in the public councils. The consequence of such
a transfer of power from the maritime to the interior
and landed interest, will, he foresees, be such an
oppression to commerce, that he shall be obliged to
vote for the vicious principle of equality in the second
branch, in order to provide some defence for the Northern
States against it. But to come more to the point,
either this distinction is fictitious or real; if
fictitious, let it be dismissed, and let us proceed
with due confidence. If it be real, instead of
attempting to blend incompatible things, let us at
once take a friendly leave of each other. There
can be no end of demands for security, if every particular
interest is to be entitled to it. The Eastern
States may claim it for their fishery, and for other
objects, as the Southern States claim it for their
peculiar objects. In this struggle between the
two ends of the Union, what part ought the Middle
States, in point of policy, to take? To join
their Eastern brethren, according to his ideas.
If the Southern States get the power into their hands,
and be joined, as they will be, with the interior
country, they will inevitably bring on a war with
Spain for the Mississippi. This language is already
held. The interior country, having no property
nor interest exposed on the sea, will be little affected
by such a war. He wished to know what security
the Northern and Middle States will have against this
danger. It has been said that North Carolina,
South Carolina, and Georgia only, will in a little
time have a majority of the people of America.
They must in that case include the great interior
country, and every thing was to be apprehended from
their getting the power into their hands.
Mr. BUTLER (of South Carolina). The security
the Southern States want is, that their negroes may
not be taken from them, which some gentlemen within
or without doors have a very good mind to do.
It was not supposed that North Carolina, South Carolina
and Georgia, would have more people than all the other
States, but many more relatively to the other States,
than they now have. The people and strength of
America are evidently bearing southwardly, and southwestwardly.
On the question to strike out wealth, and to
make the change as moved by Mr. RANDOLPH (of Virginia)
it passed in the affirmative,—Massachusetts,
Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, aye—9;
Delaware, divided.—pp. 1090-1-2-3-4.
SATURDAY, July 14, 1787.
Mr. MADISON. It seemed now to be pretty well
understood, that the real difference of interests
lay, not between the large and small, but between
the Northern and Southern, States. THE INSTITUTION
OF SLAVERY, AND IT’S CONSEQUENCES, FORMED THE
LINE OF DISCRIMINATION.—p. 1104.
TUESDAY, July 17, 1787.
Mr. WILLIAMSON. The largest State will be sure
to succeed. This will not be Virginia, however.
Her slaves will have no suffrage.—p.
1123.