shall have been adopted) and every
year thereafter; and that the Representation be regulated
accordingly.[546]

* * * * *

Mr. Butler & Genl. Pinkney insisted that blacks be included in
the rule of Representation, _equally_ with the whites: (and for
that purpose moved that the words "three fifths" be struck
out.)[547]

Mr. Gerry though that 3/5 of them was to say the least the full
proportion that could be admitted.

Mr. Ghorum. This ratio was fixed by Congs. as a rule of taxation.
Then it was urged by the Delegates representing the States having
slaves that the blacks were still more inferior to freemen. At
present when the ratio of representation is to be established, we
are assured that they are equal to freemen. The arguments on ye.
former occasion had convinced him that 3/5 was pretty near the
just proportion and he should vote according to the same opinion
now.

Mr. Butler insisted that the labour of a slave in S. Carola. was
as productive & valuable as that of a freeman in Massts., that as
wealth was the great means of defence and utility to the Nation
they are equally valuable to it with freemen; and that
consequently an equal representation ought to be allowed for them
in a Government which was instituted principally for the
protection of property, and was itself to be supported by
property.

Mr. Mason could not agree to the motion, notwithstanding it was
favorable to Virga. because he thought it unjust. It was certain
that the slaves were valuable, as they raised the value of land,
increased the exports & imports, and of course the revenue, would
supply the means of feeding and supporting an army, and might in
cases of emergency become themselves soldiers. As in these
important respects they were useful to the community at large,
they ought not to be excluded from the estimate of
Representation. He could not, however, regard them as equal to
freemen and could not vote for them as such. He added as worthy
of remark, that the Southern States have this peculiar species of
property over & above the other species of property common to all
the States.

Mr. Williamson reminded Mr. Ghorum that if the Southn. States
contended for the inferiority of blacks to whites when taxation
w