dation, and making an attack
which, if successful, must convince them that the Northern and
Eastern States are their greatest enemies; that they are
preparing measures for them which even Great Britain in the heat
of the Revolutionary War, and when all her passions were roused
by hatred and revenge to the highest pitch never ventured to
inflict upon them. Instead of a course like this, they ought, in
my judgment, sir, to be highly pleased with their present
situation; that they are fully represented, while we have lost so
great a share of our representation; they ought sir, to be highly
pleased at the dexterity and management of their members in the
Convention, who obtained for them this great advantage; and,
above all, with the moderation and forbearance with which the
Southern and Western States have always borne their many bitter
provocations on this subject, and now bear the open, avowed, and,
by many of the ablest men among them, undisguised attack on our
most valuable rights and properties....

* * * * *

Before I proceed to the other parts of this question, I have thus
endeavored to give a new view of the subject of representation in
this House; to show how much more the Eastern and Northern States
are represented than the Southern and Western....

The supporters of the amendment contend that Congress have the
right to insist on the prevention of involuntary servitude in
Missouri; and found the right on the ninth section of the first
article, which says "the migration or importation of such persons
as the States now existing may think proper to admit, shall not
be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year 1808, but a tax
or duty may be imposed on such importation not exceeding ten
dollars."

In considering this article, I will detail, as far as at this
distant period is possible, what was the intention of the
Convention that formed the Constitution in this article. The
intention was, to give Congress a power, after the year 1808, to
prevent the importation of slaves either by land or water from
other countries. The word _import_, includes both, and applies
wholly to slaves. Without this limitation Congress might have
stopped it sooner under their general power to regulate commerce;
and it