obtained for a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation not
exceeding ten dollars for each person; and this, Sir, operates as
a partial prohibition. It was all that could be obtained. I am
sorry it was no more; but from this I think there is reason to
hope that yet a few years, and it will be prohibited altogether.
And in the meantime, the new States which are to be formed will
be under the control of Congress in this particular, and slaves
will never be introduced amongst them. The gentleman says that it
is unfortunate in another point of view: it means to prohibit the
introduction of white people from Europe, as this may deter them
from coming amongst us. A little impartiality and attention will
discover the care that the convention took in selecting their
language. The words are, the _migration or_ IMPORTATION of such
persons, etc., shall not be prohibited by Congress prior to the
year 1808, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such IMPORTATION.
It is observable here that the term migration is dropped when a
tax or duty is mentioned, so that Congress have power to impose
the tax only on those imported.[567]

Referring to George Mason's objections to the Constitution, Oliver
Ellsworth said:

_The general Legislature is restrained from prohibiting the
further importation of slaves for twenty odd years_.... His
objections are ... that such importations render the United
States weaker, more vulnerable, and less capable of defence. To
this I readily agree, and all good men wish the entire abolition
of slavery, as soon as it can take place with safety to the
public, and for the lasting good of the present wretched race of
slaves. The only possible step that could be taken towards it by
the convention was to fix a period after which they should not be
imported.[568]

In his "Genuine Information" delivered before the Maryland Legislature
November 29, 1787, Luther Martin said:

(56) By the _ninth_ section of this article, the importation of
such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper
to admit, shall not be prohibited prior to the year one thousand
eight hundred and eight; but a duty may be imposed on such
importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person.

(57) The design of this clause is to prevent the general
go