On Mr. Pinckney’s (of S. Carolina) motion, for rating blacks as equal to whites, instead of as three-fifths,—­South Carolina, Georgia, aye —­2; Massachusetts, Connecticut (Doctor Johnson, aye), New Jersey, Pennsylvania (three against two), Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, no—­8.

Mr. Randolph’s (of Virginia) proposition, as varied by Mr. Wilson (of Pennsylvania) being read for taking the question on the whole,—­

Mr. Gerry (of Massachusetts) urged that the principle of it could not be carried into execution, as the States were not to be taxed as States.  With regard to taxes on imposts, he conceived they would be more productive when there were no slaves, than where there were; the consumption being greater.

Mr. Ellsworth (of Connecticut.) In the case of a poll-tax there would be no difficulty.  But there would probably be none.  The sum allotted to a State may be levied without difficulty, according to the plan used by the State in raising its own supplies.

On the question on the whole proposition, as proportioning representation to direct taxation, and both to the white and three-fifths of the black inhabitants, and requiring a census within six years, and within every ten years afterwards,—­Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, aye—­6; New-Jersey, Delaware, no—­2; Massachusetts, South Carolina, divided. pp. 1079 to 1087.

Friday, July 13, 1787.

On the motion of Mr. Randolph (of Virginia), the vote of Monday last, authorizing the Legislature to adjust, from time to time, the representation upon the principles of wealth and numbers of inhabitants, was reconsidered by common consent, in order to strike out wealth and adjust the resolution to that requiring periodical revisions according to the number of whites and three-fifths of the blacks.

Mr. Gouverneur Morris (of Pennsylvania) opposed the alteration, as leaving still an incoherence.  If negroes were to be viewed as inhabitants, and the revision was to proceed on the principle of numbers of inhabitants, they ought to be added in their entire number, and not in the proportion of three-fifths.  If as property, the word wealth was right; and striking it out would produce the very inconsistency which it was meant to get rid of.  The train of business, and the late turn which it had taken, had led him, he said, into deep meditation on it, and he would candidly state the result.  A distinction has been set up, and urged, between the Northern and Southern States.  He had hitherto considered this doctrine as heretical.  He still thought the distinction groundless.  He sees, however, that it is persisted in; and the Southern gentlemen will not be satisfied unless they see the way open to their gaining a majority 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