terms. "Slavery was generally detested." It was thought
that the new States could not claim the sad privilege of
their parents^ that the South itself would soon hate and
abolish it. "Slavery is not smitten by an apoplexy," said Mr Dawes, "yet it has received a mortal wound, and will die of consumption." This reflection, with the "tobacco"
and "navigation laws," turned the scale. Patrick Henry
was no son of New England, but knew well on what hinges her political morality might turn, by what means and which way.
In the New York Convention, Mr Smith could "not see any rule by which slaves were to be included in the ratio of representation, the very operation of it was to give certain privileges to men who were so wicked as to keep slaves;" to which Mr Hamilton replied, that "without this indulgence no union could possibly have been formed. But … considering those peculiar advantages which we derived from them, [the Southern States,] it is entirely just that they should be gratified. The Southern States possess certain staples, tobacco, rice, indigo, &c., which must be capital objects in treaties of commerce with foreign nations; and the advantage … will be felt in all the States."
In the Pennsylvania Convention, Mr Wilson considered that the Constitution laid the foundation for abolishing slavery out of this country," though the period was more distant than he could wish. Yet "the new States … will be under the control of Congress in this particular, and slavery will never be introduced amongst them;" "yet the lapse of a few years, and Congress will have power to exterminate slavery from within our borders."
In the Virginia Convention Gov. Randolph regarded the slave-trade as "infamous" and "detestable." Slavery was one of our vulnerable points. "Are we not weakened by the population of those whom we hold in slavery?" he asked. Col. Mason thought the trade "diabolical in itself and disgraceful to mankind." He would "not admit the Southern States [Georgia and the Carolinas] into the Union unless they agreed to the discontinuance of this disgraceful trade." Mr Tyler thought "nothing could justify it." Patrick Henry, who contended for slavery, confessed slavery is detested,—we feel its fatal effects,—
