ates
urged the recognition of slaves as a part of the population to secure
to the South the power which it wielded until the Civil War.[530]

Taking up this important question soon after the convention assembled,

The following resolution was then moved by Mr. Randolph, Resolved
that the rights of suffrage in the national legislature ought to
be proportioned to the quotas of contribution, or to the number
of free inhabitants, as the one or the other rule may seem best
in different cases.

It was moved by Mr. Hamilton seconded by Mr. Spaight that the
resolution be altered so as to read

Resolved that the rights of suffrage in the national legislature
ought to be proportioned to the number of free inhabitants

It was moved and seconded that the resolution be postponed--and
on the question to postpone it passed in the affirmative

The following resolution was moved by Mr. Randolph seconded by Mr
Madison Resolved that the rights of suffrage in the national
legislature ought to be proportioned--it was moved and seconded
to add the words "and not according to the present system"--On
the question to agree to the amendment it passed in the
affirmative. (Ayes--7 noes--0.)[531]

It was then moved and seconded so to alter the resolution that it
should read

Resolved that the rights of suffrage in the national legislature
ought not to be according

It was then moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of
the last resolution--And, on the question to postpone, it passed
in the affirmative The following resolution was then moved by Mr
Madison seconded by Mr. G Morris.

Resolved that the equality of suffrage established by the
articles of confederation ought not to prevail in the national
legislature and that an equitable ratio of representation ought
to be substituted.

It was moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the
last resolution.

(The following Resolution being the 2d. of those proposed by Mr.
Randolph was taken up. viz--"that the rights of suffrage in the
National Legislature ought to be proportioned to the quotas of
contribution, or to the number of free inhabitants, as the one or
the other rule may seem best in different cases.")

Mr. M(adison) observing that the words ("_or to the number of_)
_free in