Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-11
From the Baltimore sun.
An Historic Chnpter-Past and Present.

From the Baltimore sun.
| An Historic Chapter-Past and Present
In an instructive and admirable article
in the Southern Review for October on
The North and the South in the Convcn-
ton of 17S7," it is shown from the record
that the first word uttered in that convcn-
ton against proposition to permit the in
definite continuance of the slave trade 10
all the States in the Union came from
Maryland. The old articles of confodcra-
| ton permitted every State to import ne
grOes from Africa, or to continue the slave
trade, just as long as it pleased. When the
proposition was made in the convention
I that the migration or importation of slaves
should not be prohibited, no voice was ut
/ tered against it till Southern member,
| Luther Martin, of Maryland, made a no
| ton to put q prohibition or tax on the i'm
portation Of slaves. Maryland herself,
acting in her own sovereign capacity, had,
in fact, (ike Virginia. prohibited the Al
rican slave trade and her representative
Luther Martin, wished the federal Union
to have the power to initiate her example"
- In the first place" said he, i'll support OF
his motion, 60 us five slaves are to be com
ted as three freemen, i'll the apportiOnmcni
Of representatives., such clause wOLld
leave an encouragement to this traffic. I'm
of the Union, which the other parts were
bound to protect the privilege of import
ing them was therefore unreasonable And
IN the third place, it was inconsistent with
the principles of the revolution, and dis
honorable to the American character, 10
have such a feature in the constitution"
The first voice in opposition to Mr.. Mar
tin, and favoring the proposition to allow
the indefinite continuance of the slave
trade, came from. the North. 1t was that
Of the distinguished Oliver Ellsworth, from
Connecticut, afterwards Chief Justice OF
that State, who twas for leaving the clause
as it stands. Let every State import what
it pleases. The morality or wisdom of
slavery are considerations belonging to the
States themselves. What enrichcs part
enriches the whole, and the States are the
best judges of their particular interest
The old confederation had not meddicl
with this point, and he did not see any
greater necessity for bringing it within the
policy of the new one" The second voice
from the North was that of Mr.. Sherman.
who ''was for leaving the clause as islands
He disapproved OF the slave trade, yet as
the States were now possessed Of the right
to Import slaves, as Tie public good did MT
require IL to be taken from Them, and it was
axpedient to have as few objections as pos
5ible to the proposed scheme of govern
nent, he thought it best to leave the mat
Ter as we find it," Mr.. King, of Massachu.
sets, remarked on the exemption Of
slaves from duty, whilst every other import
vas subject to it, as an inequality that could
lot fail to strike the commercial sagacity
If the Northern and Middle States" but
lie said nothing about adherence Of slavery
or the slave trade. The famous Eibridgc
Gerry, from the same State, afterwards
Vlce-President, opposed the voice CT Mary
and, and favored the indefinite extension
If the slave trade. Only one speaker from
he North on this memorable OCCASION, Mr..
1angdon, of New Hampshire, favored the
prohibition of the slave trade by the fed
raj government, whilst Martin, of Mary
and, Mason, Madison and Randolph, Of
Virginia, all opposed it. Upon the pro-
position afterwards offered that the impor-
alton should not be prohibited prior to
500, General Pinckney, of South Carolina,
moved to extend it to 1903, which was at
nee seconded by Mr.. Gorham, of MasSa-
husetts, and, in spite of the earnest plead
ngs of Mr.. Madison, was agreed to, every
Iew England State, without an exception,
or the extension.
These facts, which we find revived In the
southern Review, ought to inculcate little
more moderation and justice to those who
ay claim to all the philanthropy, and who
re at this time making a special effort to
epresent Maryland as peculiarly and tcna-
iously attached to slavery. The truth IS,
hat in practical philanthropy, in its rea-
ions to this very subject, she has always
cen the foremost of American States
he had prohibited the slave trade when
had not she raised the first
dice against it in the convention that
ormed the constitution of the United
tates, whilst Massachusetts advocated 1t,
nd, before the period Of abolition, she
ad voluntarily liberated half the number
her slaves. 1t is such State as tins,
lie first to raise the banner of religious
berty in America, the first to strike %
low at the African slave trade, and tho
rgest voluntary liberator of slaves III
merica, whom there are men in the coun
y, and even within her own borders, IN
rates enough to seek to destroy, upon
Use pretexts of her opposition to liberty
nd progress.
Thirty thousand pairs of base ball shoes