Mr. Tucker moved to amend by striking out the fourth resolution.  Considerable discussion followed; and, upon the question being put, it was carried by one vote.  The fifth resolution, affirming the power of Congress to regulate the slave-trade, drew the fire of Jackson, Smith, and Tucker.  Mr. Madison offered to modify it somewhat.  It was argued by the opponents of this resolution, that Congress, under the plea of regulating the trade, might prohibit it entirely.  Mr. Vining of Delaware, somewhat out of patience with the demands of the Southern members, told those gentlemen very plainly that they ought to be satisfied with the changes already made to gratify them; that they should show some respect to the committee; that all the States from Virginia to New Hampshire had passed laws prohibiting the slave-trade; and then delivered an eloquent defence of the Quakers.  The resolution, as modified by Mr. Madison, carried.

The sixth resolution, relating to the foreign slave-trade carried on from ports of the United States, received considerable attention.  Mr. Scott made an elaborate speech upon it, in which he claimed, that, if it were a question as to the power of Congress to regulate the foreign slave-trade, he had no doubts as to the authority of that body.  “I desire,” said that gentleman, “that the world should know, I desire that those people in the gallery, about whom so much has been said, should know, that there is at least one member on this floor who believes that Congress have ample powers to do all they have asked respecting the African slave-trade.  Nor do I doubt that Congress will, whenever necessity or policy dictates the measure, exercise those powers.”  Mr. Jackson attempted to reply.  He started out with a labored argument showing the divine origin of slavery, quoting Scriptures; showed that the Greeks and Romans had held slaves, etc.  He was followed and supported by Smith of South Carolina.  Boudinot obtained the floor, and, after defending the Quakers and praising Franklin, declared that there was nothing unreasonable in the memorial; that it simply requested them “to go to the utmost verge of the Constitution,” and not beyond it.  Further debate was had, when the sixth resolution was adopted.

The seventh resolution, pledging Congress to exert their full powers for the restriction of the slave-trade—­and, as some understood it, to discountenance slavery—­was struck out.  The committee then arose and reported the resolutions to the house.  The next day, the 23d March, 1790, after some preliminary business was disposed of, a motion was made to take up the report of the committee.  Ames, Madison, and others thought the matter, having occupied so much of the time of the house, should be left where it was; or rather, as Mr. Madison expressed it, simply entered on the Journals as a matter of public record.  After some little discussion, this motion prevailed by a vote of twenty-nine to twenty-five.  The entry was accordingly made as follows:—­