The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-16

ware, MARYLAND, Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, no; lO.-PP 1901
10 1866
Mr. l.. Martin proposed to vary article Z,
section 4, SO ~ to allow prohibition OF tax on
the importation of slaves. In the hrst place, as
five slaves are to be counted as three ireemen,
; in the apportionment OF representatives. such
clause would leave an encouragement 10 TINS
traffic. In the second place, slaves weakened
one part Of the Union, which the other parts
were bound to protect; the privilege OF import
ing them was therefore unreasonable. ANA, IN
the third place, it was inconsistent with the
principles of the Revolution, and dlshonorable
to the American character, to have such Tea
ture in the Constitution
Mr.. Rutledgc did not see how the importa-
ton of slaves could be encouraged by this sec
ton. He was not apprehensive OF nsurrec-
tons, and would readily exempt the other
States from the obligation to protect the South
ern against them Religion and humanity had
nothing to do with this question Interest alone
is the governing principle with nations. The
true question at present Is, whether the South
ern States shall or shall not be parties to the
Union. If the Northern States consult their
interest they will not oppose the increase OF
slaves which will increase the commodities of
which they will become. the carriers.
Mr. Ellsworth was for leaving the clause as
it stands. Let every State import what it
plcases. The morality or wisdom of slavery
are considerations belonging to the States
themselves. What enriches a part enriches
the whole, and the States are the best judges
of their particular interest. The old Confede-
ration had not meddled with this point, and
he did not see any greater necessity for bring
ing it within the policy of the new one
Mr.. Pinckncy. South Carolina can never re-
ceive the plan, If itprohibits the slave trade ln
every proposed extension of the powers of Con-
gress, that State has expressly and watchfully
excef ted that of meddling with the importation
of negroes If the States be all left at liberty
on this subject South Carolina may, perhaps,
by degrees, do of herself what is wished as
Virginia and Maryland already have done.
Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, August %.
In COnvention-Article l. section 4, was re-
sumed.
Mr.. Sherman was for leaving the clause as
it stands. He dsapproved of the slave trade !;
yet as the States were now possessed Of the
right to import slaves, as the public good did
not require 1T to be taken from them, and as it
was expedent to have as few objections as
possible to the proposed scheme of Government,
he thought it best to leave the matter rs we
find it. He observed that the abolition of sla-
very seemed to be going on in the United
States, and that the good sense of the several
States would probably, by degrees, complete it.
! He urged on the Convention the necessity of
despatching its business
! Col. Mason This internal traffic originated
in the avarice of British merchants. The Brit
ish Government constantly checked the at
tempts OF Virginia to put a stop to it, The
present question concerns not the importing
States alone, but the whole Union. The evil
of having slaves was experienced during the
late war Had slaves been treated as they
might have been by the enemy, they would
have proved dangerous instruments in their
hands But their folly dealt by the slaves as
it did by the Tories. He mentioned the danger.
Gus instructions of the slaves in Greece and
Sicily; and the instructions given by Cromwell
to the commissioners sent to Virginia to arm
the servants and slaves, in case other means of
obtaining its submission should fail MARYLAND
and Virginia, he said, had already prohibited
the Importation of slaves expressly North
Carolina had done the same, in substance All
this would be in vain, if South Carolina and
Georgia be at liberty to import. The Western
people are already calling out for slaves for
their new lands and will ill that country with
slaves, if they can be got through South Caro-
lima and Georgia. Slavery dlscourages arts
and manufactures. The poor despiso labor
when performed by slaves. They prevent the
emigration of whites, who really enrich and
strengthen country. They produce the most
pernicions effect on manners. Every master
of slaves is born a petty tyrant They bring
the Judgment OF Heaven on country As ma
tons cannot be rewarded or punished in the
next world, they must be in this. BY an inev-
liable chain of causes and effects, Providence
Furnishes national sins by national calamites
He lamented that some of our Eastern breth-
rem had, from lust of gain, embarked in this
nefirlous traffic. As to the States being in
possession OF the right to import, this was the
case with many other rights, now to be proper
ly given up. He held it essential, in every
point ct view, that the General Government |
should have power to prevent the increase of |
slavery.
MIR. Ellsworth, as he had never owned a |
slave could not judge of the effects of slavery |
on character. he said however that if it was |
to be considered in moral light, we ought to |
90 further, and free those already in the coun-
try. As slaves also multiply so fast in Virginia |
ana Maryland that it is cheaper to raise than |
import Them whilst in the sickIy rice swamps
foreign supplies are necessary if we 90 no fur
Their than is urged, we shall be unjust towards
South Carolina and Georgia. Let us not in
termeddle. As population increases, poor la
borers will be so plenty as to render slaves use
less Slavery, in time, will not be speck in
our country Provision is already made in Con-
nectlcut Tor abolishing it, And the abolition
has already taken place in Massachusetts,. As |
to the danger of instructions from foreign in
huence, that will become q motive to kind |
treatment of the slaves.
Mr.. Pinckney. If slavery be wrong, it is |
justified by the example of all the world He |
cited the cases of Greece, Rome, and other |
ancient States; the sanction given by France,
England, Holland and other modern States |
In all ages, one-half Of mankind have been
slaves If the Southern States were let alone,
they will probably of themselves stop importa-
ton. he would himself, as citizen of South |
Carolina, vote for it, An attempt to take away
the right, as proposed, will produce serious Oh
jectlons to the Constitution, which he wished to |
see adopted Gen Pinckney declared it to be his |
firm opinion, that if himself and all his col |
leagues were to sign the Constitution, and use
their personal influence, it would be Of no avail
towards obtaining the assent of their constitu.
ents. South Carolina and Georgia cannot do |
without slaves AS to Virginia, she will gain
by stopping the importations. Her slaves will
rise In value, and she has more than she wants |
1t would be unequal to require South Carolina
and Georgia to confederate on such unequal
terms He said the royal assent, before the
Revolution had never been refused to South
Carolina, as to Virginia He commended that
the importation of slaves would be for the in.
tereSt 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 revenue for the common
treasury. He admitted it to be reasonable that
slaves should be dutied, like other imports but
should consider rejection Of the clause as an