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Show lt4 'rHE t:iTA'l'E CONVENrriONS. his feelings to the interest and circumstances of llis country. [1 si clause of the 9th section rend.] . Mr. J. McDowall, wi, hcd to hear the rca ous of this re-striction. :Mr. Spaight an wcrcd, that there was a contc t between the Northcm n.ntl Southern St:ttCR; thn-t tlte outhem SLates, whose principal support depended on the labor of sln.vcs, would not consent to the desire of the Northern States to exclude the importation of slaves absolutely; that Routh Carolina and Georgia in istcd on this clause, as they were now in want of hands to cultivate their lands; that in the cotn'. c of twenty years they would be fully supplied; that the lrade would be abolished then, and that, iu the mean time, some lax or duty might be laid on it. Mr. M'Dowt~.ll replied, that the explanation was just such as he expected, and by 110 means satisfactory to him, and that he looked upon it as a very objcctiouable part of the system. Mr. Iredell. Mr. Chairman : I rise to express sentiments similar to those of the gentleman from Ora vcn. For my part, were it practicable to put an end to the importation of slaves immediately, it would give me the greatest pleasure ; for it is a trade inconsistent wi Lh the rights of humanity, and under which great crnc!Lies have been ex-ercised. When the entire abolition of slavery takes place, it will be an event which must be pleasing to every generous mind, and every friend of hu mnn natnre; but we often wish for things which are not atLainablc. It was the wi h of a great majority of the Convention to put an end to the trade immediately; but the States of South Cn.rolina and Georgia would not agree to it. Consider, then, what wonld be tho difference between our present situation in this respect, if we do not agree to the Constitution, and what it will be if we do agree to it. THE S'l'ATI~ CO~V I•:NTIOXH. 1-15 If we do not agre.e to it, do we remedy the evil? N 0 si:, we ~o not. For if the Con~'iitution be not adoptr(1, i~ wdl ue m the power of every State to eontintte iL forever . They may or may not abol i~h it, at thcit· discretion. But if we adopt the CousLitution, the trade muHt ceasr. n.ft<'t' twenty years, if Congress declare so, whether part i ·ular Stnle~ please so or not; surely, then, we can gain by it. . Tl11s was the utmost that coul<l be obtained. I he<trt ily w1sh ~ore coul~ h.avo been done. But, as it is, this govern~ c~Jt lS 110bly dtSilllgu ishcd above Others uy that very proVIS! Oil. Where is there another conn try in which such a restriction prevails: . We, t ll crefore, sir, set an example of lturnanity, uy providtng for the abol ition of this iuhunwn traflie, though ut a distant period. I hope, therefore, that this pari of the Constitnlion will not be condemned because it has not stipulaled for what wns impracticable to obtain. :Mr·. Spaighi fur ther explained the clut~sc. 'rhat the limitation of this iruclc to the term of twenty years was n. compromise between the Ba~tcrn States and the Sonthern Stales. South Carolina ancl Georgia wiHhed to extend the term. 'L'he Eastern States insi tccl on the entire abolition of the trade. That the Sta.te of North Carolina had not thouo·ht proper to pass any ln.w prohibiting tho im portation of ,·la\~e~, nnd therefore its delegation in the Convrntion did not think themselves authorized to cnntcnd for an imm diatc pruhil>ition of it. Ml·. Iredell added to what he had said before, that the States of Georgia and South Carolina had lo t a great many slaves during the war, and thai they wi bed to snpp1y the loss. Mr. Galloway. Mr. Chairman: The explanation given to 10 ' |