Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-03-16
Vol. IV.-No. Ia.


'c"ueu mat The same ratio 20 States, Should 10
, 10 oo'h branches OF the Leg;slatU,e--or, in
M "o'us' 'sa, each state should be entitled rep
'eseu'a'oh I'D 'he Senate, (whaiever might be the
hummer liked on, in proportion to j.. uonulson ns in
rue mouse oi Representatives The smaller States en-
e o''er mana commended that the House oil Represents
'a'VcS might he considered the guardian of he lb
erties OF the people, and the cforc orl o hear ust
proportion 10 their numbers, but that the Senate rep
resented the Sovereignty of the States-and that as
eaCn oate whether great small equally an 3c
pendent and sovereign State ii ought i'm this b,anch
'he Legislature TO have equal weight and au,ioray
~I'no"' ms they said there could be scou,ty for
'eir equal rights; and they would by such distriby
uon OF power be merged and lost in the larger Staes
4 Thus reasoning, however plain and powerful had bit
,'e intneoce on the minds OF Delegates from tho
larger Staes-aud as they formed a large majority al
me conference.-the question, after passing hroic!.
the iorrs OF debate, decided tia. each State should
!aiionn r.
I When The Convention had adjourned eve. 10 the
next day the Delegates of the four sra Hest States e
hhooe Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and He!a.
ware, convened to consult what as to he our
sued IN the important crisis at which hav arrived
after serious investigation it cmnly determined
10 = for reconsideration the morning: and i
was not granted, or If when granted that offensive a
lure OF the Constitution could not be cxpurred and
the smaller States put upon eQuaL footistr m tle
largest we would secede from the Cow sntion aud Je
turning TO our constituents, inform them that com
pact could be formed with the large States hut one
dence.
~ was deputed - said General $50 lie The
organ through which this communication shcuIl he
made know not Why unless it BIO that ,,oung men
are generally chosen TO perform rash act idnsaeccf-
dinghy, when the Convention had assembled and IS
soon as the minutes oft the last sittipgs read rose
and stated the view had taken of the organization
OF the Senae-our desire obtain reconsid Grafton
ano suitable modification that article; and in failure
the'eo our determination to seCede from ile Coavcn
ton and return 10 constituents.
This disclosure il may readily be supnosct proj,iced
an immediate and great excitement every part Of
The House Several members were Immediately ON
the floor 10 express their surprse or indignation! They
represented iat The question had received fui! and
Tir InVesiigaon and had been 6cfntivey settled bv
very large maJorty--tiat twas altogether unpariia
meniary and unreasonable, for o. the nia-r. 4,
propose areconsideratoD at the moment t5i. a"f lad
become matter Of record; and without stercr1 er
that any new hight could be thrown on tho ,ct:-
that J! such precedent should be establst.i. .anEE
III future be impossible to when any ore nout wa
oehn"ciy settled, as a small minority mig', any
moment, again and again, and obtain rec0neid
eraticn--they therefore hoped the Convention womb
express IFS decided Misrepresentation by passing slenS
TO the business before them.
| There was mucb warm, aud some acrimonious fee T.
ing exhibited by number OF r,e spec ches-a yvptlra
! appeared almost inevitable and the bosom of Washir
ION seemed to labour it'll ae most anxious solciti5e
Tor ITS issue Happily for the United States the Con
Fention contained nip possessed oftaleDis
and virtues OF the highest order, Whose hearts were
deeply interested in the establishment Of a new and
efficient form of government; and whose pGnetEa..
ling minds had already explored the evils which would
spring up newly est ablished Republic sLou!d the
present attempt 10 consolidate i: prove abor.ivc-aa
ihonG those personames the most prominent was DR..
Franklin He was esteemed the Mentor Of our body
TO mind naturally strong and capacous enriched nv
much reading, and the experience Of many Years, he
added manner of communicating his thoughts rccu--
Larry his own in which simplicity, beauty aud strength
equally conspicuous. AS soon as tie angry ora
tors who preceded him had left him opening the
Doctor rose, evidently impressed with the weight of
the subject before tem and the difficulty Of managing
IL successfully.
"Nc have arrived, Mr. Pres;.su,," said ic, cat very
m"mcntOus ami interesting crisis our deliberations.
Hitherto views have hecn as Harmonious and cnr
progress great, could reasonably he expecte But
now unlocked for and Formidable thrown in
which threatens omr course, and If
""t skilfuly removed, render all hopes Of
constitution aborve. Tine ground which taken by
the delegates of the four smallest unexpected
by and rep"gnaT my feelings be to- any
other me ber Of this convention.
After what thought full and impartial st ,tion
of tip subject recorded aft fma,ivr side rf
the question, and have vet heard any thin vi c
Induces change opinion. will mol her. fore
conclude it is impossible for me to do wrorg I viii NOT
say that those gentlemen who differ from me are under
1elusion! much less viii charge with an intention
OF meedess!y embarrassing deliberations II IS posi-
bic change in late proceedings ought pace
upon PRINCIPLES Of mutual justice; that all things corsid
ered THE majority may recede from sorac ug
their just petemtiouS matter Of prudence and rxpd
eicy rex my own part there is nothing So much dead
as failure to devise and establish equal and
ricicnt frm of government for our infant Republic.
ne present effort has been made under the hapDest
auspices, aud has promised favourable resus-but
should this effort prove vaiuit will be long another
can he made with prospect o9 Our strength
aud euT prosperity gill depend unity; and the
secession Of four If smallest States, inetsperscd
they wonld ia my mind pasalyse and render
less, any plan which the majority could devise. sho "
therefore be grieved Mr.. President
To the test, which has been perhaps asiy reate
on the one hand, and which of colleagues haze
treated too lightly on the other I am convinced 1 IA
II IS arbert which should ne approached with 'auticr
treated vita gnderness-decided with cuudcur aaI
beraIjty 1t is however to be feared, hmt the mcmb
Of this convention in temper this moment l
approach The subject which differ IN this spil5t.
wcud therefore propose. Mr.. President that wijhr.t
Toces rg further IN this business this time. tie Gu
ycnlinn should adjourn for three days in order to let
the present fCrmcut pass off, and TO afford tine rs
more full, free aud dpassjrnats uvest.s ation 81
the subject. And l would earnestly recommend
the members Of this convention, that they spend ne
time ef this recess, in with their p5tv,
and Gvisiug arguments f9rufy themselves in thfc
cid opinions bu that they nix win menJers Of opposite