, if the power of
prohibiting the importation should be given to the General
Government, it would be exercised. He thought it would be
its duty to exercise the power.

'Mr. READ was for the commitment, provided the clause
concerning taxes on exports should also be committed.

"Mr. SHERMAN observed, that that clause had been agreed to,
and therefore could not be committed.

"Mr. RANDOLPH was for committing, in order that some middle
ground might, if possible, be found. He could never agree to
the clause as it stands. He would sooner risk the
Constitution. He dwelt on the dilemma to which the
Convention was exposed. By agreeing to the clause, it would
revolt the Quakers, the Methodists, and many others in the
States having no slaves. On the other hand, two States might
be lost to the Union. Let us then, he said, try the chance
of a commitment."[631]

Three days later (Saturday, Aug. 25) the debate on the subject was
resumed, and the report of the committee of eleven was taken up. It
was in the following words:--

"Strike out so much of the fourth section as was referred to
the Committee, and insert 'The migration or importation of
such persons as the several States, now existing, think
proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Legislature
prior to the year 1800; but a tax or duty may be imposed on
such migration or importation, at a rate not exceeding the
average of the duties laid on imports.'

* * * * *

"Gen. PINCKNEY moved to strike out the words 'the year
eighteen hundred' as the year limiting the importation of
slaves, and to insert the words 'the year eighteen hundred
and eight.'

"Mr. GORHAM seconded the motion.

"Mr. MADISON. Twenty years will produce all the mischief
that can be apprehended from the liberty to import slaves.
So long a term will be more dishonorable to the American
character than to say nothing about it in the Constitution.

"On the motion, which passed in the affirmative,--

"New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, ay,--7, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, no,--4.

"Mr. GOUVERNOUR MORRIS was for making the clause read at
once,--

"'The importation of slaves into North Carolina, South