is idle to suppose that the Genl Govt. can stretch its hand
directly into the pockets of the people scattered over so vast a
Country. They can only do it through the medium of exports
imports & excises. For what then are all these sacrifices to be
made? He would sooner submit himself to a tax for paying for all
the Negroes in the U. States, than saddle posterity with such a
Constitution.

Mr. Dayton 2ded. the motion. He did it he said that his
sentiments on the subject might appear whatever might be the fate
of the amendment.

Mr. Sherman, did not regard the admission of the Negroes into the
ratio of representation, as liable to such insuperable
objections. It was the freemen of the Southn. States who were in
fact to be represented according to the taxes paid by them, and
the Negroes are only included in the Estimate of the taxes. This
was his idea of the matter.

Mr. Pinkney, considered the fisheries & the Western frontier as
more burdensome to the U. S. than the slaves--He thought this
could be demonstrated if the occasion were a proper one.

Mr Wilson, thought the motion premature--An agreement to the
clause would be no bar to the object of it.

Question On Motion to insert "free" before "inhabitants."

N. H.--no. Mas. no. Ct. no. N. J. ay. Pa. no. Del. no. Md. no.
Va. no. S. C. no. N. C. no. Geo. no. (Ayes--1; noes--10.)[561]

* * * * *

Luther Martin (some days thereafter), proposed to vary the sect:
4. art VII so as to allow a prohibition or tax on the importation
of slaves,

1. As five slaves are to be counted as 3 free men in the
apportionment of Representatives; such a clause wd. leave an
encouragement to this traffic.

2. slaves weakened one part of the Union which the other parts
were bound to protect: the privilege of importing them was
therefore unreasonable--

3. it was inconsistent with the principles of the revolution and
dishonorable to the American character to have such a feature in
the Constitution.

Mr Rutlidge did not see how the importation of slaves could be
encouraged by this section. He was not apprehensive of
insurrections and would readily exempt the other States from the
(obligation to protect the Southern against them.).--Religions &
hum