"That there was a contest between the Northern and Southern States; that the Southern States, whose principal support depended on the labor of slaves, would not consent to the desire of the Northern States, to exclude the importation of slaves absolutely; that South Carolina and Georgia insisted on this clause, as they were now in want of hands to cultivate their lands; that in the course of twenty years they would be fully supplied; that the trade would be abolished then, and that in the meantime some tax or duty might be laid on." In the South Carolina Convention, Hon. Rawlins Lowndes said:-- "In the first place, what cause was there for jealousy of our importing negroes? Why confine us to twenty years, or rather why limit us at all? For his part, he thought this trade could be justified on the principles of religion, humanity, and justice; for certainly to translate a set of human beings from a bad country to a better was fulfilling every part of these principles. But they don't like our slaves, because they have none themselves." Gen. Charles C. Pinckney said:-- "_By this settlement we have secured an unlimited importation of negroes for twenty years_; nor is it declared that the importation shall be then stopped: it may be continued; we have a security that the general government can never emancipate them." RESTORATION OF FUGITIVE SLAVES. (Const. Art. 4, sec. 2.) In the Philadelphia Convention, Aug. 28, 1787, Art. 14 was taken up for consideration. This article read, "The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States." Gen. Pinckney was not satisfied with it. He seemed to wish some provision should be included in favor of property in slaves. Art. 15 was as follows:-- "Any person charged with treason, felony, or high misdemeanor, in any State, who shall flee from justice, and shall be found in any other State, shall, on demand of the executive power of the State from which he fled, be delivered up and removed to the State having jurisdiction of the offence." This article being then taken up, the words "high misdemeanor" were struck out, and the words "other crime" inserted, in order to comprehend all proper cases; it being doubtful whether "high misdemeanor" had not a technical meaning too limited. Mr. Butler and Mr. Pinckney moved to require "_fugitive slaves and servants to be delivered up like criminals_." Mr. Wilson: This would oblige the executive of the State to do it at the public expense. Mr. Sherman saw no more propriety in the public seizing and surrendering a slave or servant than a horse. Mr. Butler withdrew his proposition, in order that some particular provision might be made, apart from this article. Article 15, as amended, was then agreed to, _nem. con._--Mad. Papers, pp. 1447-8. The next day, Aug. 29, Mr. Butler, to accomplish his purpose, moved to insert, after Art. 15,--