dered in Representation,
because they are property. They afford a rule as such in
Taxation; but are Citizens intrusted in the General Government,
no more than Cattle, Horses, Mules or Asses: and a Gentleman in
Debate very pertinently observed that he would as soon enter into
Compacts, with the Asses Mules, or Horses of the Ancient Dominion
as with their Slaves--When there is power to raise a revenue by
direct Taxation, each State ought to pay an equal Ratio; Whereas
by taxing Commerce some States pay greatly more than others,[555]

Before the South Carolina House of Representatives C. C. Pinckney
said:

We are at a loss, for some time, for a rule to ascertain the
proportionate wealth of the states. At last we thought that the
productive labor of the inhabitants was the best rule for
ascertaining their wealth. In conformity to this rule, joined to
a spirit of concession, we determined that representatives should
be apportioned among the several states, by adding to the whole
number of free persons three fifths of the slaves. We thus
obtained a representation for our property; and I confess I did
not expect that we had conceded too much to the Eastern States,
when they allowed us a representation for a species of property
which they have not among them.[556]

In the New York Convention considering the ratification of the
constitution, Hamilton said:

The first thing objected to is that clause which allows a
representation for three fifths of the negroes.... The regulation
complained of was one result of the spirit of accommodation
which governed the Convention; and without this indulgence no
union could possibly have been formed.[557]

On July 24, 1788, in the North Carolina convention, Davie said:

... The gentleman "does not wish to be represented with negroes."
This, sir, is an unhappy species of population; but we cannot at
present alter their situation. The Eastern States had great
jealousies on this subject. They insisted that their cows and
horses were equally entitled to representation; that the one was
property as well as the other. It became our duty, on the other
hand, to acquire as much weight as possible in the legislation of
the Union; and, as the Northern States were more populous in
whites, this only could be done by insisting that a cer