“In this state there are two hundred and thirty-six thousand blacks, and there are many in several other states,” said Henry during Virginia’s ratification debate. “May they not think that these call for the abolition of slavery? May they not pronounce all slaves free, and will they not be warranted by that power?”5 Madison borrowed, conceded, and quelled fears of Black retaliation by adapting George Mason’s writings in the Virginia constitution to form the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the
...more
