Chapter 17 4. God can’t help

God did not invite, and the constitution-making representatives had no choice but to continue arguing. On June 29, the second day after Franklin proposed to pray before the daily meeting, although some people (such as Johnson and Aylesworth) had begun to mediate and mediate, Madison and Hamilton still refused to let go.Because in their view, only the election of members according to the proportion of the population is a real representative system and a real democracy (sovereignty rests with the people).Madison, therefore, said he begged the gentlemen of Little State to renounce a principle of universal injustice.That principle will never be recognized.If recognized, it would instill mortal destiny in the Constitution we hope will last forever.He begged the representatives of the small states to think about what the states would suffer when the Confederacy was broken.It will be a battlefield of furious governments and killing noises. .Because then no state will feel safe.They could only arm themselves and authorize their administrators to act arbitrarily.We know that a standing army coupled with an inflated administrator is no safe companion for civil rights.The means of warding off threats from without will always be an instrument of tyranny at home.As long as there is a sign of trouble, waging war will become a routine slogan.The state governments will use this as an excuse to force the people to accept their squeeze.This is the effect whether the states have gone their separate ways altogether, or whether they have formed alliances in twos or threes.On that day, those who cause such consequences will not be forgiven by their state, nor will they be able to forgive themselves.

Hamilton spoke next.He raised a question, that is, should the composition of the parliament be based on the state or the individual.He thinks it should be the latter.Because the state is a personal audit.There is nothing more paradoxical and absurd than sacrificing personal rights for Boner.It has been said that if small states give up their equality, they give up their civil rights.This is actually a fight for political power, not a fight for civil rights.Should the citizens of Delaware have the same suffrage as the citizens of Pennsylvania, the less liberty they have?Just now Madison has spoken of the consequences of the complete separation of the states and their free association.He was keen to remind everyone of another serious problem: the alliance of rival European nations.These various allies will stir up unrest within us, drawing us into their struggles.The great powers stared at the United States, fearing that the world would not be chaotic.Therefore, we should risk everything to keep the United States.You know, it is already a miracle that we can sit here quietly and discuss issues, and it would be crazy to expect such a miracle to happen again in the future.

The speeches of Madison and Hamilton can be said to be well-meaning, but the opposition was unmoved. Luther Martin was not even willing to say more, but insisted: the language of the state is sovereignty and independence! So the next day, June 30, Wilson spoke in solidarity with Madison and Hamilton.Wilson said he very much hoped that people would not give up on a country bound by so many intimate ties, but that if something distressing had to happen, it would be no big deal.Because the vote on how the seats in the First House were distributed proved to be in favor of no longer following the rules of the Articles of Confederation, with the opposition representing only 11/45 of the American people.The future, therefore, is clear: either less than a quarter of the Commonwealth will withdraw, or three-quarters will renounce their birthright, unquestionable, and inalienable human rights.We should not forget for whom we are building government.Is it for the people, or for that imaginary thing called Bang?Would we honest voters be satisfied with this metaphysical division?Will agree that 1/3 constitutes a parliamentary majority and 34 beats 66?Finally he lamented: I did not expect such absurd opinions to prevail and such heated debates to occur on these issues!

The aggressive attitude of Madison, Wilson and Hamilton unnerved many, and even the largely neutral Ellsworth sided with Little Bang.He had moved the motion for one seat per state in the Second House on the first day, and explained it again on this day.He said power was given to the few to protect them from the majority.And there is no federation in history that does not implement a system of equal seats.The highly respected Franklin also came forward to mediate, hoping that both parties would make some concessions.But Madison and the others couldn't listen to it (we will talk about these situations later).And just after Franklin spoke, Rufus King, representative of the third great state, Massachusetts, spoke.

Now the question has been simplified, said King, is each state equally represented in the Second House?I see no use in altering our scheme beyond making the proposed Senate into another Congress of the Confederacy.If those who insist on equality will not change their attitude, those who oppose this plan will not budge!He said he couldn't see why he should give up this divine opportunity of establishing just principles and just government, to preserve the liberties of some imaginary state!King also said that for his country, his feelings were more painful and his worries more intensified than words can express.But he is convinced that this is the last chance to give this country the rights and happiness of its citizens.To this end, he can overcome himself and make some kind of concession, but he will never agree to a system of equal seats!

This time, Luther Martin remained calm.He still has the same old saying: If we can't act according to fair rules and can't achieve at least equal seats in the first house, we will never join! Bedford was not so easy to talk to.His statement was nothing short of an accusation.He said, gentlemen, who is not driven by interests, who is not dominated by ambition?Big states obviously want to sacrifice small states to expand their power.They still think that power is on their side, I think it is the interests that have blinded their eyes!Just look at Georgia!Although it is still a small state, it thinks that it can quickly become a large state.Actions in South and North Carolina were motivated by immediate interests as well as by future prospects.They hope that other states will collapse so that they can expand their sphere of influence.Virginia and Pennsylvania showed no sign of weakness, and Massachusetts also had a decisive and tangible interest in its position.Under such interests, who can expect Xiaobang to be indifferent and take a stand of pure detachment?Yes, the small states are willing to cooperate and abide by their responsibilities, but we only meet with the large states on the basis of the confederation, and we avoid talking about other places.We are told, in the tone of a dictator, that this is the last moment in favor of a fair experiment in good government.I want to tell him that when the report is submitted to the people for approval, that is the last moment!We small states will never be afraid, because great states will never dare to dissolve the Confederacy.If they dare, Xiaobang will find a foreign ally with better reputation and credibility to live in peace with!

After hearing this, Jin couldn't sit still.He stood up and responded to Bedford.He said he could not sit down until he answered some of the statements of the venerable gentleman in Delaware.It's not Rufuskin who speaks in the tone of a dictator, but it can be used to pay back to that gentleman!It was that venerable gentleman who announced at the meeting that he would take refuge in foreign countries with unprecedented intensity!It is a pity that such a thought should enter the mind of that gentleman.It is even more distressing that such words can fall out of his mouth.The gentleman could only beg forgiveness for his impulsiveness, and only himself.Because no matter how distressed we are, we will never comfort ourselves by pleasing foreign countries.

There is no way to talk about it. The meeting of 30 June is hereby adjourned.The next day is Sunday.On the third day, Monday 2 July, the session opened with a vote on Aylsworth's motion (one seat per state in the Second House).As a result, the five states of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland were in favor, the five states of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina were against, and the Georgia delegation was in favor of and against. The vote on July 2 was called a crucial round.Among them, the vote of the Georgia delegation, Housestone, is called the key vote.We know that in this vote, the attitudes of two delegations are crucial.One is Georgia and the other is Maryland.Georgia and Maryland each had just two reps during the stretch.Maryland's two representatives, Luther Martin and Thomas Jennifer's Daniel, had different opinions. As a result, Maryland was voted in favor of and against in almost every vote.If it was evenly divided there again this time, Madison and the others would win, and the consequences would be disastrous.Because this broke through Xiaobang's bottom line, it was necessary to fight.But God forbid, Jennifer's Daniel just wasn't there, and Luther Martin voted alone for Maryland, of course for Aylsworth, which made it 5-5.In this way, Georgia's attitude is very critical.

In the past, the Georgia delegation mostly supported the big states.The reason, as Bedford said, is that although they are a small state, they think that they can quickly become a large state.But Baldwin, who was born in Connecticut and graduated from Yale University, slowly swayed to the side of the state rights in the course of the meeting, and this time he voted in favor.If Housestone followed suit, the feudalists would have won.Unfortunately, God forbid, Hallstone voted against.As a result, 11 states voted, half in favor, half against, and the remaining one was also in favor and half against.

Now it's in big trouble.So South Carolina, on behalf of General Pinckney, proposed the establishment of a committee, consisting of one person from each state, to devise a compromise.Here we have to explain their "committee system".There are two kinds of committees in the constitutional convention.One is the general committee and the other is the special committee.The members of the Committee of the Whole are all representatives of the Constitutional Convention.This seems superfluous to us, but it makes sense.The chairman of the constitutional convention was Washington, and the chairman of the committee of the whole was Gorham.If Washington presides over the constitutional convention, it will have to be held at one time.If Gorham presides over the full committee meeting, Washington can retreat to the second line, with an extra room for maneuver. If it doesn't work, it can be discussed at the Constitutional Convention.If there are difficult issues in the constitutional assembly, various committees can also be set up to let the committees come up with a plan first and then discuss it, which also means that there is more room for maneuver.Reaction to General Pinckney's proposal was mixed.Luther Martin did not object, but said he would never compromise.Sherman agreed, because no one wanted to leave the meeting without getting anything done.Guweno Morris agreed, while delivering a tirade.Randolph agreed, but accused Bedford of speaking impulsively.Strong in Massachusetts, Williamson in North Carolina, Lan Xin agreed, but do not count on it.Gerry agreed and felt that concessions had to be made.Wilson and Madison objected.Voting results: 9 states in favor, 2 states, New Jersey and Delaware, opposed, and agreed to establish a committee.

The committee was formed, but the hearts of almost all delegates remained heavy.Because they don't know whether the committee can really be effective, and they don't know how to make a turnaround, where there will be a bright future.