not permit the importation of slaves from foreign countries;
_and_ provided _further_, that the descendants of all such slaves
shall, if males, be free at the age of twenty-five years, and, if
female, at the age of twenty-one years."

The House did not take up and act upon this report, and so the matter
passed for the time being. But the original memorial, with several
petitions of like import, came before Congress in 1805-6. They were
referred to a select committee, and on the 14th of February, 1806, Mr.
Garnett, of Virginia, the chairman, made the following favorable
report:

"That, having attentively considered the facts stated in the said
petitions and memorials, they are of opinion that a qualified
suspension for a limited time, of the sixth article of compact
between the original States and the people and States west of the
river Ohio, would be beneficial to the people of the Indiana
Territory. The suspension of this article is an object almost
universally desired in that Territory.

"It appears to your committee to be a question entirely different
from that between Slavery and Freedom; inasmuch as it would
merely occasion the removal of persons, already slaves, from one
part of the country to another. The good effects of this
suspension, in the present instance, would be to accelerate the
population of that Territory, hitherto retarded by the operation
of that article of compact, as slave-holders emigrating into the
Western country might then indulge any preference which they
might feel for a settlement in the Indiana Territory, instead of
seeking, as they are now compelled to do, settlements in other
States or countries permitting the introduction of slaves. The
condition of the slaves themselves would be much ameliorated by
it, as it is evident, from experience, that the more they are
separated and diffused, the more care and attention are bestowed
on them by their masters--each proprietor having it in his power
to increase their comforts and conveniences, in proportion to the
smallness of their numbers. The dangers, too (if any are to be
apprehended), from too large a black population existing in any
one section of country, would certainly be very much diminished,
if not entirely removed. But whether dangers are to be feared
from this source or not,