Compromises

of the Constitution. The Convention of 1787 was mainly divided as to whether, in the new government, one State’s infinence should be equal to that of any other State, or should be based on population. The plans for a Constitution submitted by Edmund Randolph, of Virginia, and William Paters on, of New Jersey, were diametvically opposed in this respect. The former favored representation according to population in both Houses; the latter an equal vote for each State and only one House. Johnson, of Connecticut, proposed as a compromise two Houses, an equal representation in the Senate and a proportionate one in the House. Elisworth formally moved that this be adopted, and thus the first compromise was effected after considerable debate. The second was in regard to the regulation of commerce by Congre . It was proposed to tax both exports and imports at the discretion of Congre , C. C. Pinckney declared that South Caroling would not enter the Union if exports were to be taxed, since nearly the whole of her wealth lay in one article of export—rice. Hence it was decided, August 6, that ‘‘no tax or duty shall be laid by the Legislature on articles exported from any State,’’ and on these terms the Federal control over commerce was conceded. Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina refused to enter the Union if the slave traffic was to be prohibited, so the third compromise effected that Congre should not prohibit the slave trade until 1808, and that a fugitive slave law should be provided. 171