more vulnerable, while its defence devolved upon its free inhabitants. On the other hand, we insisted that, in time of peace, they contributed, by their labor, to the general wealth, as well as other members of the community—that, as rational beings, they had a right of representation, and, in some instances, might be highly useful in war. On these principles the Eastern States gave the matter up, and consented to the regulation as it has been read. I hope these reasons will appear satisfactory. It is the same rule or principle which was proposed some years ago by Congress, and assented to by twelve of the states. …
Mr. James Galloway said, that he did not object to the representation of negroes, so much as he did to the fewness of the number of representatives. He was surprised how we came to have but five, including those intended to represent negroes. That, in his humble opinion, North Carolina was entitled to that number independent of the negroes.
Mr. Spaight endeavored to satisfy him, that the Convention had no rule to go by in this case—that they could not proceed upon the ratio mentioned in the Constitution till the enumeration of the people was made—that some states had made a return to Congress of their numbers, and others had not—that it was mentioned that we had had time, but made no return—that the present number was only temporary—that in three years the actual census would be taken, and our number of representatives regulated accordingly.
ⅭⅭⅩⅩⅥ. William R. Davie in the North Carolina Convention.[1]
Mr. Chairman, I will state to the committee the reasons upon which this officer was introduced. I had the honor to observe to the committee, before, the causes of the particular formation of the Senate—that it was owing, with other reasons, to the jealousy of the states, and, particularly, to the extreme jealousy of the lesser states of the power and influence of the larger members of the confederacy. It was in the Senate that the several political interests of the states were to be preserved, and where all their powers were to be perfectly balanced. The commercial jealousy between the Eastern and Southern States had a principal share in this business. It might happen, in important cases, that the voices would be equally dividedIndecision might be dangerous and inconvenient to the
- ↑ Elliot, Debates in State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Ⅳ, 42–60.
