ves for twenty years; but after that period they can. The
gentlemen from South-Carolina and Georgia argued in this
manner:--"We have now liberty to import this species of property,
and much of the property now possessed has been purchased, or
otherwise acquired, in contemplation of improving it by the
assistance of imported slaves. What would be the consequence of
hindering us from it? The slaves of Virginia would rise in
value, and we would be obliged to go to your markets." I need
not expatiate on this subject. Great as the evil is, a
dismemberment of the union would be worse. If those states should
disunite from the other states, for not indulging them in the
temporary continuance of this traffic, they might solicit and
obtain aid from foreign powers....

(_The 2d, 3d, and 4th clauses read._)

... Mr. _Madison_ replied, that even the southern states, who
were most affected, were perfectly satisfied with this provision,
and dreaded no danger to the property they now hold. It appeared
to him, that the general government would not intermeddle with
that property for twenty years, but to lay a tax on every slave
imported, not exceeding ten dollars; and that after the
expiration of that period they may prohibit the traffic
altogether. The census in the constitution was intended to
introduce equality in the burdens to be laid on the
community.--No gentleman objected to laying duties, imposts, and
exercises, uniformly. But uniformity of taxes would be subversive
of the principles of equality: For that it was not possible to
select any article which would be easy for one state, but what
would be heavy for another.--...[571]

In 1789 Madison said:

I conceive the constitution, in this particular, was formed in
order that the Government, whilst it was restrained from laying a
total prohibition, might be able to give some testimony of the
sense of America with respect to the African trade. We have
liberty to impose a tax or duty upon the importation of such
persons, as any of the States now existing shall think proper to
admit; and this liberty was granted, I presume, upon two
considerations: The first was, that until the time arrived when
they might abolish the importation of slaves, they might have an
opportunity of evidencing their sentiments