Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-04-18
LIGHT ON the CONSTITUTION.
How the Makers of II Regarded the
People.

TOW tne makeTs OF u he0dTooo tno
People.
Those foolish persons who have been
prints that the founders of our consti-
tuition were sincerely desirous Of es-
tablishing a system of government In
which the will of the people should find
free expression will be shocked and
undeceived 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 voic-
ing the slightest degree Of confidence
in the wisdom of the people or their
fitness to rule, he Is likely to take a
new view of the constitution framed
by them, and he Is able to account for
the innumerable Ills which we are
compelled to suffer.
I will quote a few expressions OF
opinions from delegates who welded
the greater influence In the coustruc-
ton Of the constitutions:
Roger Sherman-"The people should
have as little to do as may be about
the government"
Elbridge Gerry-"The evils we st-
perience flow from an excess Of DEM
ocracy, 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 well en-
ployed."
Alexander Hamilton-"The British
monarchy Is the best government In
the world" and he doubted IL anything
short of 1t would do In America
Their House of Lords is a most noble
institution"
Alexander Hamilton-"He acknowl-
edged himsch 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"
Gouverndeur Morris-"The senate
must have great personal property; II
must have the aristocratic spirit; II
must love to lord 1t through pride. To
make 1t independent 1t should be for
life. Property is the main object OF
society"
John Rutledge-"Property 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. Pinckney-"Property In
slaves should not be exposed to dan
ger in government instituted for the
protection 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-'In future times q
great majority Of the people will moi
only be without landed. but any sort
of property. II they combine. the
rights Of property will not be safe In
their hands"
James Ellsworth-"As population
grows, poor laborers will be so plenty
as to renders slaves useless" ~
The thirteen delegates from whom
have quoted were the dominating
characters in that convention, and 1t
is possible to cite innumerable passages
expressing the same distrust and con-
tempt for the people. 1t should be un-
derstood that the great mass Of the
people had no representation In that
secret conclave, and that half century
passed before its proceedings were
made public by act Of congress.-F. u
Adams in Tom Watson's Magazine.