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.