Slave Representation. One

of the chief subjects of dispute in the Convention of 1787, as in the case of previous attempts to make a constitution, was that of representation of that part of the population of certain States which consisted of slaves. It was contended on the one hand that, being persons, they should be represented, and on the other hand that, being property, they should be made the object of taxation. The compromise which was reached, and which continued in force until the abolition of slavery, provided that, for purposes of reckoning alike a State’s proportion of representatives and its proportion of direct taxes, its population should be computed by adding to the whole number of free persons, exclusive of untaxed Indians, ‘* three-fifths of all other persons,’’ #. ¢., of slaves. This mode of counting population was first suggested in 1783, by the Continental Congre , as a basis for the apportionment of contributions from the States, to be agreed upon as an amendment to the Articles of Confederation. 230