Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-06-06
Formation of the Constitution.

/ The following sketch from the pen of Gen. Jo-
NATHAN DAYTON, one Of the farmers of the Consti-
tuition, brought afresh before the public by cor
respondent of the New York Observer, will be
read with interest, even by that portion of our
readers who may have perused it:
=" / was, (said Gen. Dayton,) delegate from
New Jersey in the General Convention which as
sembled in Philadelphia, for the purpose ofdigest-
ing Constitution for the United States, and be-
/ lieve the youngest member of that body. The
great and good Washington was then our Presi-
dent, and DR.. Franklin among other great men
was delegate from Pennsylvania A disposition
was soon discovered in some members TO display
themselves in oratorical fourishes-but the good
sense and discretion of the majority put down all
such attempts. We had convened to deliberate
upon, and if posible effect great national object
Ito search for political wisdom and truth these
we meant to pursue with simplicity, and to avoid
every thing which would have a tendency to di-
vert our attention or perplex our scheme.
A variety OF projects were proposed--all repub-
lican in their general outlines, but differing in
their details. 1t was therefore determined that
certain elementary principles should at first be es-
,ablished, in each branch of the intended Consti-
tution--and afterwards the details should be de-
bated and filled up.
There was little or no difficulty in determining
upon the elementary princples-such as for in
stance that government should be republican
representative government-that it should be di-
vided into three branches, I. E. Legislative, Exec
utive and Judicial, &c.. But when the organiza-
tion of the Legislative branch came under consid-
alton, it was easy be perceived that the Eastern
and Southern States had distinct interests, which
it was difficult to reconcile-and that the large
States were disposed to form Constitution, In
which the smaller States would be mere aPpen-
dages and satellites to the larger On the first
of these subjects much animated and somewhat
angry debate had taken place, when the ratio OF
representation in the lower house of Congress was
before us--the Southern States claimed Tor them
selves the whole number of black population; ;
while the Eastern States were for conhning the
elective franchise to freemen only, without respect
to color.
AS the different parties adhered. pertinaciousy
to their different positions, it was feared that this
would prove an insurmountable obstacle but as
constitution could be formed, which would meet
the views and subserve the interests of each In
dvdual State, it was evident that it must be
matter of compromise and mutual concession
Under these impressions, and with these views, 1t
was agreed at length that each State should be
entitled to one delegate in the House of Rspresen-
tatves for every 10000 of its inhabitants--in
Il i of
the whole number of their slaves.
When the details Of the House Of Representa-
tives were disposed of, more knotty point pre-
sented itself in the organization of the Senate
The larger states contended that the same ratio as
to States should be common TO both branches OF
the Legislature or, in others words, that each
State should be entitled to representation in the
Senate, (whatever might be the number fixed on)
in proportion to its population as in the House OF
Representatives. The smaller states, on the 9TH
er hand contended that the House Of Representa-
tives might be considered as the guardian of the
liberties of the people, and therefore ought to have
just proportion to their numbers but that the
Senate represented the sovereignty OF the States,
and that as each state, whether great or SMALL
was equally dI iuuCpOuoCb' ohu So'Si0'6" ~'N'~,
it ought in this branch of the Legislature to have
equal weight and authority. Without this they
said, there would be no security for their equal
rights, and they would, by such distribution OF
power, be merged and lost in the larger states
This reasoning, however plain and powerful,
had but little influence on the minds Of the dele
gates from the larger States and as they formed
a large majority of the Convention, the question,
after passing through the forms OF debate, was de-
cided that each State should be represented in the
Senate in proportion to its population.
When the Convention had adjourned over to the
next day, the delegates of the four smaller States
viz Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and
Delaware, convened to consult what course was
to be pursued in this important crisis at which we
had arrived After serious investigation, 1t was
solemnly determined to ask for reconsideration
the next morning; and if it was not granted-or
if, when granted that offensive feature of the Con-
stiiution could not be expunged, and the smaller
States put on equal footing with the largest we
would secede from the Convention; and returning
TO our constituents, inform them that no compact
could be formed with the larger States. but which
would sacrifice our sovereignty and independence
was deputed to be the organ through which