin, 81 found the Eastern
States, Notwithstanding their aversion TO Slave
ry, were very willing 10 indulge the Southern
States, at least with atemporary liberty TO.
prosecute the slave trade, provided the South
ern States. wouh in their turn crafty them
by laying no restriction on navigation actsu
The North beganto understand if the contem-
plated navigation laws should be enacted, that
as Mr.. Grayson afterwards said, " all the pro-
duce of the Southern States will be carried BY
the Northern States on their own terms, which
must be high" Mr.. Clymer, of Pennsyva-
mia, declared, "The Western and Middle.
States will be ruined, if not enabled TO defend
themselves against foreign regulations p will
be ruined if they do not have some navigation
laws giving Americans an advantage over for
eign vessels. Mr.. Gorham, Of Massachusetts,
said The Eastern States had no motives TO-
union but commercial one." The proffered
compromise would favor their commercial in
terests It was for the commercial interest of
the South said Mr. Pinckney 10 have no re-
stricllons upon commerce, but e considering
the loss brought on the Eastern States by the
Revolution, and their liberal conduct towards
the views OF South Carolina in conserving 10
allnus Si~-,s-r paAd tur irupurtauon Oh slaves, +
The thought that no feiiers should be imposed
on the power of making commercial regnla-
tons, and his constituents would be recenced
TO the liberalilyo So the North took The boon,
and winked at the +" internal trafficu When
the question was put, there were in favor of
the importation Of slaves, Georgia, the Two Ca
rolinas and Maryland, with New Hampshire,
Massachusetts and Connecticut Opposed TO
II were Pennsylvania, New Jersey Delaware
and Virginia Subsequently Mr.. Ames, in
the Massachusetts Convention for the adoption
of the Constitutions, said The Northern Stales
have great advantages by it in respect of ma
vigaton J" in The Virginia Convention Patrick
Henry said, " Tobacco will always make our
peace with them,o for al that time Cotton was
/ imported from India, not having become
staple of the South. When the article which
binds the free States TO deliver up The fugitive.
slaves, came TO be voted on, 1t was new fea-
ture in American legislation not limited at in
the " ariices of confederation :" hostile to the
we'll known principles of the common law of
England-which always favors libery--and
the usages and principles of modern civilized
nations. Yet new as it was and hostile, it
seems not word was said against il in the
Convention. 1t " was agreed TO, mem. CONF
Yet &C The Northern delegates" says Mr.. Ma
Olson, d" owing to their particular scruples on
the subject Of Slavery, did not choose the word
slave 10 be menoned.'' In the conventions
of the several States it seems no remonstrance
was made TO this article .
Luther Martin returning home, said to the
House OF Delegates in Maryland, "a. this
time we do not generally mold this commerce
in so great adherence as we have done when
our liberties were at stake, we warmly felt for
the common rights of men the danger being.
thought to be past, we are daily growing more
nsensible to their rights"
When the several States came 10 adopt the
Constitution, some hestancy was shown at
toerating the slave trade or even Slavery il
| self. In the Massachusetts Convention, Mr..
Neal would not favor the making merchan-
disc of The bodies of men, Gen. Thompson
exclaimed, "shall it be said, that after we
have established our own independence and
freedom we make slaves of others % Wash
ington has immortalized himself, "but he
holds those in slavery who have as good a
right to be free as he has.n All parties de-
precated the slave trade in most pointed terms.
'Slavery was generally detested." 1t was
thought that the new States could not claim
the sad privilege of their parents, that the
South itself would soon hate and abolish it.
g Slavery is not smitten by an apoplexy," said
Mr.. Dawes, "yet it has received mortal
wound and will die of consumption" This
reflection, with the Tobacco and NavI-
cation laws" turned the scale, Patrick Henry
was no son Of New England, but knew well
on what hinges her political morality might
turn, by what means and which way.