The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08

by Gov Randolph seem 70 have been the result
Of q consultation on tho subject among the Vir-
ginia deputies who had however, an understand
ing that all OF them were 70 remain open 70 thu
illumination Of subsequent discussion, and
FREQ 10 concur in any alterations which renec-
ton and Judgment might approve Our author
sees no reason 70 suppose that the resolutions
were in a greater degree tho work Of Randolph
than OF any other member OF the Virginia dele
cation; he was doubtless put forward the spokes-
man both from his conspicuousness as Cover
| nor OF Virginia and because he was q brilliant
orator and ready debator. From one point OF
view. IL may DO said that Charles Pincknoy OF
South Caroline did even moro than tho Virginia
delegation, for. at the opening Of tho Convon-
ton. he introduced formal and apparently COM
| plete draft OF a constitution. This paper,
fortunately, has been lost As was long ago point
| cd out by Madison, internal evidence demon
stratos that what Is inserted In tho debates az
Pinckney' draft cannot possibly Be H. the demon
straton Is made conclusive by the pamphlet pub
lished in 1887. and containing Pinckney's speeches
| In the Convention on his plan. The speeches
show that the project actually introduced by him
was, In many particulars, radically at variance
| with the terms Of tho scheme printed In the de-
| bates The printed plan Is thus Of very little
| use as evidence OF the actual contents OF Pinck-
| neys proposed constitution, and Mr.. Megs has
| only uSou IL do buCu III ihbtdnCcd WncIo ltS pro-
visions differ from tho determinations Of the Con-
venton and do not differ from tho ideas advocated
| in Pinckncy's speeches
| Both Pinckneys plan and the Virginia resolu-
| tons were referred TO Committee OF the Whole
| and on May so that Committee beg an discussion
Of tho latter. and continued to discuss them until
juno Is, when II reported TO the House tho reso-
lutons as Il had amended and agreed upon them
Mr.. Meigs reminds us that, during tho debates
every subject had been in doubt great diff
I ferences had prevailed as to tho unity
| plurality OF the Executive, and as 10 the
method OF choosing him, or them, as to
! the judiciary, and as to tho formation Of tho
| legislative body On this last point there was
prolonged discussion, and our author directs at
tention to the remarkable fact that many members
opposed the election Of either branch OF tho Legis
laturo by the people as impracticable The chief
contest, however. was over tho question whether
the representation should be proportional TO popu-
lation or whether each State, largo and small
should DO equally represented. Tho members
from the larger States generally insisted upon
representation proportioned to population, while
those from the smaller States quite insstent
that the States should DO represented as separate
entities, and that each should have an equal vote
The Convention before very long resolved that tho
suffrage in the first branch, that Is TO say tho
House Of Representatives ought not to be according
to the rule established in the Articles Of Confedera
tion but according to some equitable ratio Of rep
resentation; but soon q now difficulty arose touch
ing the way in which the slaves were TO be counted
| in tho representation, and tho Convention began
to divide on lines corresponding. respectively to
| the Northern and tho Southern interests On
motion OF Wilson and Charles Pinckney II was
decided. with but little opposition at the moment,
| 10 add TO tho aforementioned clause a provision
| admitting the slaves TO q threeifths represen-
| tation In accordance with an act Of the
| Congress Of tho Confederation agreed TO by
eleven States for apportioning quotas Of revenue
| Next a motion that each State should have an
equal vote in the Senate was defeated. and II was
resolved that tho representation in the second
| branch should DO the Same in the first This
latter vote was carried on juno II, and. on the
| 18th, the Committee Of tho Whole reported the
resolutions II had agreed upon with this clause in
them II Is evident that, at this time the Conven-
| ton was in very serious danger Of breaking up
| Dickinson said TO Madison: you SEQ tho conse-
quence OF pushing things too far. Some OF the mem-
| bers from tho small States wish for two branches
| in the General Legislature and are fh ,nds TO
| good national government; but We would sooner
submit TO foreign power than submit to be deprived
In both branches Of the Legislature Of an equality
of suffrage, and thereby DO tn rown under the domi-
nation Of the larger States" On juno 49, on
|
| allow several Populations, particularly that Of
New Jersey" to digest and report purely federal
plan. and two days later Patterson made his re-
port 1t had been concerted among tho members
from Connecticut. New York. New Jersey. Della
ware and Luther Martin OF Maryland they acted.
| Madison says, on different principles, though 10
the same end The eagerness," he adds dis
played by the members opposed TO a national
government from different motives. began now to
produce serious anxiety for tho result OF the Con-
vention"
| II
The resolutions OF the Committee OF the Whole,
and those introduced by Patterson, which arc
usually described as the New Jersey plan, wero
now referred az ain to the Committee OF the Whole
and on juno 16, a general debate was begun on
the basis and the principles OF tho two projects Tho
contest principally turned on the respective first
resolutions the friends OF the New jersey scheme
showing strong prepossessions against the CEN
-t,,t.