stances, the Convention adjourned without action on the matter of their instructions; but they presented a very able and excellent report to the legislatures of their several States, explaining the cause why they declined action for the present; presenting some very convincing views respecting the wants of the Union; and recommending a Convention from all the States, with power to act with reference to all the wants of the nation. This they proposed should meet at Philadelphia on the second Monday of the following May, and they took the liberty to transmit copies of their report to Congress and to the Executives of all the States. This report was drawn by Col. Hamilton, and was so favorably received in Virginia that an act, drawn by Mr. Madison, was soon passed, almost unanimously, in her legislature, complying with its suggestions, and appointing seven delegates, at the head of whom was George Washington. This act they forwarded to the Executives of each of the States of the Union. was very favorably received, and its impression coincided with the direction in which experience had been leading the public mind; especially since the Convention at Annopolis. The Convention at Annapolis was something new, and of course exciting. Together with the example of Virginia, it produced such an effect that appointments of Commissioners were soon made by all the States, except Rhode Island. That State, by her position, and the position of her ports, enjoyed some commercial advantages which she feared she might lose by the desired reform, and she therefore re

It

What did the Convention do? What report did they present, and to whom? Where did they propose that a new Convention should meet, and when?

To whom did they transmit copies of their report?

How was this report received in Virginia? What act was passed? How was it received by other States? With what did its impression coincide?

What effect did the Convention at Annapolis and the example of Virginia produce? What exception? What were her reasons?

mained unrepresented in the Convention at Philadelphia. With regard to all others, their experience was aided by the expected Conventions, the canvassing of the subject, the appointment of commissioners, and their actual assembling, so that while the Convention at Annapolis was in prospect, and in the interval between that and the one at Philadelphia, the public mind became ready for a reform which would give more vigor and stability to the General Government, even should it have to be purchased by the surrender of a portion of individual or State rights.

10. Some of the things that went to make up the public mind, ought to be understood, in order to appreciate the labors of the Federal Convention, or to study the Constitution, which was the result of their deliberations. Among these was the public debt, which, while all felt the obligation to discharge it, no one knew how to pay. The most strenuous efforts of Congress only showed its inability to procure from the States the means of payment. Either from the avarice, the dilatoriness, the poverty, or the mutual jealousies of the States, they would not exert themselves to meet so sacred a demand, unless they saw the arm of law clothed with power to collect it. From these, and many similar causes, the public mind was filled with dark and gloomy forebodings. Many at home, and many more abroad, especially in Great Britain, speculated on the downfall and dissolution of the Union, which indeed seemed inevitable from the scarcity of money, the destitution of revenue, and the want of protection to com

How had the public mind in all other States become ready for reform?

What things ought here to be understood, and why? What was among these?

What did the efforts of Congress show?

Why would not the States help to pay the public debt?

How was the public mind affected?

How did many at home and abroad speculate? Why did this seem inevitable?

merce, which thus far marked the American experiment. Other nations pursued a monopolizing policy, in which Great Britain took the lead, by which the trade with them was carried on in their vessels, to the exclusion of American, while in their tariffs injurious distinctions were made in favor of their produce and manufactures. The effect of these regulations Congress could not prevent or modify, for want of authority to regulate commerce; hence American merchants were forced to submit to a system which robbed them of their means of profit, and the American people could not prevent the filling of foreign coffers and foreign treasuries with the fruits of their labors. Many of the States attempted to meet these foreign measures by regulations of their own; but not being uniform in their attempts, they only diverted trade into other ports, or irritated and perplexed each other. Treaties were broken by separate States, which acted on the principle that they were not bound by the acts of Congress; of course the Federal authority was equally destitute of respect abroad and of credit at home.

11. The various views of the people respecting the best form of government appeared in the different actions which they pursued, and the different hopes which they avowedly entertained. Many were inclined to monarchy, or at least were partial to the elements of great strength which monarchical governments placed in their executive departments. Such persons watched the approach of the crisis, which they could

What did other nations do? Who took the lead? What was the result?

Why could not Congress prevent these effects?

To what were American merchants forced to submit?

What could not the American people prevent?

What did many States attempt? Why did they fail?

How were treaties broken? What was the result to the Federal authority?

What various views had the people, and how did these views appear? To what were many inclined?

not but think was near, in the hope that experience would teach the people generally the correctness of their views, and bring them to adopt from choice the principles which they thought essential to a permanent government. On the other hand, republicans became alarmed at what they could not but see and acknowledge, and felt that something must be done, and that very soon, in order to prevent the blasting of their fondest hopes, and the failure of the great American experiment. They wished to have a strong government, but were partial to the sovereignty of the States. They wished to have the authority of Congress extended over the States, but were opposed to a consolidation which would merge the State governments in that of the nation. Others again wished to see the Union divided into several confederations, according as their leading employments or their staple products might indicate; and which, though they should unite for common defence, should yet, in the matter of a revenue from imposts, treat each other as foreigners. These, and numerous other things, which can be fully learned only by a study of the early history of our country, are necessary to be understood in order to a profitable study of the Constitution. They show the circumstances under which the Convention of 1787 met, and are the best light on the character and ability of that Convention.

12. On the arrival of the day proposed by the Convention at Annapolis, i. e. the second Monday, which was the 14th, of May, 1787, it appeared that a majority of the States were not yet represented. Seven States were the least that could constitute

With what hope did they watch the approaching crisis?

At what were republicans alarmed? What did they feel? To what were they partial? To what were they opposed?

What did others wish to see?

On what day and year did the Convention meet at Philadelphia?

majority, and that number was not convened till the 25th.

13. And here it may be as well as any where to state the principle on which votes were given, and majorities constituted, in the Convention. The Convention voted by States,-i. e. the members from each State voted by themselves, and the result, whether yea or nay, was put in, or accounted, as the vote of the State. Hence in the decision of any matter, no greater number of votes could be given than the number of States represented; neither did the number of delegates from any State make any difference in the weight of that State in procuring any result, or carrying any measure. Thus the State of Pennsylvania, with eight delegates, could put in but one vote, while New York, with but one or two, could do the same. This had been the rule, thus far, under the Confederation; and the small States, especially Delaware, instructed their delegates to insist on the same rule in the Convention. The larger States yielded the point in order to avoid dissensions with the small States, which might be fatal to the object they all had in view. In making this accommodation, the great State of Virginia, with a commendable devotion to the public good, took the lead.

14. On the 25th of May, as we have seen, a majority of the States were convened. Delegates from nine States were present, namely, from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. George Washington was unanimously elected President of the Convention, and William Jackson was chosen Secretary. The first business was to adopt

How long was it before a majority of its States were represented? Explain the manner of voting. Why did the large States yield to the small ones in this matter?

How many States were represented on the 25th of May ?

Who were chosen President and Secretary of the Convention?