Posted on 06/14/2011 2:47:49 AM PDT by Jacquerie
Early Adjournment. Work on more Federal Plan.
IN CONVENTION
Mr. PATTERSON, observed to the Convention that it was the wish of several deputations, particularly that of N. Jersey, that further time might be allowed them to contemplate the plan reported from the Committee of the Whole, and to digest one purely federal, and contradistinguished from the reported plan. He said they hoped to have such an one ready by tomorrow to be laid before the Convention: And the Convention adjourned that leisure might be given for the purpose.
Adjourned.
I thought today would be an opportune time to review the proceedings.
From Miracle At Philadelphia, (Bowen, 1966) “The North Carolina delegates took occasion to write to their governor, Caswell: “Though we sit from day to day, Saturdays included, it is not possible for us to determine when the business before us can be finished, a very large Field presents to our view without a single straight or eligible road that has been trodden by the feet of nations. An union of Sovereign States, preserving their Civil Liberties and connected together by such ties as preserve permanent & effective governments is a system not described, it is a circumstance that has not occurred in the history of men. Several members of the Convention have their Wives here and other gentlemen have sent for theirs. This seems to promise a Summer’s Campaign. Such of us as can remain here from the inevitable avocation of private business, are resolved to continue whilst there is any prospect of being able to serve the State & Union.”
Our Framers realized they were making history.
The Convention was called to prevent the pending dissolution of the Confederacy. Dozens of respected men with proven patriot credentials took the time, effort and expense to attend. Most were disposed to attempt once again, that which had failed before, to amend the Articles of Confederation to answer the problems of taxation, commerce, treaties. A few, like Madison and most of the VA delegation, Pinckney, and Hamilton, who knew the Articles could never answer the needs of the nation, arrived with bold ideas.
Those who allowed their minds to grasp that the form of government must eventually be tailored to the objects of it, including protection of rights, remained to debate and serve their country. More than a few did not. The greatest divide was over Senatorial representation. Equality of State suffrage in the Confederate Congress was accepted because there was a war to be fought, and the recent colonies, now independent States, were on the best of terms. There was every indication they would cooperate and obey the Articles they signed. As inadequate as they were, the Articles of Confederation impinged State Sovereignty very little. But, in the new government with enhanced powers, there was no way Virginia, Pennsylvania or Massachusetts could accept equal representation with tiny Delaware or weird Rhode Island. Likewise, the Small States could not accept proportional representation in Congress and risk Large State dominance.
Once this impasse was answered, every subsequent problem, while not easy to resolve in the absolute, was a relative breeze .
Only one of my references ordered her chapters in an almost straight day by day timeline, and did so for only the first half of the Convention. The other three sources organized their works by topic, such as the Connecticut Compromise, Western Lands, Slavery, etc. There is little question the Convention-by-Subject approach makes for more interesting reading.
I chose the day by day method because the summer long Convention was a slog. Because no popular author utilized the day by day method all the way through, I did so precisely because they did not. Just as I had trouble from time to time keeping up with amendments to amendments to postponements to Sections of Articles . . . so did our Framers. They dealt with Summer heat, flies, a smelly city without modern sanitation, suspicion, dour Yankees, silk mannered Southerners, and a even a long, drunken speech or two.
So yes, I know these posts are generally not exciting and attract only a few Freepers. That’s okay. To remain through mid September they must be dedicated like me to not just understanding what went on, but to sense the boredom, feel the frustrations, anger and finally the elation of a finished Constitution. As I said at the beginning, one of the tools with which we will defeat the Left is the Truth of our Framing.
IMO, no other series belongs more at FreeRepublic than this, our Constitutional Convention.
Constitutional Convention Ping!
Add me to the list please.
Welcome!
"So yes, I know these posts are generally not exciting"
Difficult labor is always arduous, seldom exciting.
An unavoidable outcome, in my opinion, if something was not done.
What I find intriguing was the question on nearly everyone's lips, "Is Washington coming?"
Yes, as you know, Washington was essential. Without his publicized attendance, I doubt that only three states would blow off some or all participation at the Convention. RI never showed up. NH waited until mid July, and NY delegates left early to return home to muster opponents. I am nearly finished reading the debates. While Washington voted in committee of the whole with VA, he did not participate in the debates. Such was his stature, his presence.
"While the Constitution ultimately means what it says as defined by the 18th century definitions of its words, there is much to learn from the Convention. From the various ideas rejected and accepted, prejudices and political give and take, it is possible to definitively shoot down some modern Leftist constructs that endanger our republic. Judges claim certain clauses have no discernable meaning outside of what they make up and blithely declare them to mean. Even among conservatives one will often read, “The Framers meant so and so” when it just isn’t true. My intent is to help arm the Freeper community with incontrovertible ammo with which to educate the ignorant and confront the Left."
When the debates conclude and our Constitution is sent to Congress to be forwarded to the States, I will collate a subject matter index to the Convention. For instance, after the word "commerce," will appear the dates in which commerce and trade issues were discussed.
As Summer wore on, Madison became obviously fatigued. Where he once provided some texture and richness, by late August only the barest of the essentials of each speaker were recorded.
Still, we should be thankful for his efforts. I certainly am.
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