Slaveholders and Southern supporters of slavery wanted slaves fully counted for the purpose of apportioning representation in Congress (and distribution of taxes). This would give southern voters a disproportionate representation in the House to their advantage, further institutionalizing slavery into the new nation's fabric. Abolitionists did not want slaves counted at all since they could not vote, and for the above reason that it would give slave-owners disproportionate power in the House and electoral college. At no point does the Constitution refer to anyone as 3/5 of a person. By lowering the RATE at which "all other Persons" were counted, those founders were trying to set the stage for the day when slavery could be ended. Additionally, slavery opponents were showing the hypocrisy of slave-owners who claimed slaves were property, but demanded they be counted as people.
Despite the 3/5 not being as controversial as some want to believe, it was not read since it has been superseded by the 13th and 14th Amendments, and has no bearing on this session of Congress.
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