The Great Debate That Made the U.S. Constitution. Madison James

bred to the Law, but I am told he disliked the profession, and turned Merchant. He is engaged in some great mercantile matters with his namesake, Mr. Robert Morris. This Gentleman is about 38 years old, he has been unfortunate in losing one of his Legs, and getting all the flesh taken off his right arm by a scald, when a youth." — Pierce's Notes, Am. Hist. Rev., iii., 329.

9

      "NEWPORT June 18th 1787

      "Sir —

      "The inclosed address, of which I presume your Excellency has received a duplicate, was returned to me from New York after my arrival in this State. I flattered myself that our Legislature, which convened on monday last, would have receded from the resolution therein refer'd to, and have complied with the recommendation of Congress in sending deligates to the federal convention. The upper house, or Governor, & Council, embraced the measure, but it was negatived in the house of Assembly by a large majority, notwithstanding the greatest exertions were made to support it.

      "Being disappointed in their expectations, the minority in the administration and all the worthy citizens of this State, whose minds are well informd regreting the peculiarities of their Situation place their fullest confidence in the wisdom & moderation of the national council, and indulge the warmest hopes of being favorably consider'd in their deliberations. From these deliberations they anticipate a political System which must finally be adopted & from which will result the Safety, the honour, & the happiness of the United States.

      "Permit me, Sir, to observe, that the measures of our present Legislature do not exhibit the real character of the State. They are equally reprobated, & abhored by Gentlemen of the learned professions, by the whole mercantile body, & by most of the respectable farmers and mechanicks. The majority of the administration is composed of a licentious number of men, destitute of education, and many of them, Void of principle. From anarchy and confusion they derive their temporary consequence, and this they endeavor to prolong by debauching the minds of the common people, whose attention is wholly directed to the Abolition of debts both public & private. With these are associated the disaffected of every description, particularly those who were unfriendly during the war. Their paper money System, founded in oppression & fraud, they are determined to Support at every hazard. And rather than relinquish their favorite pursuit they trample upon the most sacred obligations. As a proof of this they refused to comply with a requisition of Congress for repealing all laws repugnant to the treaty of peace with Great Britain, and urged as their principal reason, that it would be calling in question the propriety of their former measures.

      "These evils may be attributed, partly to the extreme freedom of our own constitution, and partly to the want of energy in the federal Union: And it is greatly to be apprehended that they cannot Speedily be removed but by uncommon and very serious exertions. It is fortunate however that the wealth and resources of this State are chiefly in possion of the well Affected, & that they are intirely devoted to the public good.

      "I have the honor of being Sir,

       "with the greatest Veneration & esteem,

       "Your excellencys very obedient &

       "most humble servant —

       ["J. M. VARNUM.]

      "His excellency

       "GENERAL WASHINGTON."

      The letter was inadvertently unsigned, but it was well known

       to come from General Varnum. The enclosure was as follows:

      "PROVIDENCE, May 11. 1787.

       "GENTLEMEN:

      "Since the Legislature of this State have finally declined sending Delegates to Meet you in Convention for the purposes mentioned in the Resolve of Congress of the 21^st February 1787, the Merchants Tradesmen and others of this place, deeply affected with the evils of the present unhappy times, have thought proper to Communicate in writing their approbation of your Meeting, And their regret that it will fall short of a Compleat Representation of the Federal Union. —

      "The failure of this State was owing to the Nonconcurrence

       of the Upper House of Assembly with a Vote passed in the

       Lower House, for appointing Delegates to attend the said

       Convention, at their Session holden at Newport on the first

       Wednesday of the present Month. —

       "It is the general Opinion here and we believe of the well

       informed throughout this State, that full power for the

       Regulation of the Commerce of the United States, both

       Foreign & Domestick ought to be vested in the National

       Council.

      "And that Effectual Arrangements should also be made for giving

       Operation to the present powers of Congress in their

       Requisitions upon the States for National purposes. —

      "As the Object of this Letter is chiefly to prevent any impressions unfavorable to the Commercial Interest of this State, from taking place in our Sister States from the Circumstance of our being unrepresented in the present National Convention, we shall not presume to enter into any detail of the objects we hope your deliberations will embrace and provide for being convinced they will be such as have a tendency to strengthen the Union, promote Commerce, increase the power & Establish the Credit of the United States.

      "The result of your deliberations tending to these desireable purposes we still hope may finally be Approved and Adopted by this State, for which we pledge our Influence and best exertions. —

      "In behalf of the Merchants, Tradesmen &c.

      "We have the Honour to be with perfect Consideration & Respect

       "Your most Obedient &

       "Most Humble Servant's

       "JOHN BROWN JABEZ BOWEN

       THOMAS LLOYD HALSEY NICHOLAS BROWN

       JOS. NIGHTINGALE JOHN JENCKES

       LEVI HALL WELCOME ARNOLD Comtee.

       PHILIP ALLEN WILLIAM RUSSELL

       PAUL ALLEN JEREMIAH OLMY

       WILLIAM BARTON

       "The Honorable the Chairman of the General Convention

       "PHILADELPHIA"

       — Const. MSS.

      Both letters are printed in the Documentary History of the Constitution, i., 277 and 275.

10 "Mr. Butler is a character much respected for the many excellent virtues which he possesses. But as a politician or an Orator, he has no pretensions to either. He is a Gentleman of fortune, and takes rank among the first in South Carolina. He has been appointed to Congress, and is now a Member of the Legislature of South Carolina. Mr. Butler is about 40 years of age; an Irishman by birth." — Pierce's Notes, Am. Hist. Rev., iii., 333.

11 "Mr. Spaight is a worthy Man, of some abilities, and fortune. Without possessing a Genius to render him brilliant, he is able to discharge any public trust that his Country may repose in him. He is about 31 years of age." — Pierce's Notes, Id., iii., 332.

      Tuesday May 29

       Table of Contents

      John Dickenson and Elbridge Gerry, the former from Delaware, the latter from Massachusetts took their seats. The following rules were added, on the report of Mr. Wythe from the Committee —

      That no member be absent from the House, so as to