Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-04-07
Light On The Constitution.
How the Makers of 1t Regarded
the People.

Those foolish persons who have ceen
taught in school and in the public
prints that the founders Of our Con
stitution were sincerely desirous of es.
tablishiug a system of government in
which the will of the people should find
free expression. will be shocked and un'
deceived when they read its debates
and proceedings as recorded by James
Madison, one of the delegates from
Virginia. When one comes to learn OF
these fifty five delegates that not more
than ten are on record as voicing the
slightest degree Of confidence in the
wisdom Of th. people or their fitness
to rule, be is likely to take new
view of the Constitution framed
by them, and he is able to ac'
count for the innumerable ills which
we are compelled to suffer
l will quote few expressions ofopln'
ion from delegates who welded the
greater influence in the construction OF
the Constitution:
Roger Sherman THE people should
have as little to do as may be about the
Government"
Elbridge Gerry-"The evils we exper'
ience flow from an excess OF democ'
racy, the worst of all possible evils.
John Dickinson--"A limited mon
archy is one of the best governments in
the world" ....
Rufus King-"It is immaterial to the
people by what government they are
possessed. provided they be we'll en-
ployed."
Alexander Hamilton "The British
monarchy is the best government in the
world" and he doubted if anything
short of it would do in America,
"Their House of Lords is most noble
institution. "
Alexander Hamilton-He acknowl-
edged himself not to think favorably of
republican government. Inequality
in property constitutes the great and
fundamental distinction in society"
Cunning Bedford Are we to act
with greater purity than the rest of
mankind? Our votes are actuated by
interest and ambition"
Gouverneur Morris-"The Senate
must have great personal property; it
must have the aristocatic spirit; it must
love to lord it through pride. To make
it independent it should be for life.
Property is the main object Of society"
John Rutledge-"Properly certainly
is the principal object of society"
Pierce Butler Slaves should have
an equal representation in a govern
ment which is instituted principally for
the protection Of property, and is OF
itself to be supported by property"
Charles c.. Pinckuey Property in
slaves should not be exposed 10 danger
in government instituted for the pro.
lection of property
George Mason-"It would be as un-
natural to refer the choice of a proper
| character for President to the people
as to refer a test of colors to blind
man"
James Madison future times a
great majority of the people will not
only be without landed but any sort
of property. If they combine, the
rights of property will not be safe in
their hands,"
James Ellsworth-"As population
grows, poor laborers will he so plenty
as to render slaves useless.'
The thirteen delegates from whom
have quoted were the dominating
characters in that convention, and il
is possible to cite innumerable passages
expressing the same distrust and con.
tempt for the people 1t should be
understood that the great mass of the
people had no representation in that
secret conclave, and that half century