HKB
M^r Sherman thought the power might safely be left to the Legislature of the U. States.
Col: Mason observed that particular States might wish to encourage by impost duties certain manufactures for which they enjoyed natural advantages, as Virginia, the manufacture of Hemp &c.
M^r Madison. The encouragement of Manufactures in that mode requires duties not only on imports directly from foreign Countries, but from the other States in the Union, which would revive all the mischiefs experienced from the want of a Gen^l Government over commerce.[45]
[45] August 28, 1787, New York, Hamilton wrote to King: "I wrote to you some days since [August 20] to request you to inform me when there was a prospect of your finishing, as I intended to be with you, for certain reasons, before the conclusion.
"It is whispered here that some late changes in your scheme have taken place which give it a higher tone. Is this the case?"--King's Life and Correspondence of Rufus King, I, 258.
On the question
N. H. ay. Mas. no. C^t no. N. J. ay. P^a no. Del^a ay. M^d no. V^a no. N. C. ay. S. C. no. Geo. no.
Art: XII as amended agreed to nem: con:
Art: XIII being taken up. M^r King moved to insert after the word "imports" the words "or exports," so as to prohibit the States from taxing either, & on this question it passed in the affirmative.
N. H. ay. Mas. ay. C^t no. N. J. ay. P. ay. Del. ay. M^d no. V^a no. N. C. ay. S. C. no. Geo. no.
M^r Sherman moved to add after the word "exports"--the words "nor with such consent but for the use of the U. S."--so as to carry the proceeds of all State duties on imports & exports, into the common Treasury.
M^r Madison liked the motion as preventing all State imposts--but lamented the complexity we were giving to the commercial system.
M^r Gov^r Morris thought the regulation necessary to prevent the Atlantic States from endeavoring to tax the Western States--& promote their interest by opposing the navigation of the Mississippi which would drive the Western people into the arms of G. Britain.
M^r Clymer thought the encouragement of the Western Country was suicide on the old States. If the States have such different interests that they cannot be left to regulate their own manufactures without encountering the interests of other States, it is a proof that they are not fit to compose one nation.
M^r King was afraid that the regulation moved by M^r Sherman would too much interfere with the policy of States respecting their manufactures, which may be necessary. Revenue he reminded the House was the object of the general Legislature.
On M^r Sherman's motion
N. H. ay. Mas. no. C^t ay. N. J. ay. P^a ay. Del. ay. M^d no. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
Art XIII was then agreed to as amended.
Art. XIV was taken up.
Gen^l Pinkney was not satisfied with it. He seemed to wish some provision should be included in favor of property in slaves.
On the question on Art: XIV.
N. H. ay. Mas. ay. C^t ay. N. J. ay. P^a ay. Del. ay. M^d ay. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. no. Geo. divided.
Art: XV. being taken up, the words "high misdemesnor," were struck out, and "other crime" inserted, in order to comprehend all proper cases; it being doubtful whether "high misdemeanor" had not a technical meaning too limited.
M^r Butler and M^r Pinkney moved "to require fugitive slaves and servants to be delivered up like criminals."
M^r Wilson. This would oblige the Executive of the State to do it at the public expence.
M^r Sherman saw no more propriety in the public seizing and surrendering a slave or servant, than a horse.
M^r Butler withdrew his proposition in order that some particular provision might be made apart from this article.
Art XV as amended was then agreed to nem: con:
Adjourned.