The 3. Sect of Art: IV, was then agreed to.
Art: IV. Sect. 4. taken up.
Mr Williamson moved to strike out "according to the provisions hereinafter made" and to insert the words "according to the rule hereafter to be provided for direct taxation."–See Art. VII. Sect. 3.
On the question for agreeing to Mr Williamson's amendment
N. H. ay. Mass. ay. Ct ay. N. J. no. Pa ay. Del. no. Md ay. Va ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
Mr King wished to know what influence the vote just passed was meant to have on the succeeding part of the Report, concerning the admission of Slaves into the rule of Representation. He could not reconcile his mind to the article if it was to prevent objections to the latter part. The admission of slaves was a most grating circumstance to his mind, & he believed would be so to a great part of the people of America. He had not made a strenuous opposition to it heretofore because he had hoped that this concession would have produced a readiness which had not been manifested, to strengthen the Genl Govt and to mark a full confidence in it. The Report under consideration had by the tenor of it, put an end to all those hopes. In two great points the hands of the Legislature were absolutely tied. The importation of slaves could not be prohibited–exports could not be taxed. Is this reasonable? What are the great objects of the Genl System? 1. defence agst foreign invasion. 2. agst internal sedition. Shall all the States then be bound to defend each; & shall each be at liberty to introduce a weakness which will render defence more difficult? Shall one part of the U. S. be bound to defend another part, and that other part be at liberty not only to increase its own danger, but to withhold the compensation for the burden? If slaves are to be imported shall not the exports produced by their labor, supply a revenue the better to enable the Genl Gova to defend their Masters? There was so much inequality & unreasonableness in all this, that the people of the Northern States could never be reconciled to it. No candid man could undertake to justify it to them. He had hoped that some accommodation wd have taken place on this subject; that at least a time wd have been limited for the importation of slaves. He never could agree to let them be imported without limitation & then be represented in the Natl Legislature. Indeed he could so little persuade himself of the rectitude of such a practice, that he was not sure he could assent to it under any circumstances. At all events, either slaves should not be represented, or exports should be taxable.
Mr Sherman regarded the slave trade as iniquitous; but the point of representation having been settled after much difficulty & deliberation, he did not think himself bound to make opposition; especially as the present article as amended did not preclude any arrangement whatever on that point in another place of the Report.
Mr Madison objected to 1 for every 40.000 inhabitants as a perpetual rule. The future increase of population if the Union shd be permanent, will render the number of Representatives excessive.
Mr Ghorum. It is not to be supposed that the Govt will last so long as to produce this effect. Can it be supposed that this vast Country including the Western territory will 150 years hence remain one nation?
Mr Elseworth. If the Govt should continue so long, alterations may be made in the Constitution in the manner proposed in a subsequent article.