Georgia was decided on this point. That State has always hitherto
supposed a General Government to be the pursuit of the central States,
who wished to have a vortex for everything; that her distance would
preclude her from equal advantage; and that she could not prudently
purchase it by yielding national powers. From this, it might be
understood in what light she would view an attempt to abridge one of her
favorite prerogatives.
"If left to herself, she may probably put a stop to the evil. As one
ground for this conjecture, he took notice of the sect of ----, which,
he said was a respectable class of people who carried their ethics
beyond the mere _equality of men_, extending their humanity to the
claims of the whole animal creation."[203]
"Mr. Gerry thought we had nothing to do with the conduct of the States
as to slaves, but ought to be careful not to give any sanction to
it."[204]
"Mr. King thought the subject should be considered in a political light
only. If two States will not agree to the Constitution, as stated on one
side, he could affirm with equal belief, on the other, that great and
equal opposition would be experienced from the other States. He remarked
on the exemption of slaves from duty, while every other import was
subjected to it, as an inequality that could not fail to strike the
commercial sagacity of the Northern and Middle States."[205]
Here, as will be observed, everywhere was recognized and admitted the
doctrine of community independence and State equality--no interference
with the institutions of a State--no interference even prospectively
save and except with their consent; and thus it followed that at one
time it was proposed to except, from the power to prohibit the further
introduction of Africans, those States which insisted upon retaining the
power; and finally it was agreed that a date should be fixed beyond
which, probably, none of them desired to retain it.
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