tain
proportion of our slaves should make a part of the computed
population. It was attempted to form a rule of representation
from a compound ratio of wealth and population; but, on
consideration, it was found impracticable to determine the
comparative value of lands and other property, in so extensive a
territory, with any degree of accuracy; and population alone was
adopted as the only practicable rule or criterion of
representation. It was urged by the deputies of the Eastern
States, that a representation would be unequal and
burdensome--that, in a time of war, slaves rendered a country
more vulnerable, while its defence devolved upon its free
inhabitants. On the other hand, we insisted that, in time of
peace, they contributed by their labor, to the general wealth, as
well as other members of the community--that, as rational beings,
they had a right of representation, and, in some instances, might
be highly useful in war. On these principles the Eastern States
gave the matter up, and consented to the regulation as it has
been read. I hope these reasons will appear satisfactory. It is
the same rule or principle which was proposed some years ago by
Congress, and assented to by twelve of the States....[558]

In the House of Representatives in 1820 C. C. Pinckney of South
Carolina said:

Among the reasons which have induced me to rise, one is to
express my surprise. Surprise, did I say? I ought rather to have
said, my extreme astonishment, at the assertion I heard made on
both floors of Congress, that, in forming the Constitution of the
United States, and particularly that part of it which respects
the representation on this floor, the Northern and Eastern
States, or, as they are now called, the non-slaveholding States,
have made a great concession to the Southern in granting them a
representation of three-fifths of their slaves; that they saw the
concession was a very great and important one at the time, but
that they had no idea it would so soon have proved itself of such
consequence; that it would so soon have proved itself to be by
far the most important concession that had been made. They say,
that it was wrung from them by their affection to the Union, and
their wish to preserve it from dissolution or disunion; that they
had, for a lo