July 14, 1787: Revisiting the Compromise

Rufus King by Gilbert Stuart, 1819.

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution

"He was sure that no government would last that was not founded on just principles. He preferred the doing of nothing, to an allowance of an equal vote to all the States."

--Madison's (VA) description in this notes of King's (MA) speech against the key compromise made in early July

Saturday, July 14, 1787: The Convention Today

Rutledge (SC) wanted to revisit the most crucial part of the key compromise from early July. He was opposed to giving each state an equal vote, regardless of population, in the second house of the legislature. To this, a weary Sherman (CT) replied that he wanted the proposal from early June to be considered “on the whole” since the compromise had been so difficult to craft that it would be laborious “to go over the whole ground again.”

Luther Martin (MD) admitted to disliking the compromise, including how it had two houses of the legislature, one of which didn’t give states equal representation, but he preferred “to make trial of the plan, rather than do nothing.”

Wilson (PA) was in favor of reconsidering the compromise, noting that Pennsylvanians would be overwhelmingly opposed to each state having an equal vote in the second house of Congress.

The exchange got personal when L. Martin told Wilson he was wrong in assessing that Pennsylvanians would oppose equal representation in the second house. He said that large states, specifically naming Pennsylvania and Virginia, were weak and inefficient and that it would be for the best if they separated from the other states if they couldn’t stomach an equal vote.

Wilson sarcastically responded that if the small states thought they were so superior, they’d probably soon start claiming to be richer than the large states, although he imagined they’d drop that claim “when the States shall be called on for taxes and troops.” Gerry also took offense on behalf of Massachusetts at L. Martin’s remarks against large states.

Charles Pinckney (SC) then put forward a motion, seconded by Wilson, eliminating the equality of the states in the second house of the legislature. In his proposal, Virginia would have the most legislators in this house (5) and the states with the fewest would have 1.

Dayton (NJ) and Sherman immediately disagreed with the proposal. Gerry liked it in theory but knew that the small states would never accept it. Strong (MA) similarly thought the early July compromise was the only path forward.

King, Madison (VA), and Wilson gave long speeches in support of C. Pinckney’s motion where they rehashed many of the arguments made over a week earlier against the injustice of equal representation for the states. Madison also made a new argument: “the real difference of interest lay, not between the large and small, but between the Northern and Southern, States. The institution of slavery, and its consequences, formed the line of discrimination.” The North currently had a larger population than the South, but Madison anticipated that the South would eventually have more people. With proportional representation, the South would eventually control Congress, but with equal representation the eight northern states would hold permanent power even after becoming a minority of the population.

After these long speeches from the large states, Ellsworth (CT) responded with two pointed questions. He asked Wilson “whether he had ever seen a good measure fail in Congress for want of a majority of States in its favor?” Ellsworth didn’t believe that had ever happened. He then asked Madison why he dreaded a majority of less populous states having the ability to stop legislation and yet Madison’s favored proposal gave veto power to a chief executive who would inevitably come from only one state. Madison’s notes record no response from either Madison or Wilson.

Despite the long speeches in favor of C. Pinckney’s motion to eliminate equal representation for the states in the second house of the legislature, the motion failed 4-6 with only Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina in favor.

Synopsis

• The compromise measure from early July, giving each state equal representation in one house of the legislature, was reconsidered, resulting in delegates from large and small states personally insulting each other’s states.
• Delegates from large states gave long speeches in favor of eliminating equal representation, but the proposal to get rid of equal representation narrowly failed.

Delegates Today

• Early in the morning, Strong (MA), Luther Martin (MD), Mason (VA), Williamson (NC), Madison (VA), Rutledge (SC), and Hamilton (NY) toured Bartram's Garden, the oldest and one of the most important botanical collections in the country, near Gray's Ferry on the Schuylkill River. They discussed botany with William Bartram and observed the various plants and trees in the garden.
• Madison, Mason, Strong, Gorham (MA), Williamson, Charles Pinckney (SC), Rutledge, and Hamilton all dined together at the Indian Queen tavern on Fourth Street, south of Market. The tavern had several halls to accommodate such large private parties. These delegates presumably met this evening to try to hammer out their differences of opinion on the issue of the equal vote in the Senate.
• Washington (VA) “dined at Springsbury with the Club” and then went to the Southwark Theater to see John Dryden’s adaptation of Shakespeare's The Tempest.
• Franklin, as President of Pennsylvania, attended the state’s Supreme Executive Council.

Philadelphia Today

• Philadelphia had an unseasonably pleasant day with a high of 77.
• Massachusetts sightseer Manasseh Cutler visited Bartram’s Garden with the delegates, as well as other locales:
  • He was amazed by the half-mile long covered market on Market Street, where fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, and dairy products were all sold.
  • In Carpenters’ Hall he saw a display of Revolutionary War trophies and memorabilia.
  • He perused the instruments that were part of the Agriculture Society’s collection.
  • He saw the valuable book collection of the Library Company.