Chapter 19 Two, never give in

So Franklin came forward to make peace. Franklin said that the problem now is that both sides are going to extremes, so there is a dilemma.Let’s distribute it proportionally, and the small state will say that their civil rights are in danger; let’s say that the seats are equal, and the big state will say that their money is in danger.I am a craftsman, let me tell you about my experience as a craftsman.When carpenters make a table, if the edges of the wood are uneven, they will chip off a little on each side to make the joints fit perfectly, and the table will be stable.According to this principle, both sides should give up some requirements in order to unite.Since the ship of the Republic is shared by all, shouldn't they jointly decide the rules of adventure?

In fact, the report of the so-called 11-member committee is exactly a plan that cuts off a bit from both sides.Let us look at the list of committees: Gerry, Massachusetts, Ayersworth, Connecticut (later replaced by Sherman), Yates, New York, Paterson, New Jersey, Franklin, Pennsylvania, Bedford, Delaware, Lutheran, Maryland Martin, Virginia Mason, North Carolina Davey, South Carolina Rutledge, Georgia Baldwin.These people are not advocating state rights, or advocating a compromise. Madison (Virginia), Wilson (Pennsylvania), Hamilton (New York), Rufus King (Massachusetts) and other hardcore nationalists are not among them. De Martin, Yates, Paterson, and Bedford were not a few of the nationalist generals (Yates and Lan Xin were the same person).It is self-evident what kind of program such a committee can come up with.

This is a package plan, and two proposals must be accepted together, that is, the members of the first house are selected according to the population ratio (one member for every 40,000 people), and have the exclusive right to propose money and financial rights, and the second house has seats for each state equality.This, too, was a compromise, based on Connecticut's proposal and Franklin's motion. Wilson and Madison did not agree to cut a point.Wilson believed that the committee had exceeded its authority, but Madison did not think that the first house's exclusive right to propose money was considered a concession by the small state.He pointed out with some regret that the Constituent Assembly has fallen into a situation of choosing between two options: either give up fairness and make concessions to the small states and the minority; or satisfy the large states and the majority without hesitation.He didn't take Xiaobang's threat seriously either.Madison said he did not believe that the people of the small state would really stubbornly reject a fair government, one that would afford them substantial protection.I don't believe that Delaware would really take the risk of leaving other states to seek his own happiness alone.He still less believed that Delaware would heed the ardent advice of one of their representatives (meaning Bedford), and take a rash attitude to curry favor with foreign countries, which, as long as they offered to curry favor, would bow their heads to this gentleman's advice. suggestion.In the end, Madison expressed his belief that as long as he persisted in his belief, all states would eventually agree to his plan.

Guvenau Morris was also tough and arrogant.He said, with all due respect to myself, I am here not only to represent America, but to represent all of humanity.All human beings will be affected by this constitutional convention, so I advise gentlemen to take a long-term view, transcend the times and regions, don't lower your style, and just think about making deals for your own state, bargaining!According to Gouveno Morris, the attachment to the bong, the emphasis on its importance, has been the bane of the country.We may not be able to abolish it, but it is probably possible to remove the serpent's teeth.To be sure, our nation must unite.If persuasion fails to bring about union, it must be done with sword and fire.At that time, the victorious side will deal with the defeated side as traitors and send them to the gallows.

Guweno Morris' statement aroused the anger of Xiaobang's representative.Bedford spoke at once, and warned Gouveno Morris not to deceive too much.Bedford said that he never thought of applying for a foreign country, unless the big country forced the small country to nowhere.If this happens, the responsibility for breaking promises should be borne by the big state, because the small state has fulfilled its promise.However, no one can predict what kind of desperation the small state will be driven to under the oppression of the big state!He admits that his own words are sometimes too impulsive, but some people say that the union must be achieved by sword and fire, and others say that Delaware must be attached to Pennsylvania, and New Jersey must be divided between Pennsylvania and New York. An apology can be forgiven.If you don't get angry when you hear such words, it is tantamount to giving up your human feelings and civic responsibilities.In the end, he said that Xiaobang had already conceded the first step (agreeing that members of the first house should be selected in proportion to the population and have the exclusive right to propose proposals and financial rights), and would never concede the second step.

Seeing that the two sides quarreled again, the representatives spoke in a rush, saying everything.Aylsworth said he couldn't see a better solution than the report.Williamson (North Carolina) said that he hoped that the delegates would be careful not to talk about their colleagues, let alone their states.Paterson thinks the sword versus the gallows goes too far.Gerry said the trouble is that we are neither the same country nor different countries.But if we cannot come to some agreement ourselves, some foreign sword and fire will do it for us.Mason argued for continued mediation.He said that he would rather bury his old bones in this city than see the Constituent Assembly scattered like birds and beasts, trapping his country in ruins.

That being said, none of them are going to back down.Wilson said he was not ignorant of the desire to mediate and compromise, but standing firm was sometimes nobler.Paterson said that once the principle of distribution in the first house is determined, the second house cannot but implement equality of seats, because the small state fee cannot defend itself.As for the committee's report, he himself only expressed his agreement in front of him, because in that report, the concessions made by Xiaobang were too excessive. Things are already clear.Dabang is dissatisfied with the report and wants to win the game back.Xiaobang regards the report as the bottom line and will never give in, but he also understands that it is impossible to make more money.Thus, on July 14, state rights activists urged the commission's report to be passed as soon as possible.Sherman said that this is already a settlement plan, and there is no need to make changes.Luther Martin said that he didn't like this plan, that is, he didn't like the bicameral system, and he didn't like the unequal seats in the first house, but it was better than nothing.

But Wilson argued for renegotiation.In fact, there is nothing new to discuss.Centrists still advocate compromise.Massachusetts Representative Strong said that the Constitutional Convention has been divided, and we have appointed a committee and made a report.The situation now is that everyone agrees that the mission of the Congress of the Confederation is drawing to a close.If reconciliation cannot be achieved, the alliance will collapse immediately.If the big state sticks to its plan, the small state will never participate.Because Xiaobang has made concessions on many issues.They certainly hope that the other party will also make some concessions.He will therefore have to vote for the full report.

Xiaobang's attitude is still the same.Luther Martin said he would rather have two confederations than join one unequal.Sherman said that equality of seats is not only important to the security of a small state, but also very important to the preservation of the state government.Rep. Dayton of New Jersey said that the small state will never give up its demand for equality in the seat.For Xiaobang's safety, he will never give in another step.In fact, on this issue, Xiaobang's attitude has always been very clear. On July 10, when the Constitutional Convention passed the plan for the number of members of the first house of the general assembly, Delaware Representative Bloom reminded everyone that they agreed to this plan to demand equality in the second house.Xiaobang made major concessions in the First House and could no longer refuse their demands on the Second House.

Small states and centrists have already issued an ultimatum. In this case, the persistence of Madison, Wilson, and Rufus King (who happened to represent three great states: Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts) seemed stubborn and even irrational. Rufus King said that in the future, the general government will govern all the American people. How can it be allowed to go through the state governments in everything like the Confederate government, instead of directly governing individual citizens?He was convinced that the idea of ​​conceding to equality of seats would never win in Massachusetts.He would rather accomplish nothing, would rather suffer chaos, turmoil, and turmoil than succumb to such evil!

Madison said that it would be impossible to erect a proper superstructure by destroying the proper foundation of government by insisting on substituting equality of seats for proportional representation.He said that he did not understand, since the proportional representation system is suitable for the first house, why is it not suitable for the second house?The extant Confederation proves that, when the acts of the general government are carried out by the individual governments, the weight of the individual governments is in proportion to their importance.For example, if Pennsylvania pays ten times as much as Delaware, then without compulsion Pennsylvania is ten times as important, and they will be willing to pay. If equality of seats is a bug that needs time to correct, Wilson said, he probably doesn't have to insist, given that no plan is perfect.Sadly, this is a fundamental and eternal mistake.For it is this system that will bring us straight back to the inefficiency of the Congress of the Confederation.Under this system, Xiaobang can't make a difference, it can only control everyone to do nothing together.At this time, won't our voters rise up and speak up?If they say, We sent you to establish an effective government, you make it more complicated, and the old evils remain.So, what will gentlemen think is right? Although the tone of these three people did not loosen in the slightest, their offensive was obviously at the end of their strength.In fact, this is almost the last confrontation between the two factions on the seat issue.The next day, they will vote. The only person whose attitude changed in this encounter was Guweno Maurice.In a speech on July 13, he said he was likely to vote for it, though he still called it an evil principle.Of course, this was not because he changed his views, but because another Cheng Yaojin appeared on the way. The "Cheng Yaojin" who came out halfway is the black problem.