Mr. Butler and Mr. Pinckney moved to require “fugitive slaves and servants to be delivered up like criminals.”

Mr. Wilson.  This would oblige the Executive of the State to do it, at the public expense.

Mr. Sherman saw no more propriety in the public seizing and surrendering a slave or servant, than a horse.

Mr. Butler withdrew his proposition, in order that some particular provision might be made, apart from this article.

Article 15, as amended, was then agreed to, nem. con. pp. 1447-8.

Wednesday, August 29, 1787.

General Pinckney said it was the true interest of the Southern States to have no regulation of commerce; but considering the loss brought on the commerce of the Eastern States by the Revolution, their liberal conduct towards the views[6] of South Carolina, and the interest the weak Southern States had in being united with the strong Eastern States, he thought it proper that no fetters should be imposed on the power of making commercial regulations, and that his constituents, though prejudiced against the Eastern States, would be reconciled to this liberality.  He had, himself, he said, prejudices against the Eastern States before he came here, but would acknowledge that he had found them as liberal and candid as any men whatever. p. 1451.

[Footnote 6:  He meant the permission to import slaves.  An understanding on the two subjects of navigation and slavery, had taken place between those parts of the Union, which explains the vote on the motion depending, as well as the language of General Pinckney and others.]

Mr. Butler moved to insert after Article 15, “If any person bound to service or labor in any of the United States, shall escape into another State, he or she shall not be discharged from such service or labor, in consequence of any regulations subsisting in the State to which they escape, but shall be delivered up to the person justly claiming their service or labor,”—­which was agreed to, nem. con. p. 1456.

Monday, September 10, 1787.

Mr. Rutledge said he never could agree to give a power by which the articles relating to slaves might be altered by the States not interested in that property, and prejudiced against it.  In order to obviate this objection, these words were added to the proposition:  “provided that no amendments, which may be made prior to the year 1808 shall in any manner affect the fourth and fifth sections of the seventh Article.” p. 1536.

Thursday, September 13, 1787.

Article 1, Section 2.  On motion of Mr. Randolph, the word “servitude” was struck out, and “service” unanimously[7] inserted, the former being thought to express the condition of slaves, and the latter the obligations of free persons.

[Footnote 7:  See page 372 of the printed journal.]

Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Wilson moved to strike out, “and direct taxes,” from Article 1, Section 2, as improperly placed in a clause relating merely to the Constitution of the House of Representatives.