378 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Wedaesday McHENRY August 22 McHENI?Y August 22. Committed the remainder of the 4 sect. with the 5 and 6. The 4 sect promitting the importation of Slaves gave rise to much desultory debate. Every 5 slaves counted in representation as one elector without being equal in point of strength to one white inhabi- tant. This gave the slave States an advantage in representation over the others. The slaves were moreover exempt from duty on impor- tation. They served to render the representation from such States arlstocratical. It was replied --That the population or increase of slaves in Virginia exceeded their calls �or their services- That a prohibition of Slaves into S. Carolina Georgia etc- would be a monopoly in their favor. These States could not do without Slaves--Virginia etc would make their own terms for such as they might sell. Such was the situation of the country that it could not exist without slaves--That they could confederate on no other condition. They had enjoyed the right of importing slaves when colonies. They enjoyed as States under the confederation- And if they could not enjoy it under the proposed government s they could not associate or make a part of it. Several additions were reported by the Committee. Mr. Martin shewed us some restrlctory clauses drawn up for the VII article respecting commerce- which we agreed to bring forward.- Moved that the legislature should pass no ex post facto laws or bills of attainder. G. Morris Willson Dr. Johnson etc thought the first an unnecessary guard as the principles of justice law et[c] were
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