“Mr. SHERMAN said it was better to let the Southern States import slaves than to part with them, if they made that a sine qua non.  He was opposed to a tax on slaves imported, as making the matter worse, because it implied they were property.  He acknowledged, that, if the power of prohibiting the importation should be given to the General Government, it would be exercised.  He thought it would be its duty to exercise the power.

     ’Mr. READ was for the commitment, provided the clause
     concerning taxes on exports should also be committed.

     “Mr. SHERMAN observed, that that clause had been agreed to,
     and therefore could not be committed.

“Mr. RANDOLPH was for committing, in order that some middle ground might, if possible, be found.  He could never agree to the clause as it stands.  He would sooner risk the Constitution.  He dwelt on the dilemma to which the Convention was exposed.  By agreeing to the clause, it would revolt the Quakers, the Methodists, and many others in the States having no slaves.  On the other hand, two States might be lost to the Union.  Let us then, he said, try the chance of a commitment."[631]

Three days later (Saturday, Aug. 25) the debate on the subject was resumed, and the report of the committee of eleven was taken up.  It was in the following words:—­

“Strike out so much of the fourth section as was referred to the Committee, and insert ’The migration or importation of such persons as the several States, now existing, think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Legislature prior to the year 1800; but a tax or duty may be imposed on such migration or importation, at a rate not exceeding the average of the duties laid on imports.’

* * * * *

“Gen. PINCKNEY moved to strike out the words ’the year eighteen hundred’ as the year limiting the importation of slaves, and to insert the words ’the year eighteen hundred and eight.’

     “Mr. GORHAM seconded the motion.

“Mr. MADISON.  Twenty years will produce all the mischief that can be apprehended from the liberty to import slaves.  So long a term will be more dishonorable to the American character than to say nothing about it in the Constitution.

     “On the motion, which passed in the affirmative,—­

     “New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, North
     Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, ay,—­7, New Jersey,
     Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, no,—­4.

     “Mr. GOUVERNOUR MORRIS was for making the clause read at
     once,—­