Braun and Beckwith at Odds Over Three-Fifths Compromise

Indiana Senate Democrats are calling on Gov. Mike Braun to publicly rebuke Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith's recent comments on the Three-Fifths Compromise.

The compromise was a provision written into Article I, Section 2 of the original U.S. Constitution in 1787, which counted three-fifths of enslaved people towards a state's population for purposes of allotment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.”
Article I, Section 2, United States Constitution

Senate Democrats referenced the compromise during floor debate on a measure dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public schools and universities. They listed it as one of a long train of policies that set Black Americans back and contribute to ongoing disparities.

Beckwith posted a video praising the Three-Fifths Compromise, calling it a deliberate effort by northern states to limit the power of slaveholding Southern states to maintain the institution of slavery. He said, “It actually limited the number of pro-slave representatives in Congress by 40%. This was a great move by the North to make sure that slavery would be eradicated in our nation. They knew what they were doing.”

The comments sparked an outcry from the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, who called Beckwith's comments racist and demanded he retract them and Braun denounce them.

Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said Senate Democrats also want the governor to publicly rebuke Beckwith's comments. She said the problem with Beckwith's comments is that they come from a starting position that negates the premise of enslavement of people.

“The whole truth is, that compromise was still rooted in seeing Black people as one, property, and two, three-fifths a person to keep people out of power,” she said. “That's what was missing from his video.”

Beckwith's office turned down multiple requests for comment, and Braun's office did not respond.

In a further social media post, Beckwith wrote, “The fact that my video has generated so much backlash just proves that our education system has been corrupted by the woke mind virus. They don't want educated citizens — they want indoctrinated activists.”