vernment from prohibiting the importation of slaves; but the
same reasons which caused them to strike out the word
"_national_," and not admit the word "_stamps_," influenced them
here to guard against the word "_slaves_." They anxiously sought
to avoid the admission of expressions which might be odious in
the ears of of Americans, although they were willing to admit
into their system those _things_ which the _expressions_
signified. And hence it is, that the clause is so worded, as
really to authorize the general government to impose a duty of
ten dollars on every foreigner who comes into a State to become a
citizen, whether he comes _absolutely_ free, or _qualifiedly_ so,
as a servant; although this is contrary to the design of the
framers, and the duty was only meant to extend to the importation
of _slaves_.

(58) This clause was the subject of a great diversity of
sentiment in the convention. As the system was reported by the
committee of detail, the provision was general, that such
importation should not be prohibited, without confining it to any
particular period. This was rejected by eight States,--Georgia,
South Carolina, and I think North Carolina, voting for it.

(59) We were then told by the delegates of the two first of
those States, that their States would never agree to a _system_,
which put in it the power of the general government to prevent
the importation of slaves, and that they, as delegates from those
States, must withhold their assent from such a system.

(60) A committee of one member from each State was chosen by
ballot, to take this part of the system under their
consideration, and to endeavor to agree upon some report, which
should reconcile those States. To this committee also was
referred the following proposition, which had been reported by
the committee of detail, to wit; "No _navigation_ act shall be
passed without the assent of _two thirds_ of the members present
in each House;" a proposition which the _staple_ and _commercial
States_ were solicitous to _retain_, lest their _commerce_ should
be placed too much under the power of the _eastern_ States; but
which these last States were as anxious to _reject_. This
committee, of which also I had the honor to be a member, met and
took under their consideratio