[DiogenesLamp]

The US Constitution there refers to more than just slaves.

You are trying to get the indentured servants "Tail" to wag the Slavery "Dog."

The constitution was specifically referring to slavery. There is no need to tell states to respect criminal convictions (prisoners) or contract law (indentured servants) of other states.

[BroJoeK]

DiogenesLamp: "The constitution was specifically referring to slavery.
There is no need to tell states to respect criminal convictions (prisoners) or contract law (indentured servants) of other states."

And there was no need to mention slaves either, except that Southerners insisted on it.
Still our Founders went to lengths not to refer directly to African slaves, even though Southerners insisted that's who they must mean.
Of the two places (only 2) where slaves are meant:

1. the 3/5 rule can only refer to slaves.
2. escaped fugitives can refer to indentured servants, prisoners or slaves.

By stark contrast, the Confederate Constitution referred to African slaves specifically a dozen times.
It shows a distinct difference between the 1787 Founding generation and that of 1861 Fire Eater secessionists.