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Show 'rilE STATE CONVENTIONS. of the most contemptible in the Union; and he cited an expression that fell from General Pinckney, on a former debate, that whilst thcl'e remaiucd one acre of swamp-land in South Carolina, lte ~ho ul<l raise his voice against restricting the importation of nrgl'oes. Even in granting the importation for twenty years, care had been taken to make us pay for this indulgence, each negro being liable, on importation, to pay a duty not exceeding ten dollars, and in addition to this they were liable to a capitation tax. Negroes were our wealth, our only natural resource; yet behold how our kind friends in the North were determined soon to tie up our hands, and drain us of what we had ! TLe Eastern States drew their means of subsistence, in a great measure, from their shipping; and, on that head, they had been particularly careful not to allow of any burdens; they were not to pay tonnage or duties; 110, not even the form of clearing out; all ports were free and open to them. Why then call this a reciprocal bargain, which took all from one party to bestow it on the other. ) l-Ion. E. Rutledge. In the Northern States the labor is performed by white people, in the Southern by black. All the free people (ana there are few others) in the Northern States aro to be taxed by the new Constitution; whereas only the free people and two-fifths of the slaves, in the Southern States, are io be rated in the apportioning of taxes. But the principal objection is, that no duties are laid on shipping; that, in fact, the carrying trade was to be vested, in a great measure, in the .Americans ; that the ship-building business was principally carried on in the Northern States. When this subject is duly considered, the Southern States should be the last to object to it. Gen. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney said be would make a few observation on the objections which the gentleman THE STATE CONVH:NTIONS. 153 had thrown out on the restriction that might be laid on the .African trade after the yenr 180 . On this point your delegates had to contend with the religious and political prejudices of the Eastern and Middle States, and with the interested and inconsistent opinion of Virginia, who was warmly opposed to our importing more slaves. I am of the same opinion now as I was t\vo years ngo, ""hen I used the expressions the gentleman has quotedthat while there remained oue acre of swamp-land unclen red in South Carolina, I would raise my voice against r estricting the importation of negroes. I am as thoroughly convinced as that gentleman is, that the nature of our climate, and the flat, swampy situation of our country, obliges us to cultivate our lands with negroes, and that without them South Carolina would soon be a desert waste. You have so frequently heard my sentiments on this subject, that I need not now repeat them. It was alleged, by some of the members who opposed an unlimited im portation, that slaves increased the weakness of any Slate \vho admitted them ; that they were a dangerous species of property, which an invading enemy could easily turn against ourselves and the neighboring States; and that, as we were allowed a representation for them in the Ilouse of Representatives, our influence in government would be increased in proportion as we were less able to defend ourselves. 11 Show some period," said the members from the Easteru States, " when it may he in our power to put a stop, if we please, to the importation of this weakness, and we will endeavor, for your convenience, to restrain the religious and political prejucl ices of our people on th is subject." The Middle States and Virginia made us no such proposition; they were for an immediate und total prohibition. W c CJH.leavorcd to obviate the ubjeeliouH that were nH~odo |
