A Necessary Evil?: Slavery and the Debate Over the ConstitutionJohn P. Kaminski, University of Wisconsin--Madison. Center for the Study of the American Constitution By the early decades of the nineteenth century, Americans wondered, if slavery had become a necessary evil - economically essential but morally reprehensible. A Necessary Evil? is divided into seven chapters: the first establishes the background for slavery in the new nation and sets the stage for the debate while the second chapter records the arguments over slavery from the Constitutional Convention. Chapters three, four, and five turn to the New England, Middle, and Southern states respectively and present the complete record of slavery and the ratification debate in these regions. The next chapter demonstrates the peculiar institution's newly sanctioned role in the young republic and how abolitionists sought to reverse this growing consensus. Finally, the last chapter looks at slavery from the perspective of three of the most influential Americans, Washington, Jefferson, and Madison, to show the complexity and inner turmoil that surrounded slavery. |
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Page 165
... continue from their extent and other circumstances , the minority in Congress . Therefore it may be thought prudent , at least for them at this time , to avoid the rocks on both sides of the question instead of binding ourselves and ...
... continue from their extent and other circumstances , the minority in Congress . Therefore it may be thought prudent , at least for them at this time , to avoid the rocks on both sides of the question instead of binding ourselves and ...
Page 199
... continue it forever . They may or may not abolish it , at their discretion . But if we adopt the Constitution , the trade must cease after twenty years , if Congress declares so , whether particu- lar states please so or not ; surely ...
... continue it forever . They may or may not abolish it , at their discretion . But if we adopt the Constitution , the trade must cease after twenty years , if Congress declares so , whether particu- lar states please so or not ; surely ...
Page 246
... continue , and so “ until more can be done for them , we should endeavor , with those whom fortune has thrown on our hands , to feed & clothe them well , protect them from ill usage , require such reasonable labor only as is performed ...
... continue , and so “ until more can be done for them , we should endeavor , with those whom fortune has thrown on our hands , to feed & clothe them well , protect them from ill usage , require such reasonable labor only as is performed ...
Contents
LAYING SLAVERYS FOUNDATIONS | 1 |
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND SLAVERY | 41 |
NEW ENGLANd Debates SlaveRY AND THE CONSTITUTION | 67 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
abolish abolition of slavery adopted African slave trade agreed amendment American Antifederalists apportioning apportionment Articles of Confederation Assembly bill blacks citizens clause committee Congress considered Constitutional Convention debate declared delegates Edmund Randolph emancipation enslave equal evil federal Federalists foreign slave trade free persons freedom freemen friends gentlemen George Georgia Gouverneur Morris hope human import slaves importation of slaves inhabitants interest James Madison justice labor land laws legislature liberty manumission MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE Maryland Massachusetts masters migration or importation nature negroes never North Northern number of free object oppression Pennsylvania petition Philadelphia Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer present principles prohibit the importation proper to admit proportion proposed Quakers regulate representation respect Revolution Rhode Island Richard Dobbs Spaight rule sentiments slaveowners society South Carolina Southern taxation Thomas Jefferson thou thought three-fifths tion twenty Union United Virginia vote Washington wish York