[The Black Experience in America by Norman Coombs]@TWC D-Link bookThe Black Experience in America CHAPTER 4 8/27
The first sectional conflict over slavery had taken place at the Constitutional Convention. Those Northerners who had hoped to see slavery abolished by this new constitution were quick to realize that such a document would never be approved by the South.
Most of the antislavery forces concluded that it was necessary to put the Union above abolition. While the Constitution did not specifically mention slavery, it did legally recognize the institution in three places.
First, there was a heated debate over the means of calculating representation to the House. Southern spokesmen wanted as many delegates as possible and preferred that slaves be counted.
Northerners, wanting to restrict Southern representation, insisted that slaves not be counted.
Some of them pointed out that it was an insult to whites to be put on an equal footing with slaves.
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