Smyrna times., 1924-04-23

ander Hamilton of New York. But
this is not true. The sons of Della
ware played an important and indis-
pensable part in the deliberation of
the Constitutional Convention.
"We all know that the most fOrmid-
able of the many rocks on which the
Federal Convention all but broke was
the question of representation in the
new National Government set up by
the Constitution. For weeks, failure
to find a solution for this problem
threatened to dissolve the Federal
Convention without accomplishing
anything. Anarchy and ruin were to
be the lot of our forefathers. Yet, in
the suggestion made early in the Con-
vention by a son of Delaware, John
Dickinson, the way out was found. As
early as June 2, the first week of the |
Convention, he proposed that repre-
sentatives to Congress be elected by |
the people and the Senate chosen by |
State legislators. Dickinson's influ- |
ence in the Convention was very |
great. Being a scholar and a man of
very extensive information, indeed, be-
ing famed throughout all America for
his Farmers Letters, he was always
paid the greatest attention whenever
he spoke. 1t was the ability of such
men as Dickinson to see clearly that
experience must be the guide, for
treason may mislead u.s." which made
it possible for the Constitution to be
founded upon principles that are
eternal.
Other Signers of the Declaration
$50 too, George Read,who, as point
ed out, at first thought the time had
not come for such action as set forth
in the Declaration of independence,
was in the work of the Constitutional
Convention a leader of first impor-
tance. He was among the few who
from the very beginning saw clearly
that unless the delegates established
a good government on principles diff
ferent from the Articles of Confeder-
alton, Notwithstanding their instruc-
tions, the country would go to ruin or
would summons another convention to
do the work all over again. Such a
clear-sighted and fearless presenta-
tion of the truth in the early stages
of the Convention was most remark
able. especially when we know that
| the legislature of Delaware had in
structed her delegates not to vote for
any provision altering that part of
the Articles of Confederation giving
each State one vote in Congress. With
the possible exceptions found among
the delegates from Delaware, none of
the delegates from the smaller States
were willing to entertain, at first, any
plan which did not give their State
en- equal vote. Had not the dele
gates from the other States been will
ing to compromise as the sons of Del
aware were, the effect would have
been a breaking up Of the Constitu-
tional Convention.
"Another delegate from Delaware
Bedford, was conspicuous in the Cen
vention. He was a bold speaker with
a very commanding and striking man.
ner, and led the fight for the rights
of the smaller States. He brought the
Convention face to face with reality
when he told the delegates from the
larger States that unless they were
willing to treat the smaller State:
fairly, the smaller States would be
taken in hand by foreign powers.
"The remaining delegates, Bassatt
and Broom, played their part in the
Convention but not as cOnspicuously
as the other three. All however, were
able and courageous enough to SEE
that the Constitution had set up {
political system in which the few
could not be dominated by the many
or the many by the few. In fact, the
political system established is sucl
that every citizen, whether in a larg'
or small State, can find protection
against the arbitrary acts of any in
dividual or group of individuals, o
even the Government itself. The vita
thread running through it all is tina
: no one shall do to another what h
e would not have done to himself. Tn
, Constitution is the Golden Rule of tn
civilized man.
= = Delaware Approved Delegates COurs
4 The delegates from Delaware fel
3 justified, therefore, in violating thei
h instructions by signing the COnstitu
% ton, for they knew full well that tn
o people of Delaware would approve an
g endorse their act. 1t seems hardl
. possible that any one of them had e2
II pected Delaware to so promptly ratif
what they did as to become the fir!
Nv State Of the Union. When the gre;
y crisis of Civil War came upon IL
1e country to decide whether this Matte
l. shall live under the Constitution, Il
no sons of Delaware were found stan
ce ing firm by it and Abraham Lincoln
to "By historic right, then, the sol