The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-06-09

effected more than one. mat tnls was PIoNou
by the price of labor, the hire Of laborer IN
Southern Colonies being from fs to fl2, while
in the Northern it was generally f24.
| Mr.. Wilson said, that, if this amendment
should take place, the Southern Colonies would
have all the benefit of slaves, whilst tine
| Northern ones would bear the burden. That
slaves increase the profits Of State, which
the Southern States mean to take TO them
selves that they also increase the burden Oh
defence, which would of course fall 80 much
the heavier on the Northern; that slaves oc-
cupy the places of freemen, and eat their food.
Dismiss YOUR slaves, and freemen Will take
take their places. 1t is our duty to lay every
disbursement on the importation OF slaves
but this amendment would give the jus tr7um
hberorum TO him who would import slaves.
That other kinds of property we're pretty
equally distributed through all the Colonies
there were as many cattle, horses, and sheep,
in the North as the South, and South as the
| North-but not 80 as to slaves. That expert
cnce has shown that those Colonies have been
always able to pay most, which have the most
inhabitants. whether they be black or white
and the practice of the Southern Colonies has
always been to make every farmer pay poll taxes
upon all his laborers, whether they be black
or white He acknowledged indeed that free.
men work the most; but they consume the
most also.
They do not produce a greater surplus for
taxation. The slave fs neither fed nor clothed
so extensively as a freeman. Again, white
women are exempted from labor generally
which negro women are not. In this, then
the Southern States have an advantage, as the
article now stands. 1t has sometimes been said
that slavery was necessary, because the com
modities they raise would be too dear for mar
ket if cultivated by freemen; but now it Is said
that the labor of the slave is the dearest.
Mr.. Payne urged the original resolution OF
Congress to proportion the quotas of the States
to the number of souls
DR.. Witherspoon was Of opinion that the
value of lands and houses was the best estimate
of the wealth of nation; and that it was
practicable to obtain such valuation. This
is the true barometer of wealth. The one now
proposed is imperfect in ITSELF and unequal be-
tween the State' 1t has been objected that
negroes eat the food of freemen, and therefore
should be taxed horses also eat the food OF
freemen, therefore they also should be taxed
1t has been said, too, that in carrying slaves
into the estimate of the taxes the State is to
pay, we do no more than those States them
selves do, who always take slaves into the esti-
mate Of the taxes the individual is to pay
But the cases are not parallel. In the South
ern Colonies slaves pervade the whole Colony
but they do not pervade the whole continent
That as to the original resolution of Congress,
it was temporary only and related to the mon
eys heretofore emitted; whereas we are now
entering into new compact and therefore
stand IN oriripal oround
AUGUST |.
The question being put, the amendment pro-
posed was rejected by the votes of New Hamp-
shire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connect
cut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
against those of Delaware, Maryland, Virgin
ia, North and South Carolina. Georgia was
dvided.-Pags 81.
Mr. Madison to Joseph Jones.-Ertraet.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. %, 1880.
Yours Of the 18th came yesterday. | am
glad to find the Legislature persist in their
resolution to recruit their line of the army for
the war though, without deciding on the ex-
pediency Of the mode under their considera-
ton, would it not be as well to lberate and
make soldiers at once, of the blacks themselves,
os to make them instruments for enlisting
white soldiers! 1t would certainly be more
consonant with the principles of liberty, which
ought never to be lost sight of in contest for
liberty; and, with white officers and majority
of white soldiers, no imaginable danger could
be feared from themselves as there certainly
could BIO none from the effect of the example
on those who should remain in bondage-expe-
rience having shown that freedman immedi-
ately loses all attachment and sympathy with
his former fellow -slaves.-Page 6s.
FRIDAY MARCH %.
The committee last mentioned reported that
two blacks be rated as one freeman
Mr.. WolcOtt was for rating them as four to
three.
Mr.. Carroll, AZ four to one.
Mr.. Williamson said he was principled
against slavery; and that he thought slaves an
incumbrance to society, instead of increasing
its ability to pay taxes.
Mr. Higginson as four to three
MIR. Rutledge said for tho sake of the OBJ
ject, he would agree to rate slaves as two to
one; but he sincerely thought three to one
would be juster proportion.
Mr.. Holten, as four to three.
MIR. Osgood said he did not 20 beyond four
TO three
On question for rating them as three to two,
,he votes were
New Hampshire, aye Massachusetts, no R.
Island, divided Connecticut, aye; New Jersey,
rye; Pennsylvania, aye; Delaware, aye; Mary
and, no; Virginia. no; North Carolina, no;
south Carolina, no.
The paragraph was then postponed, by gen.
,ral consent, some nishing for further time to
deliberate on it but it appearing to be the
general opinion that no compromise would be
agreed to.
After some further discussions on the report
n which the necessity of some simple and
practicable rule of superintendent came fully
nto view-Mr. Madison said that, in order to
1--WE proof of the sincerity of his professions
Il liberality, he would propose that slaves
should be rated as five to three
MIR. Rutledge seconded the motion
Mr.. Wilson said he would sacrifice his opin-
ion on this compromise.
Mr.. Lee was against changing the rule but
gave it as his opinion that two slaves were not
equal to one freeman.
On the question for five to three, it was passed
in the affirmative
New Hampshire, aye; Massachusetts,, divi-
ded Rhode Island no Connecticut no New
Jersey, aye; Pennsylvania, aye Maryland
aye; Virginia, aye North Carolina, aye; South
Carolina, aye.
A motion was then made by Mr. Bland, Sec
ondcd by Mr. Lee, to strike out the clause 80
amended.
And on the question, "Shall it standl" it
passed in the negative
Rhode Island, no; Connecticut, no; New Jer.
sey, aye Pennsylvania, aye; Delaware, no !;
Maryland, aye; Virginia, aye North Carolina,
aye; South Carolina, no
New Hampshire, aye; Massachusetts,, no ::
so the clause was struck out.
The arguments used by those who were for
rating slaves high were, that the expense Of
feeding and clothing them was as far below
that incident to freemen as their industry and
ingenuity were below those of freemen and
that the warm climate within uhich Tho Stn 20.