112
CONSTITUTION OF THE U. STATES.
[BOOK III.
represented, under the mild appellation of "other persons," not as free persons, but only in the proportion of three fifths. The clause was in substance borrowed from the resolve, passed by the continental congress on the 18th of April, 1783, recommending the states to amend the articles of confederation in such manner, that the national expenses should be defrayed out of a common treasury,
which shall be supplied by the several states, in proportion to the whole number of white, or other free inhabitants, of every age, sex, and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and three fifths of all other persons, not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians, not paying taxes, in each state.
[1] In order to reconcile the non-slave-holding states to this provision, another clause was inserted, that direct taxes should be apportioned in the same manner as representatives. So, that, theoretically, representation and taxation might go
pari passu.
[2] This provision, however, is more specious than solid; for while, in the levy of direct taxes, it apportions them on three fifths of persons not free, it, on the other hand, really exempts the other two fifths from being taxed at all, as property.
[3] Whereas, if direct taxes had been apportioned, as upon principle they ought to be, according to the real value of property within the state, the whole of the slaves would have been taxable, as property. But a far more striking inequality has been disclosed by the practical operations of the government. The principle of representation is
- ↑ Journals of Congress, 1783, vol. 8, p. 188; 1 Elliot's Debates, 56.
- ↑ The Federalist, No. 54; Journal of Convention, 12th July, 171, 172; id. 174, 175, 176, 179, 180, 210; id. 235; id. 372; 1 Elliot's Debates, 56, 57, 58, 60; id. 213.
- ↑ 1 Tucker's Black. Comm. 190, 191 ; 1 Elliot's Debates, 58, 59.
