The Coolidge examiner., 1935-09-13

days. TO the disgust Of his audience. and Will.
others were not 40 long .winded as be. they made
up Tor Il BY the frequency with which they spoke.
Debate. argument. er0grosersy bitterness over
ciashIuE personalities and yiewpoluts-all OF
these characterized the convention which finally
produced the Constitution Of the United States
Nor vas the sultry weather conducive 90 seren.
lty and judicial consideration of momentous
problems More than once the convention threat.
ened 10 break up and II it had It might have
meant the end Of the federal unlcn. But more
than once wise old Ben Franklin acted peace
maker and saved the situation.
once be tlded the convention over a deadlock
By suggesting that the delegates seek guidance
IN prayer. This brought from Hamilton the
caustle remark that mo foreign aid was needed, ="
remark that was something a hIng at Frank
Inns well-kuown fondness Tor the French when
another crisis came Franklin suggested a tenn
porary adjournment and along with the recess
came a proyerba drop in the temperature In
which tempers cooled both literally and hgura-
lively.
The greater part ot the controversy reyolyed
around three principal plans OF government
the Virginia plan. sponsored by Madison. which
safeguarded the rights OF the states; the New
York plan. sponsored by Hamilton which looked
10 a strong centralized federal government; and
the New Jersey plan. which was In the nature
cf a compromise between the two. Eventually
the substance OF the Virginia plan. with It's Is
resolutions expanded to y, won cut.
on July 20 the convention turned over the
Job of making a final draft OF the complete Con
stitution 10 a committee on detaIl' and ad-
journed until August 20. While doing this the
committee embodied some suggestions Of It's own
In the document. Then the delegates returned
and every sentence with the greatest care. fixing
exact definitions wherever necessary, making
alterations and compromising differences in
phraseology. Finally It was turned over to a
committee on style" which polished up the
phraseology. out OF that committee. headed By
Gouverneur Morris, came the soncrous 1--WE. the
People OF the United States, in order to form a
more perfect union. etc"
Later the final draft OF the Constitution was
coIe ever again FOR there were still delegates
opposed TO one or another aspect Of II. Indeed
there were some who refused to be satisfied with
II and who refused to sign It.
Gouyerneur Morris won over several obstinate
members with his suggestion that the delegates
approve the Constitution as states even though
they personally refused to sign II and at last all
those present except Gerry, Mason and Randolph
signed Despite the fact that their great task
was ended the delegates adjourned in gloom and
with a feeling Of doubt as to the outcome. Not
even the words of benjamin Franklin, as the
last members were signing, could entirely reas-
sure them. Pointing to the sun that was painted
on the back OF the presidents chair. he said :
Il have often and often in the course of the ses-
slons and the yicissitudes of my hopes and fears
as to its issue looked at that behind the presi-
dent without being able to tell whether it was
rising or setting. But now at length have the
happiness TO know that 1t was a rising and not
a setting sun"
And history justified Franklin's prophecy. For
from that date 14S years ago a new sun In the
constellation of nations has been rising steadily
TO its zenith Its name is the United States Of
America
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