tion"

Mr. Sherman thought the number of people alone the best rule for
measuring wealth as well as representation; and that if the
Legislature were to be governed by wealth, they would be obliged
to estimate it by numbers. He was at first for leaving the matter
wholly to the discretion of the Legislature; but he had been
convinced by the observations of (Mr. Randolph & Mr. Mason) that
the _periods_ & the _rule_ of revising the Representation ought
to be fixt by the Constitution

Mr. Reid thought the Legislature ought not to be too much
shackled. It would make the Constitution like Religious Creeds,
embarrassing to those bound to conform to them & more likely to
produce dissatisfaction and Scism, than harmony and union.

Mr. Mason objected to Mr. Rutlidge motion, as requiring of the
Legislature something too indefinite & impracticable, and leaving
them a pretext for doing nothing.

Mr. Wilson had himself no objection to leaving the Legislature
entirely at liberty. But considered wealth as an impracticable
rule.

Mr. Ghorum. If the Convention who are comparatively so little
biased by local views are so much perplexed, How can it be
expected that the Legislature hereafter under the full biass of
those views, will be able to settle a standard. He was convinced
by the argument of others & his own reflections, that the
Convention ought to fix some standard or other.

Mr. Govr. Morris. The argts. of others & his own reflections had
led him to a very different conclusion. If we can't agree on a
rule that will be just at this time, how can we expect to find
one that will be just in all times to come. Surely those who come
after us will judge better of things present, than we can of
things future. He could not persuade himself that numbers would
be a just rule at any time. * * * * * * * Another objection with
him agst admitting the blacks into the census, was that the
people of Pena. would revolt at the idea of being put on a
footing with slaves. They would reject any plan that was to have
such an effect. Two objections had been raised agst. leaving the
adjustment of the Representation from time to time, to the
discretion of the Legislature.[548]

The question of counting three-fifths of the Negroes as whites,
however, would not down. Acc