Chapter 28 3. Final persuasion

On September 17, the 41 representatives who persisted in the end held their last meeting. As soon as the meeting began, Franklin stood up with a speech and asked his colleague, Pennsylvania representative James Wilson, to read it on his behalf.Due to his advanced age and poor health, Franklin could not stand for a long time, and Wilson read every written speech.In this affectionate and wise speech, Franklin said that he admitted that he still disagreed with some parts of the Constitution, but he was not sure that he would never agree.Thoughts, having lived so long, I know that no one can be right all the time.Therefore, the older you are, the more inclined you are to doubt your own judgment and respect the opinions of others.Indeed, said Franklin, most people, like most sects of religion, think they have all the truth.Anyone who disagrees with them is considered a fallacy.Even many civilians are like this.This kind of self-righteousness was once displayed by a French lady in a very natural way.When she had a dispute with her sister, she said: I don't understand what's going on, sister, but I've never met anyone who is always right, except myself.

Franklin went on, Sir, and from this feeling, I agree with the Constitution, with all its flaws, if they are flaws at all.Because our people need an overarching government, and right now we don't have one.It is good news for the people if they are governed well.I even go so far as to believe that this time the world may rule for several years, and then end in autocracy, just like those republics before.Historical experience tells us that once people become too corrupt, they will need autocratic government and cannot build other forms.But I also suspect that no matter how many constitutional conventions are held, it will not necessarily produce a better constitution.Whether this time or the next, each man brings to the meeting his own wisdom, but inevitably also his prejudices, passions, misconceptions, local interests, and private opinions.Can we expect such a meeting to produce a flawless outcome?

Sir, what is surprising is that the current plan is so close to perfection.I think this Constitution will astonish our enemies as well.They are waiting gloatingly, thinking that our meeting will be the same as Babylon's building the Tower of Babel, every time in vain; because our states are on the verge of falling apart, and every time we meet after that, it is just for Cut each other's throats.For this, sir, I agree with the Constitution, because I do not expect it to be better, nor am I sure that it is not the best.I have decided to sacrifice my private belief that there are still errors in the Constitution for the public good.

Franklin said, I never whisper outside.Within these walls my words were born, and here they will die.I don't want everyone who goes back to the electorate to report their objections to them.It is only our unanimity, real or apparent, that can produce noble effects and great good among the nations of the world and among our peoples.Any government, in order to secure and secure the happiness of the people, must be strong and efficient.Much of its strength and effectiveness depends on the popular impression of the government, of the wisdom and character of its rulers.For this reason, I hope that, as an integral part of the people, for ourselves and for the sake of future generations, we will take whole-hearted and highly unified actions to do our best and recommend this constitution, so as to turn our thoughts and efforts to governing the country in Anbang.

In conclusion, said Franklin, I hope that every delegate in the Convention who may have dissent from the Constitution will join me in taking this opportunity to doubt his infallibility a little, to declare that we are unanimous, and to sign his name on this document. After Wilson read Franklin's moving written speech, Randolph took over the conversation and stood up to apologize deeply for his refusal to sign.He said that while so many venerable names had endorsed the wisdom and value of the Constitution, he himself could only be governed by a sense of duty, awaiting future rulings.Because he believes that nine states will not approve this plan (according to Article VII of the Federal Constitution, only nine states’ constitutional assemblies can ratify it, and it can take effect among the approved states), and chaos is bound to ensue.Therefore, he should not and cannot swear to support this Constitution, restricting him from doing what he thinks is in the best public interest.

After Randolph's speech, many representatives came to persuade, and Hamilton expressed his anxiety.He said that the refusal of several influential figures to sign is like dredging the bottom of the pot. The people's enthusiasm for supporting the constitution may soon disappear, and the endless troubles will be unimaginable.It is well known, said Hamilton, that no representative was further removed from the constitution than his thoughts.However, between anarchy and turmoil and hope that this Constitution will lead to a good turnaround, we have no choice. North Carolina representative William Blount, who rarely speaks usually, also made a statement.Blunt said he had announced it would not sign it and was unwilling to pledge support for the package.But he also did not want to interfere with the fact that the program was the unanimous action of the States in the Constituent Assembly.

Guweno Morris was one of the most persuasive.His speech came ahead of Hamilton and Blunt.Guweno Morris said that he also had objections to the Constitution, but that he was willing to accept it with all its flaws, considering that it was the best solution so far attained.The majority, he said, had resolved to agree, and he should be bound by that determination.He emphasized that the big question remains: To have a national government, or not to?The conclusion is to.Then it has to be signed, and the signature only expresses one fact: all states present agree. There is a reason Guvino Morris said this.Before the meeting, he had drawn up a way of signing and handed it to Franklin: "Jesus Era 1787, that is, September 17, the 12th year after the independence of the United States of America, was unanimously agreed by the states present at the Constitutional Convention. , to complete this Constitution. We hereby sign and testify.” That is to say, the signature is only “to testify” and does not express approval or partial approval of the Constitution.Moreover, only 11 states (New York has no voting rights) agreed, not everyone.

But Randolph obviously didn't think that would work.When Franklin once again tried to persuade Randolph to temporarily put aside his objections and take concerted action with his brothers, Randolph replied that this was no different from signing the text of the Constitution.He also said that refusing to sign the constitution may be the worst choice in his life.But his conscience compels him to do so, and it cannot be changed. After Randolph finished speaking, Gerry also stood up and expressed his painful feelings at this moment.Gerry was one of the pioneers of the American Revolution, but now he has become a "counter-revolutionary", and of course he feels uncomfortable.What's more, throughout the meeting, Gerry also devoted himself to the discussion.So he said that if there is a better way, he will not express his attitude by refusing to sign.But now that he was cornered, he had no choice.Because this plan will inevitably lead to a collision between the two parties in the approval process, which will be a great disaster.

It seems that the two opinions can be described as tit-for-tat. Hamilton and the others believed that the world would be in chaos without the Constitution, while Randolph and the others believed that there would be no peace in the country without the Constitution.We can't go on talking about this.The representative of South Carolina, General Pinckney, said that instead of being suspicious, it is better to seek the truth and let the signature express the essence.As for himself, he will sign in good faith and fully support and maintain it. Before signing, a final vote (no. 569) was held to decide what to do with the minutes and other documents.At that time, there were two ways: one was to destroy it, so as not to be used by those who opposed the constitution outside the meeting; the other was to hand it over to the chairman for safekeeping, because if rumors spread everywhere and the documents were destroyed again, there would be no proof.As a result of the vote, except for Maryland's objection because it had to go back to report, the other 10 states agreed unanimously: to hand over the meeting minutes and other documents to the chairman for safekeeping.

As a result, the representatives left their seats one after another to sign the text of the draft constitution.They are: Chairman of the Constitutional Convention, Virginia representative George Washington, New Hampshire representative John Langton (also translated as Landon), Nicholas Gilman, Massachusetts representative Nathaniel Gorham (also translated Gorham), Rufus King, Connecticut Representative William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman, New York Representative Alexander Hamilton, New Jersey Representative William Livingston, William Paterson (also translated Paterson), David Brearley, Jonathan Dayton, Pennsylvania Representative Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Fitzsimmons, Thomas Mifflin, Jared Ingersoll, Robert Morris, James Wilson, George Cramer, Goweno Morris, Delaware Representative George Reed, Richard Bassett, Gunning Bedford, Jacob Bloom, John Dickinson, Maryland Representative James McHenry, Daniel Carlell, St. Thomas Jennifer's Daniel, Virginia Representative John Blair, James Maddie Johnson, North Carolina Representative William Blunt, Hugh Williamson, Richard Dobbs Speight, South Carolina Representative John Rutledge (also translated Rutledge), Charles Pinckney , Charles Cotsworth Pinckney, Pierce Butler, Georgia Representative William Faew, Abraham Baldwin.Another witness was William Jackson, Secretary of the Constitutional Convention.

As the last few delegates signed, Franklin told those around him the words he drank at the beginning of this book.He said that he never knew whether the sun he was facing was the rising sun or the setting sun.Now I am fortunate enough to know that it is rising, not falling.Franklin could indeed say the same, for the Constitution, enacted after 569 votes, was at last ready to be handed over to the people, though it was a difficult sunrise with mixed clouds and dawn. By the sun Franklin probably meant the new constitution, more likely his country.If it refers to his country, it should be good.If it refers to the new constitution, it is a bit optimistic.Because things are not over yet.Because the power of some countries has not been clearly limited, and the rights of some citizens have not been clearly guaranteed, which not only caused the three representatives of Gerry, Mason, and Randolph to refuse to sign the constitutional text, but also triggered a wave of panic when ratifying the constitution. fight.