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ÆT. 55.]

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION ANALYZED.

63

CHAPTER VI.

THE CONVENTION OF STATES WASHINGTON CHOSEN PRESIDENT OF THE CONVENION-RANDOLPH'S SPEECH AND RESOLUTIONS-NUMBER AND NAMES OF DELEGATES-NOTICE OF SOME OF THEM-FRANKLIN IN THE CONVENTION OF 1754-THE LEADING SPEAKERS IN THE CONVENTION -POSITION OF THE MEMBERS IN REGARD TO PRECEDENTS-SYNOPSIS OF RANDOLPH'S PLAN-PINCKNEY'S SKETCH-NATIONAL AND STATE - RIGHTS MEN-PATTERSON'S PLANVIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY PLANS-HAMILTON DISSENTS FROM BOTH-HIS CHARACTER, SPEECH, AND SCHEME-ALL PLANS AND AMENDMENTS REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE FOR REVISION-A CONSTITUTION REPORTED AND ADOPTED CRITICAL PERIODS IN THE CONVENTION · SUBJECTS FOR DIFFERENCES WASHINGTON'S APPREHENSIONS AND VIEWS - PATRIOTISM OF HAMILTON-THE CONSTITUTION SIGNED-REMARKS BY WASHINGTON AND FRANKLIN CLOSE OF THE CONVENTION.

ON Monday, the fourteenth day of May, 1787, those delegates to the convention called to revise the Articles of Confederation who were then in Philadelphia, assembled in the large room in the statehouse, since known as Independence hall; but it was not until Friday, the twenty-fifth, that seven states, the number required by Congress to form a quorum, were represented, and the convention was organized. On that day, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and North and South Carolina, were represented by an aggregate number of twenty-seven delegates; and on the nomination of Robert Morris, in behalf of the state of Pennsylvania, Washington was, by unanimous vote, elected president of the convention. William Jackson was chosen secretary; and on Monday, the twentyeighth, Edmund Randolph, of Virginia, at the request of his colleagues, opened the business of the convention by an elaborate speech, in which he showed the defects of the Articles of Confederation, illustrated their utter inadequacy to secure the peace and safety of the

republic, and the absolute necessity of a more energetic government. When he closed his remarks, he offered for the consideration of the convention fifteen resolutions; not as a system of organic law, but as leading principles whereon to form a new government.

Very soon after the commencement of the session, eleven states were represented. New Hampshire sent delegates at the close of June, but the Rhode Island assembly refused to elect any. Some of the most influential men of that little commonwealth united in a letter to the convention, in which they expressed warm sympathy with the movement.

Sixty-one delegates had been appointed at the beginning of July, but only about fifty served in the convention.* These were among the most illustrious citizens of the republic, most of whom had been distinguished for worth of character, talents, and patriotism, during the late struggle for the independence of the colonies. Eighteen of them were at that time members of the continental Congress.

It is not proposed to consider in detail, nor even in a synoptical manner, the proceedings of that convention, which occupied several hours each day for four months. We will merely glance at the men and measures, contemplate the result, and leave the reader to seek, in special sources, for information concerning the important and interesting subject of the formation of our federal constitution.†

*The following are the names of the delegates: New Hampshire-John Langdon, John Pickering, Nicholas Gilman, and Benjamin West. Massachusetts-Francis Dana, Elbridge Gerry, Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King, and Caleb Strong. Connecticut-William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman, and Oliver Ellsworth. New York-Robert Yates, John Lansing, jr., and Alexander Hamilton. New Jersey-David Brearly, William Churchill Houston, William Paterson, John Neilson, William Livingston, Abraham Clark, and Jonathan Dayton. Pennsylvania - Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Jared Ingersoll, Thomas Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and Benjamin Franklin. Delaware-George Read, Gunning Bedford, jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, and Jacob Broom. Maryland-James M'Henry, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll, John Francis Mercer, and Luther Martin. Virginia-George Washington, Patrick Henry (refused to serve, and James M'Clure was nominated in his place), Edmund Randolph, John Blair, James Madison, jr., George Mason, and George Wythe. North Carolina-Richard Caswell, Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, and Willie Jones: Caswell and Jones having declined to serve, William Blount and Hugh Williamson were chosen in their places. South Carolina-John Rutledge, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and Pierce Butler. Georgia William Few, Abraham Baldwin, William Pierce, George Walton, William Houston, and Nathaniel Pendleton.

+ Curtis's History of the Origin, Formation, and Adoption of the Constitution of the United States, is by far the most ample and reliable source of information on this subject.

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