And bid each private right thro' time endure. Thro' every state to spread each public law, Be then your task to alter, aid, amend; Slow, by degrees, politic systems rise; To gray-hair'd rules increasing reverence draws; Hark, how the alarms of civil discord roar ! For this stupendous realm, this chosen race, Or [on?] freedom, science, arts, its stories shine, Far o'er the Atlantic wild its beams aspire, The world approves it, and the heavens admire ; The Columbian Muse (J. Carey, New York, 1794), 46–48. 62. Preparations for the Convention (1787) BY DELEGATE GEORGE MASON Mason was a delegate from Virginia. He was prominent in the debates, advocated popular measures, denounced the slave trade, and finally refused to sign the Constitution because of its aristocratic tendencies. He was a very able debater (see No. 63 below). This letter was addressed to his son, George Mason, Jr. - Bibliography as in No. 60 above. PHILADELPHIA, May 20th, 1787. [PON our arrival here on Thursday evening, seventeenth UPO nia fully represented; and there are at this time only five- New York, the two Carolinas, and the two before mentioned. All the States, Rhode Island excepted, have made their appointments; but the members drop in slowly; some of the deputies from the Eastern States are here, but none of them have yet a sufficient representation, and it will probably be several days before the Convention will be authorized to proceed to business. The expectations and hopes of all the Union. centre in this Convention. God grant that we may be able to concert effectual means of preserving our country from the evils which threaten us. The Virginia deputies (who are all here) meet and confer together two or three hours every day, in order to form a proper correspondence of sentiments; and for form's sake, to see what new deputies are arrived, and to grow into some acquaintance with each other, we regularly meet every day at three o'clock. These and some occasional conversations with the deputies of different States, and with some of the general officers of the late army (who are here upon a general meeting of the Cincinnati), are the only opportunities I have hitherto had of forming any opinion upon the great subject of our mission, and, consequently, a very imperfect and indecisive one. Yet, upon the great principles of it, I have reason to hope there will be greater unanimity and less opposition, except from the little States, than was at first apprehended. The most prevalent idea in the principal States seems to be a total alteration of the present federal system, and substituting a great national council or parliament, consisting of two branches of the legislature, founded upon the principles of equal proportionate representation, with full legislative powers upon all the subjects of the Union; and an executive : and to make the several State legislatures subordinate to the national, by giving the latter the power of a negative upon all such laws as they shall judge contrary to the interest of the federal Union. It is easy to foresee that there will be much difficulty in organizing a government upon this great scale, and at the same time reserving to the State legislatures a sufficient portion of power for promoting and securing the prosperity and happiness of their respective citizens; yet with a proper degree of coolness, liberality and candor (very rare commodities by the bye), I doubt not but it may be effected. There are among a variety some very eccentric opinions upon this great subject; and what is a very extraordinary phenomenon, we are likely to find the republicans, on this occasion, issue from the Southern and Middle States, and the anti-republicans from the Eastern; however extraordinary this may at first seem, it may, I think be accounted for from a very common and natural impulse of the human mind. Men disappointed in expectations too hastily and sanguinely formed, tired and disgusted with the unexpected evils they have experienced, and anxious to remove them as far as possible, are very apt to run into the opposite extreme; and the people of the Eastern States, setting out with more republican principles, have consequently been more disappointed than we have been. We found travelling very expensive from eight to nine dollars per day. In this city the living is cheap. We are at the old Indian Queen in Fourth Street, where we are very well accommodated, have a good room to ourselves, and are charged only twenty-five Pennsylvania currency per day, including our servants and horses, exclusive of club in liquors and extra charges; so that I hope I shall be able to defray my expenses with my public allowance, and more than that I do not wish. Kate Mason Rowland, The Life of George Mason (New York, etc., 1892), II, 100-102. 63. Characters in the Convention (1787) BY DELEGATE WILLIAM PIERCE Pierce was a delegate to the convention from Georgia, but he took no active part in the proceedings, and withdrew without signing the Constitution. According to his own statement, this last fact was due to unavoidable absence and not to disinclination. There are some errors in his list: Jn" Strong should be "Caleb " Strong; "W. Elsworth," "Oliver Ellsworth; "W." Lansing, "John" Lansing; "Jn Martin, "Alexander" Martin. — Bibliography of the framers of the Constitution: P. L. Ford, Bibliography and Reference List of the Constitution, 52–57. ROM New Hampshire. FRO Jn Langdon Esq! and Nich: Gilman Esquire. . . . From Massachusetts. Rufus King, Nat! Gorham, Gerry and Jn Strong Esquires. M: King is a Man much distinguished for his eloquence and great parliamentary talents. He was educated in Massachusetts, and is said to have good classical as well as legal knowledge. He has served for three years in the Congress of the United States with great and deserved applause, and is at this time high in the confidence and approbation of his Country-men. . . . In his public speaking there is something peculiarly strong and rich in his expression, clear, and convincing in his arguments, rapid and irresistible at times in his eloquence but he is not always equal. His action is natural, swimming, and graceful, but there is a rudeness of manner sometimes accompanying it. But take him tout en semble, he may with propriety be ranked among the Luminaries of the present Age. M: Gorham is a Merchant in Boston, high in reputation, and much in the esteem of his Country-men. He is a Man of very good sense, but not much improved in his education. He is eloquent and easy in public debate, but has nothing fashionable or elegant in his style; - all he aims at is to convince, and where he fails it never is from his auditory not understanding him, for no Man is more perspicuous and full. He has been President of Congress, and three years a Member of that Body. . . . Mr Gerry's character is marked for integrity and perseverance. He is a hesitating and laborious speaker; — possesses a great degree of confidence and goes extensively into all subjects that he speaks on, without respect to elegance or flower of diction. He is connected and some times clear in his arguments, conceives well, and cherishes as his first virtue, a love for his Country. . . From Connecticut. Sam! Johnson, Roger Sherman, and W. Elsworth Esquires. Dr Johnson is a character much celebrated for his legal knowledge; he is said to be one of the first classics in America, and certainly possesses a very strong and enlightened understanding. M: Sherman exhibits the oddest shaped character I ever remember to have met with. He is awkward, un-meaning, and unaccountably strange in his manner. But in his train of thinking there is something regular, deep, and comprehensive . . . no Man has a better Heart or a clearer Head. If he cannot embellish he can furnish thoughts that are wise and useful. He is an able politician, and extremely artful in accomplishing any particular object;-it is remarked that he seldom fails. I am told he sits on the Bench in Connecticut, and is very correct in the discharge of his Judicial functions. In the early part of his life he was a Shoe-maker; - but despising the lowness of his condition, he turned Almanack maker, and so progressed upwards to a Judge. He has been several years a Member of Congress, and discharged the duties of his Office with honor and credit to himself, and advantage to the State he represented. . . . M: Elsworth is a Judge of the Supreme Court in Connecticut ; — he is a Gentleman of a clear, deep, and copious understanding; eloquent, and connected in public debate; and always attentive to his duty. He is very happy in a reply, and choice in selecting such parts of his adversary's arguments as he finds make the strongest impressions, in order to take off the force of them, so as to admit the power of his own. From New York. Alexander Hamilton, Yates, and W. Lansing Esquires. Col: Hamilton is deservedly celebrated for his talents. He is a practitioner of the Law, and reputed to be a finished Scholar. To a clear and strong judgment he unites the ornaments of fancy, and whilst he is able, convincing, and engaging in his eloquence the Heart and Head sympathize in approving him. Yet there is something too feeble in his voice to be equal to the strains of oratory ; — it is my opinion that he is rather a convincing Speaker, that [than] a blazing Orator. Col? Hamilton requires time to think, he enquires into every part of his subject |