Reparations For Slavery

    Every rabid political season there emerges a new demand from some quarters for reparations for slavery.  This demand is never accompanied by a discussion of who should pay the reparations or a discussion of who should receive such reparations.  At least half of these issues should not be a matter of any debate.   The states which approved of the Constitution and their dates of ratification are as follows:
  

1. Delaware - December 7, 1787
2. Pennsylvania - December 12, 1787
3. New Jersey - December 18, 1787
4. Georgia - January 2, 1788
5. Connecticut - January 9, 1788
6. Massachusetts - February 6, 1788
7. Maryland - April 28, 1788
8. South Carolina - May 23, 1788
9. New Hampshire - June 21, 1788
10. Virginia - June 25, 1788
11. New York - July 26, 1788
12. North Carolina - November 21, 1789
13. Rhode Island - May 29, 1790

These states would be the parties liable to pay potential reparations inasmuch as they approved of the Constitution which contained the 'slavery compromise'.   Whether or not reparations are to be paid is a matter which ought to be decided by these states.  States which joined the Union subsequently bear no responsibility for the the design of the Union in the Constitution in all of its particulars.  The most reasonable course would be for the responsible states to vote on the issue.

  These states should send representatives to meet on the issue and resolve it one way or the other.   Reparations paid by third parties would not be acceptable in the traditions and laws of western jurisprudence.
 
 If it easy to resolve who  should pay reparations, it is much more difficult to determine who should receive reparations.