Founding Rivals by Chris DeRose

Author:Chris DeRose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Regnery Publishing
Published: 2011-10-17T16:00:00+00:00

State: Total population: Slave population:

Virginia (includes Kentucky) 821,287 305,057

Massachusetts (includes Maine) 475,327 None

Pennsylvania 434,373 3,737

New York (includes Vermont) 425,659 21,324

North Carolina 393,751 100,572

Maryland 319,728 103,036

South Carolina 249,073 107,094

Connecticut 237,946 2,764

New Jersey 184,139 11,423

New Hampshire 141,885 158

Georgia 82,548 29,264

Rhode Island 68,825 948

Delaware 59,094 8,887

Virginia had almost fourteen times the population of Delaware, and yet both states had the same power in the Confederation Congress.e Madison fought hard for representation based on population in the Senate as well as the House. He could never be convinced, he said, that the present equality among the states in Congress was just, “nor necessary for the safety of the small states against the large states.” He pointed to concessions by Paterson himself and another member of the New Jersey delegation on this very issue.

Madison did not believe the largest states would ever pose a threat to the smaller ones. There were significant economic, religious, and cultural differences among Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts; and the history of the Confederation demonstrated that they were not typically prone to vote together. But Madison’s logic could not convince the small states to give up their disproportionate power. The problem seemed intractable.

It was then that Franklin rose to speak, noting the “small progress we have made after four or five weeks,” the “different sentiments on almost every question,” and the high number of dissenting states on recent votes. Franklin went on, “We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, examined the different forms of those republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution no longer exist. And we have viewed modern states all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.”

Considering the impasse the delegates had reached, Franklin wanted to know why they had not appealed to God. He asked why the delegates had not “once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings?” He continued,In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth—that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?

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