The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-09
OUR CONSTITUTION
HOW 1T WAS FORMED-WE WE'RE
PERILOUSLY NEAR MONARCHY.
Extracts From the Debates Which
We're Suppressed for Fifty
XeArs.
A STARTLING AND REMARK ABLE,
ARTICLE.
(Frederick Upham Adams in '"The New
Time')

(Frederick Upham Adams in ''The New
Time.')
For obvious reasons the proceedings
OF the convention which in 1887 framed
our constitution were suppressed for
more than half a century. The sessions
were secrot. Not word Of the debates
was made public Washington was
made the custodian of these records
In 1889, under Andrew Jackson's ad-
ministration, congress published Madi
sons journal CT the constitutional con-
vention, and for the first time the peo-
pie learned how that famous document
had been drafted. 1t is as yet a secret
document so far as the mass of the
people is concerned. But few have the
slightest knowledge of these debates
They imagine that the session consisted
OF a series of fervid orations on the
rights of the people, and that the dele
gates labOred earnestly to secure an
instrument which for all time should
guarantee to the nation "a government
for, by and of the people, In order
to demonstrate the kind of democracy
which actuated the founders OF the
constitution and to show how far we
have progressed since then, l will re-
peat few of the expressions made by
leading delegates during the convcn-
tion, which expressions are selected at
random from thousands of a similar
tenor. These selections do no iniusticl
to the opinons Of their authors
Among all the delegates from the
thirteen states there were but two Who
evinccd any love for democracy =
of them was Benjamin Franklin, the
grandest man America has ever pro-
duced. The plutccratic historians of
this country have done his fame scant
justice, and have pasesd him by, pre-
ferring to deify those whose leanines
were on the side of aristccracy. He
was then old and feeble, and never
lifted his voice except to plead for JUS
tice for the common people, The other
delegate was Wilson-James Wilson,
also Of Pennsylvania, and what a DEM
ocrat he was! Yet neither his name
nor his speeches have been emblazoned
on the scroll of popular fame Modern
Tories and monarchists found clubs in
honor of Alexander Hamilton, the
American patron saint OF legislative
corruption, bond steals and wor ship of
royalty, but the day will come when
the name Of James Wilson will o1cupy
its proper place in the temple Of fame.
These are some of the expras: i,ns
used in the five months debate On the
adoption of our constitution:
Roger Sherman, of Ccnnecticut-"I
oppose the election of members of the
National Legislature by the people The
people, Immediately, should have as lit
tie to do as may lie about the govern
ment."
Elbridge Gerry, of Masss chus at.s--
"The evils we experience flow from the
excess of democracy. The people do
not want virtue but are the dupes of
pretended patriots.
Mr.. Butler, Of South Carolina-"An
election by the people is an impractic-
able mode"
John Randolph, OF Virgnia-"In trac-
Ing these evils to their origin, every
man finds it in the turbulence and fol-
lies of democracy
Mr. Dickinson, of Deleware-"I con-
slider a limited monarchy as one of the
best governments in the world"
Mr.. Gerry, OF Massachusetts, said, "he
was afraid to submit the proposed con-
stitution to the people. In his quarter
the people had the widest IDEAS of
government in the world. They wanted
to abolish the senate of Massachusetts,
and give the powers to the legislature"
In these days we know how to SYM
pathize with the people of colonial
ish the senate and send the house of
representatives to night school.
On June Mr.. Gerry admitted that
1t was necessary that the people should
appoint one branch OF the government
in order to inspire them with the nee
essary confidence" Mark that utter
ance. 1t is the keynote Of the proceed
ings and outcome of the convention.
They gave the people the shadow of leg
islative authority and then stabbed to
death with the senate, executive, veto
powers, supreme court and other checks
the actual substance of popular rule. 1t
was month before the convention con-
sented to popular election for the
dummy house of representatives.
Mr.. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, answer
ed Mr.. Gerry. He said "he wished for