"Mr. MADISON thought it wrong to admit in the Constitution the idea that there could be property in men. The reason of duties did not hold, as slaves are not like merchandize, consumed, &c"
— James Madison

January 1, 1970

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Presidents of the United StatesAcademics from the United StatesFounding Fathers of the United States of AmericaUnited States presidential candidates, 1812United States presidential candidates, 1808
Original Language: English

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Madison said he "thought it wrong to admit in the Constitution the idea that there could be property in man. We intend this Constitution to be the great charter of human liberty to the unborn millions who may enjoy its protection, and who shall never see that such an institution was ever known in their midst. — As paraphrased or quoted in Reminiscences of James A. Hamilton: Or, Men and Events, at Home and Abroad (1869), Appendix D, Property in Man, p. 625