The House then filled the blank it had made in the bill by defining the offense as a high misdemeanor and providing a penalty of imprisonment of not less than five nor more than ten years.

John Randolph opposed even this as excessive, but found himself unsupported.

The House then struck out the prohibition of the coasting trade in slaves, and returned the bill as amended to the Senate.

The latter concurred in all the changes except that as to the coastwise trade, and sent the bill back to the House.
John Randolph now led in the insistence that the House stand firm.

If the bill should pass without the amendment, said he, the Southern people would set the law at defiance, and he himself would begin the violation of so unconstitutional an infringement of the rights of property.