Mr. George Mason.  Mr. Chairman, this is a fatal section, which has created more dangers than any other.  The first clause allows the importation of slaves for twenty years.  Under the royal government, this evil was looked upon as a great oppression, and many attempts were made to prevent it; but the interest of the African merchants prevented its prohibition.  No sooner did the revolution take place, than it was thought of.  It was one of the great causes of our separation from Great Britain.  Its exclusion has been a principal object of this State, and most of the States in the Union.  The augmentation of slaves weakens the States; and such a trade is diabolical in itself, and disgraceful to mankind.  Yet, by this Constitution, it is continued for twenty years.  As much as I value an union of all the States, I would not admit the Southern States into the Union, unless they agreed to the discontinuance of this disgraceful trade, because it would bring weakness and not strength to the Union.  And though this infamous traffic be continued, we have no security for the property of that kind which we have already.  There is no clause in this Constitution to secure it; for they may lay such tax as will amount to manumission.  And should the government be amended, still this detestable kind of commerce cannot be discontinued till after the expiration of twenty years.  For the fifth article, which provides for amendments, expressly excepts this clause.  I have ever looked upon this as a most disgraceful thing to America.  I cannot express my detestation of it.  Yet they have not secured us the property of the slaves we have already.  So that, “they have done what they ought not to have done, and have left undone what they ought to have done.”

Mr. Madison.  Mr. Chairman, I should conceive this clause to be impolitic, if it were one of those things which could be excluded without encountering greater evils.  The Southern States would not have entered into the Union of America, without the temporary permission of that trade.  And if they were excluded from the Union, the consequences might be dreadful to them and to us.  We are not in a worse situation than before.  That traffic is prohibited by our laws, and we may continue the prohibition.  The Union in general is not in a worse situation.  Under the articles of confederation, it might be continued forever:  but by this clause an end may be put to it after twenty years.  There is, therefore, an amelioration of our circumstances.  A tax may be laid in the mean time; but it is limited, otherwise Congress might lay such a tax as would amount to a prohibition.  From the mode of representation and taxation, Congress cannot lay such a tax on slaves as will amount to manumission.  Another clause secures us that property which we now possess.  At present, if any slave elopes to any of those States where slaves are free, he becomes emancipated by their laws.  For the laws of the States are uncharitable