Jackson's Arguments For The Abolition Of Slavery

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Not one of the members of congress suspected the kind of interruption that February 11th, 1790, brought as they debated the matters of assumption and residency. However, on that day, two Quaker delegations brought petitions for the immediate termination of the slave trade. The southern delegates rose up to decry the petition with James Jackson rising up to take the lead. He said that these pacifists should not be taken seriously because of their questionable loyalty in the Revolution. William Smith supported Jackson, and added that the constitution prohibited any law to pass concerning the slave trade until 1808. Jackson said that this act would eventually lead to the push for emancipation. However, Madison rose and calmed Jackson down, saying though his argument is heartfelt, it was somewhat detrimental. …show more content…
However, the next day, it turned out that Madison was wrong. A petition arrived calling for the abolition of slavery. First, it said that the idea of slavery was incompatible with Revolutionary ideals. Secondly, it argued that the constitution did not restrict the abolition of the slave trade. To top everything off, it was signed by Benjamin Franklin, whose presence made sure that the issue could not disappear into Congressional deadlock. Ellis then describes the meetings that took place during the Constitutional Convention concerning