In the debates in the North Carolina Convention, Mr. Iredell, afterward a Judge of the United States’ Supreme Court, said, “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 human nature.”  Mr. Galloway said, “I wish to see this abominable trade put an end to.  I apprehend the clause (touching the slave trade) means to bring forward manumission.”  Luther Martin, of Maryland, a member of the convention that formed the United States Constitution, said, “We ought to authorize the General Government to make such regulations as shall be thought most advantageous for the gradual abolition of slavery, and the emancipation of the slaves which are already in the States.”  Judge Wilson, of Pennsylvania, one of the framers of the constitution, said, in the Pennsylvania convention of ’87, [Deb.  Pa.  Con. p. 303, 156:] “I consider this (the clause relative to the slave trade) as laying the foundation for banishing slavery out of this country.  It will produce the same kind of gradual change which was produced in Pennsylvania; the new states which are to be formed will be under the control of Congress in this particular, and slaves will never be introduced among them.  It presents us with the pleasing prospect that the rights of mankind will be acknowledged and established throughout the Union.  Yet the lapse of a few years, and Congress will have power to exterminate slavery within our borders.”  In the Virginia convention of ’87, Mr. Mason, author of the Virginia constitution, said, “The augmentation of slaves weakens the States, and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.  As much as I value a union of all the states, I would not admit the southern states, (i.e., South Carolina and Georgia,) into the union, unless they agree to a discontinuance of this disgraceful trade.”  Mr. Tyler opposed with great power the clause prohibiting the abolition of the slave trade till 1808, and said, “My earnest desire is, that it shall be handed down to posterity that I oppose this wicked clause.”  Mr. Johnson said, “The principle of emancipation has begun since the revolution.  Let us do what we will, it will come round.”—­[Deb.  Va.  Con. p. 463.] Patrick Henry, arguing the power of Congress under the United States’ constitution to abolish slavery in the States, said, in the same convention, “Another thing will contribute to bring this event (the abolition of slavery) about.  Slavery is detested.  We feel its fatal effects; we deplore it with all the pity of humanity.”—­[Deb.  Va.  Con. p. 431.] In the Mass.  Con. of ’88, Judge Dawes said, “Although slavery is not smitten by an apoplexy, yet it has received a mortal wound, and will die of consumption.”—­[Deb.  Mass.  Con. p. 60.] General Heath said that, “Slavery was confined to the States now existing, it could not be extended.  By their ordinance, Congress had declared that the new States should be republican States, and have no slavery.”—­p. 147.