on of these wretched beings.)

Upon what principle is it that the slaves shall be computed in
the representation? Are they men? Then make them Citizens & let
them vote? Are they property? Why then is no other property
included? The Houses in this City (Philada.) are worth more than
all the wretched slaves which cover the rice swamps of South
Carolina. The admission of slaves into the Representation when
fairly explained comes to this: that inhabitant of Georgia and S.
C. who goes to the Coast of Africa and in defiance of the most
sacred laws of humanity tears away his fellow creatures from
their dearest connections & dam(n)s them to the most cruel
bondages, shall have more votes in a Govt. instituted for
protection of the rights of mankind, than the Citizens of Pa or
N. Jersey who views with a laudable horror, so nefarious a
practice. He would add that Domestic slavery is the most
prominent feature in the aristocratic countenance of the proposed
Constitution. The vassalage of the poor has ever been the
favorite offspring of Aristocracy. And What is the proposed
compensation to the Northern States for a sacrifice of every
principle of right, of every impulse of humanity. They are to
bind themselves to march their militia for the defence of the S.
States; for their defence agst those very slaves of whom they
complain. They must supply vessels & seamen, in case of foreign
Attack. The Legislature will have indefinite power to tax them by
excises, and duties on imports; both of which will fall heavier
on them than on the Southern inhabitants; for the bohea tea used
by a Northern freeman, will pay more tax than the whole
consumption of the miserable slave, which consists of nothing
more than his physical subsistence and the rag that covers his
nakedness. On the other side the Southern States are not to be
restrained from importing fresh supplies of wretched Africans, at
once to increase the danger of attack, and the difficulty of
defence; nay they are to be encouraged to it by an assurance of
having their votes in the Natl Govt increased in proportion, and
are at the same time to have their exports & their slaves exempt
from all contributions for the public service. Let it not be said
that direct taxation is to be proportioned to representation. It