The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-11-03
MISCELLANY.
INTERESTING HISTORICAL AsEcDorA

INTERESTING HISTORICAL ANECDoTE
The debates in the convention which framed
the present constitution of the U. States have
never been fully reported, and for some of the
most interesting facts in relation to that body
we are obliged to resort to the verbal nara
tives of its members. The following letter,
of the youngest member of the convention,
and purporting to give an account of what
TRANSFERRED at a crisis of intense interest and
momentous consequence to the country, was
first published in the New York Daily Adver-
tiser.
Painted Post, -, 1926.
/ some time ago repeated to you historical
anecdote in which you felt so much interest
ed that you extorted from me promise that
would at some moment of leisure commit it
to paper for you. am now seated for that
purpose, and shall relate 1t, as nearly rs can
recollect, in the words Of one of the members
of the general convention who framed the
constitution.
l was, said he, delegate from - in the
general convention which assembled in Phila-
delphia for the purpose of digesting a consti-
tuition for the U. States, and believe / was
the youngest member of that body. The great
and good Washington was chosen our presi-
dent, and DR.. Franklin, among other great
men, was delegate from Pennsylvania. A
disposition was soon discovered in some MEM
bers to display themselves in oratorical e
ishes but the good sense and discretion
majority put down all such attempts
convened to deliberate upon, and if
effect great national objcct--to Sc.
political wisdom and truth. These W
to pursue with simplicity, and to z
thing which would have tendencs
our attention or perplex our scheme.
A great variety of projects were proposed,
all republican in their general outlines, but
differing in their details. 1t was therefore
determined that certain elementary principles
should at first be established in each branch
of the intended constitution, and afterward
the details should be debated and filled up.
There was little or no difficulty in determin-
ing upon the elementary principles such as,
~
republican representative government; that
it should be divided into three branches, /. g.
legislative, executive, and judicial, &c. But
when the organization of the respective
branches of the legislature came under con
sideration, it was easy to be perceived that
the eastern and southern states had distinct
interests, which it was difficult to reconcile,
and that the larger states were disposed to
form constitution in which the smaller states
would be mere appendages and satellites to
the larger ones. On the first Of these subjects
much animated and somewhat angry debate
tion in the lower house of congress was before
us-the southern states claiming for them
selves the whole number of black population,
while the eastern states were for combining
the elective franchise to freedom only, with
out respect to color.
AS the different parties adhered pertina-
ciously to their different positions, it was
feared that this would prove an insur-
mountable obstacle; but as the members
were already generally satisfied that no con-
stitution could be formed which would meet
the views and subserve the interests of each
individual state, it was evident that it must
be a matter of compromise and mutual con-
cession. Under these impressions, and with
these views, it was agreed at length that each
state should be entitled to one delegate in the
house of representatives for every thirty thou
sand of it's inhabitants, in which number
should be included three-fifths of the whole
number of their slaves.
When the details of the house CT represen-
tatives were disposed of, more knotty point
presented itself in the organization of the
senate. The larger states contended that the
same ratio as to states should be common tc
both branches of the Legislature, or, in other
words, that each state should be entitled to q
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 other hand, con
tended that the house of representatives might
be considered as the guardian of the liberties
of the people, and therefore ought to have a
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 an independent and SOW
ereign state, it ought in this branch of the
legislature to have equal weight and au
thority. 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 power
full, had but little influence on the minds Of
the delegates from the larger states !; and al
they formed large majority of the conven
ton, the question, after passing through the
forms of debate, was decided that each state
should be represented in the senate in proper
ton to its population.
When the convention had adjourned ovel
to the next day, the delegates of tie foul
smaller states, viz. Rhode Island, Conncc
ticut, New Jersey, and Delaware, convened t.