Read these passages from James Madison's notes on the Constitutional Convention.
Which statement best explains these two points of
view?
MR. L. MARTIN proposed to ... allow a prohibition or
tax on the importation of slaves [The slave trade]
was inconsistent with the principles of the revolution, and
dishonorable to the American character...
Mr. RUTLEDGE. If the Convention thinks that North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia will ever agree to
the plan, unless their right to import slaves be
untouched, the expectation is vain.
Martin believed that the slave trade should be
considered constitutional, while Rutledge did not.
Martin wanted to ban only the slave trade, while
Rutledge wanted to ban the practice of slavery
outright.
O Martin opposed the slave trade, while Rutledge
wanted to preserve the practice of importing enslaved
workers.
O Martin did not want to impose a tax on importing
enslaved workers, while Rutledge wanted to create
such a tax.
-James Madison
August 21-22, 1787