[Footnote 2:  Mr. Carroll said, in explanation of the vote of Maryland, that he wished the phraseology to be so altered as to obviate, if possible, the danger which had been expressed of giving umbrage to the Eastern and Middle States.]

THURSDAY, July 12, 1787.

In Convention,—­Mr. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS moved a proviso, “that taxation shall be in proportion to representation.”

Mr. BUTLER contended again, that representation should be according to the full number of inhabitants, including all the blacks; admitting the justice of Mr. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS’S motion.

General PINCKNEY was alarmed at what was said yesterday, [by GOUVERNEUR MORRIS] concerning the negroes.  He was now again alarmed at what had been thrown out concerning the taxing of exports.  South Carolina has in one year exported to the amount of 600,000L. sterling, all which was the fruit of the labor of her blacks.  Will she be represented in proportion to this amount?  She will not.  Neither ought she then to be subject to a tax on it.  He hoped a clause would be inserted in the system, restraining the Legislature from taxing exports.

Mr. WILSON approved the principle, but could not see how it could be carried into execution; unless restrained to direct taxation.

Mr. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS having so varied his motion by inserting the word “direct,” it passed, nem. con., as follows:  “provided always that direct taxation ought to be proportioned to representation”

Mr. DAVIE said it was high time now to speak out.  He saw that it was meant by some gentlemen to deprive the Southern States of any share of representation for their blacks.  He was sure that North Carolina would never confederate on any terms that did not rate them at least as three-fifths.  If the Eastern States meant, therefore, to exclude them altogether, the business was at an end.

Dr. JOHNSON thought that wealth and population were the true, equitable rules of representation; but he conceived that these two principles resolved themselves into one, population being the best measure of wealth.  He concluded, therefore, that the number of people ought to be established as the rule, and that all descriptions, including blacks equally with the whites, ought to fall within the computation.  As various opinions had been expressed on the subject, he would move that a committee might be appointed to take them into consideration, and report them.

Mr. GOUVENEUR MORRIS.  It had been said that it is high time to speak out.  As one member, he would candidly do so.  He came here to form a compact for the good of America.  He was ready to do so with all the States.  He hoped, and believed, that all would enter into such compact.  If they would not, he was ready to join with any states that would.  But as the compact was to be voluntary, it is in vain for the Eastern States to insist on what the Southern States will never agree to.  It is equally vain for the latter to require, what the other States can never admit; and he verily believed the people of Pennsylvania will never agree to a representation of negroes.  What can be desired by these States more than has been already proposed—­that the legislature shall from time to time regulate representation according to population and wealth?