32.8 America: a.d. 1701 to 1800  (Page 14/20)

Some additional information concerning the Constitutional Convention can be found in "Documents illustrative of the Formation of the Union of the American States", published for the Library of Congress by the Government printing office in 1927. (Ref. 123 ) The following contains excerpts from that source:

From the notes of William Patterson of New Jersey, while preparing a speech for July 9, 1787 we find this information about the populations of the various states:

• New Hampshire-- 1774 --100,000
• Massachusetts -- 1774 -- 400,000
• Rhode Island -- 1783 -- 48,538 Whites and 3,331 Blacks
• Connecticut -- 1774 -- 192,000 Whites and nearly 6,000 Blacks
• New York -- 1786 -- 219,996 Whites and 18,889 Blacks
• New Jersey -- 1783 -- 129,000 Whites and about 10,000 Blacks
• Maryland -- 1774 -- 350,000 (Estimated) with 3/7 Blacks - 150,000
• Virginia -- 1774 -- 650,000. (This apparent4 as a total, because he writes then - Blacks as 10 to 11 - 300,000
  Trager (Ref. 222 ) writes that as of 1775 there were 450,000 slaves below the Mason Dixon line

The Congress early wrote an Ordinance for the Government of the territory of the United States Northwest of the river Ohio and it contained, among others, the following interesting features:

• "Article III --The utmost good faith shall always be observed toward the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and in their property, rights and liberty they never shall be invaded or disturbed unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress
• Article VI - There was to be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the territory, but escaped slaves were to be returned to owners in the original states

In the convention there was much discussion about slavery. Mr. John Rutledge of South Carolina said that religion and humanity had nothing to do with this question and that it was a matter of "interest". "If the northern states consult their interest, they will not oppose the increase of slaves which will increase the commodities of which they will become the carriers." Mr. Charles C. Pinkney of South Carolina added that South

Carolina could never receive the plan (Constitution) if it prohibits the slave trade. He further stated that the entire world had had slaves - Greece, Rome and other ancient states - and that slavery had been sanctioned by France, Holland and other modern states. "In all ages one-half of mankind have been slaves." (Ref. 123 )

Thomas Jefferson was not present at the Constitutional Convention as he was serving as Minister to France at the time, but it will be worthwhile to consider at this time a few more details about that most remarkable man. He was a Greek and Latin scholar, geologist, musician, astronomer, meteorologist, archaeologist, anthropologist and gardener extraordinaire, as well as statesman and lawyer. (Ref. 39 ) His father was a Welshman with distaste for English rule, although already a third generation colonial. As a young man Thomas was accused, rightly or wrongly, of many indiscretions with married women and finally married a rich widow with a child, only to soon take a mulatto slave as his concubine