ris'
motion, and lost, New Jersey only voting for it.

With respect to prohibiting any restriction upon the importation of
slaves, Luther Martin, of Maryland, who moved to allow a tax upon slaves
imported, remarked: "As five slaves in the apportionment of
representatives were reckoned as equal to three freemen, such a
permission amounted to an encouragement of the slave trade. Slaves
weakened the Union which the other parts were bound to protect; the
privilege of importing them was therefore unreasonable. Such a feature
in the Constitution was inconsistent with the principles of the
Revolution, and dishonorable to the American character."

John Rutledge "did not see how this section would encourage the
importation of slaves. He was not apprehensive of insurrections, and
would readily exempt the other States from every obligation to protect
the South. Religion and humanity had nothing to do with this question.
Interest alone is the governing principle with nations. The true
question at present is, whether the Southern States shall or shall not
be parties to the Union? If the Northern States consult their interest,
they will not oppose the increase of slaves, which will increase the
commodities of which they will become the carriers."

Oliver Ellsworth said: "Let every State import what it pleases. The
morality or wisdom of slavery is a consideration belonging to the
States. What enriches a part enriches the whole, and the States are the
best judges of their particular interests."

Charles Pinckney said: "South Carolina can never receive the plan if it
prohibits the slave trade. If the States be left at liberty on this
subject, South Carolina may, perhaps, by degrees, do of herself what is
wished, as Maryland and Virginia already have done."

Roger Sherman concurred with his colleague Mr. Ellsworth. "He
disapproved of the slave trade; but as the States now possessed the
right, and the public good did not require it to be taken away, and as
it was expedient to have as few objections as possible to the proposed
scheme of government, he would leave the matter as he found it. The
abolition of slavery seemed to be going on, and the good sense of the
several States would probably, by degrees, soon complete it."

George Mason said: "Slavery discourages arts and manufactures. The poor
despise labor when performed by slaves. They prevent the immigration of
whites, who really enrich and strengthen a country. They produce a
p