Posted on 06/10/2011 2:49:09 AM PDT by Jacquerie
Today being Sunday, the Convention did not meet. This is not to say important work was not done. Roger Sherman and some Small State delegates probably met to discuss a compromise, a proportionally based House and equal State representation in the Senate, which will be discussed tomorrow.
Despite authoring and nurturing the compromise that saved the Convention and most likely his country, Roger Sherman is one of the most neglected Framers. I call him the Principled Pragmatist. He either signed/attended or helped write the 1774 Declaration of Resolves, the First and Second Congresses, the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, the Peace Treaty with England and the Constitution. There were few significant events outside of Revolutionary battles he did not attend, sign or have a hand in writing. Nobody spent more time in Congress under the Confederacy. He would serve as a Congressman and Senator under the new Constitution.
At the Constitutional Convention he was not a wallflower, but contributed to debates almost as often as James Madison, James Wilson and Governeur Morris. On his death, he was accorded eulogies from Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Patrick Henry who wrote, “He never said a foolish thing in his life.” Sherman knew history, people and politics. At an early age he learned to control his emotions and developed extraordinary judgment. One of my references surmised he is little known precisely because he was not flamboyant and was quite levelheaded.
Connecticut in his day was among the most democratic States. It was Calvinistic, agricultural, neither rich nor poor, and conscious of its charter from Great Britain that allowed it a large degree of self government. He was born on a modest farm in 1721. At age nineteen he borrowed money to buy land in western CN. Land was the way to wealth, and he became a county surveyor in 1745. This was advantageous to speculating, which he did with some success, enough to get married and find the time to write almanacs.
After studying law and entering the Bar, he won a seat as a town selectman and soon served in the CN legislature. By 1760 he moved to Hartford, became a judge and was a leading citizen by the time of the Revolution. He would serve in political office until death at age 72.
Roger Sherman’s foundation was self education. He lacked the polish and aristocratic flourish of most Southern delegates. His was a home grown, country, Yankee dialect. But, no one outdid his political judgment and power of persuasion. If he met majority opposition to a well reasoned argument, he immediately worked on a compromise, a committee, or postponement to achieve the goal. I doubt it surprised anyone to realize he put together the Convention saving Connecticut Compromise.
The representation dispute between Large/Small States was not new. It was present in negotiations over the Articles of Confederation. He offered then what he proposed on June 11th 1787, a two house Congress in which one represented the people and one represented the States. In 1776, this was too radical an idea. Big State opposition to equality of State suffrage in Congress was smoothed over when Mr. Sherman pointed out the Articles lacked enforcement teeth. Regardless of the basis of representation, compliance with the Confederate Congress was voluntary, so who cared if the Small States demanded equality?
Roger Sherman will present his Compromise to the Committee tomorrow.
Constitutional Convention Ping!
thanks!
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Despite authoring and nurturing the compromise that saved the Convention and most likely his country, Roger Sherman is one of the most neglected Framers.
I am an admirer of Madison. Strange you list the Avalon Project as the source and not 1 word in your post, including the title, is listed on the Avalon Project.
Did you write a book about Roger Sherman, or are you a decendent?
My source for the short Sherman bio was Decision in Philadelphia by Collier.
As an admirer of Madison I hope you join subsequent discussions.
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