Why did members of the working poor oppose the Emancipation of slaves?

slaves were free labor, so the slave owners profited very heavily off of slaves because they didnt pay for their work. The freedom of slaves, would cost the plantation owners more money because they would now need to pay their employees. The working class people were also scared that the now free slaves would steal jobs away from them.

Explanation:

in february 1787, congress decided that a convention should be convened to revise the articles of confederation, the nation’s first constitution. in may, 55 delegates came to philadelphia, and the constitutional convention began. debates erupted over representation in congress, over slavery, and over the new executive branch. the debates continued through four hot and muggy months. but eventually the delegates reached compromises, and on september 17, they produced the u.s. constitution, replacing the articles with the governing document that has functioned effectively for more than 200 years.