hat both in opinion & practice he was,
against slavery; but thought it more in favor of humanity, from a
view of all circumstances, to let in S--C & Georgia on those
terms, than to exclude them from the Union--

Mr. Govr. Morris withdrew his motion.

Mr. Dickenson wished the clause to be confined to the States
which had not themselves prohibited the importation of slaves,
and for that purpose moved to amend the clause so as to read "The
importation of slaves into such of the States as shall permit the
same shall not be prohibited by the Legislature of the
U--S--until the year 1808".--which was agreed to nem: cont:

The first part of the report was then agreed to, amended as
follows. "The migration or importation of such persons as the
several States now existing shall think proper to admit shall not
be prohibited by the Legislature prior to the year 1808." N. H.
Mas. Con. Md. N. C. S. C. Geo: ... ay N. J. Pa. Del Virga ... no.
(Ayes--7; noes--4).

Mr. Baldwin in order to restrain & more explicitly define "the
average duty" moved to strike out of the 2d. part the words
"average of the duties laid on imports" and insert "common impost
on articles not enumerated" which was agreed to nem: cont:

Mr. Sherman was agst. this 2d part, as acknowledging men to be
property, by taxing them as such under the character of slaves.

Mr. King & Mr. Langdon considered this as the price of the 1st
part.

Genl. Pinkney admitted that it was so.

Col. Mason. Not to tax, will be equivalent to a bounty on the
importation of slaves.

Mr. Ghorum thought that Mr. Sherman should consider the duty, not
as implying that slaves are property, but as a discouragement to
the importation of them.

Mr. Govr, Morris remarked that as the clause now stands it
implies that the Legislature may tax freemen imported.

Mr. Sherman in answer to Mr. Ghorum observed that the smallness
of the duty shewed revenue to be the object, not the
discouragement of the importation.

Mr. Madison thought it wrong to admit in the Constitution the
idea that there could be property in men. The reason of duties
did not hold, as slaves are not like merchandise, consumed &c.

Col. Mason (in answr. to Govr. Morris) the provision as it stands
was necessary for the case of Co