Final answer:
James Madison opposed Congress receiving a petition from slaves in North Carolina because he believed that slaves had no claim on lawmakers' attention and he feared a slave uprising. He also preferred to address the issue of slavery in private.
Step-by-step explanation:
James Madison opposed Congress receiving a petition from slaves in North Carolina because he believed that slaves had no claim on lawmakers' attention. He feared that accepting such petitions could lead to a slave uprising and create further tension and division in the country. Additionally, Madison preferred to address the issue of slavery in private rather than through public petitions.