[See page 235.] ["Doct! Franklin. He had observed with great concern the diversity of opinions that had prevailed throughout the deliberations of the Convention. This diversity was a melancholy proof of the want of wisdom to form a wise & proper Govt All the antient and modern Governments had been run over without finding any suited to our wants. In this Situation groping as we were in the dark, how has it happened that no body has thought of applying for light to that powerful friend who alone can supply it. He had lived a long time, and seen a great deal of the world, and was more & more convinced, that God ruled in the affairs of men. If as were informed by the sacred writings, a sparrow can not fall without his permission, how can an empire be raised without his divine aid. If we foolishly expect to succeed without it we shall like the builders of babel, fall into utter confusion, and be abandoned to such a Government as chance may impose on us. He therefore proposed" stricken out] Λ see opposite page & insert the Speech of Doctr. F in this place. M: Sharman seconded the motion. M Hamilton & several others expressed their apprehensions that however proper such a resolution might have been at the beginning of the convention, it might at this late day, 1. bring ["some" stricken out] on it some disagreeable animadversions. & 2. lead the public to believe that the embarrassments and dissentions within the convention, had suggested this measure. It was answered by Doc F. Mr. Sherman & others, that the past omission of a duty could not justify a ["continuance" stricken out] further omission-that the rejection of such a proposition would expose the Convention to more unpleasant animadversions than the adoption of it: and that the alarm out of doors that might be excited for the state of things within. would at least be as likely to do good as ill. Mr Williamson, observed that the true cause of the omission could not be mistaken. The Convention had no funds. Mr Randolph proposed in order to give a favorable aspect to y measure, that a sermon be preached at the request of the convention on 4th of July, the anniversary of Independence,— & thenceforward prayers be used in ye Convention every morning. D Frank" 2ded this motion after several unsuccessful attempts for silently postponing the matter by adjourn. the adjournment was at length carried, without any vote on the motion. Mr President A June 28. in convention. every The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other—our different sentiments on almost question, several of the last producing as many noes as ayes, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circum stances. In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in [See Madison's note, page 234.] the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.-Our prayers, Sir, were ["greatly" stricken out] 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 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? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. God I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service Friday June 29th in Convention Doc Johnson. The controversy must be endless whilst Gentlemen differ in the grounds of their arguments; Those on one side considering the States as districts of people composing one political Society; those on the other considering them as so many political societies. The fact is the States do exist as political Societies, and a Gov! is to be formed for them in their political capacity, as well as for the individuals composing them. Does it not seem to follow, that if the States as such are to exist they must be armed with some power of self-defence. This is the idea of [Col. Mason] who appears to have looked to the bottom of this matter. Besides the Aristocratic and other interests, which ought to have the means of defending themselves, ["this" stricken out] States have their interests as such, and are equally entitled to likes means. On the whole he thought that as in some respects. the States are to be considered in their political capacity, and in others as ["a" stricken out] districts of individual citizens, the two ideas. embraced on different sides, instead of being opposed to each other, ought to be combined; that in one branch the people, ought to be represented; in the other, the States. the A Mr Ghorum. The States as now confederated have no doubt a right to refuse to be consolidated, or to be formed into any new system. But he wished the small States need A one another situation which seemed most ready to object, to ["consider" stricken out] consider which are to give up most, they or the larger ones. He conceived that a rupture of the Union wd be an event unhappy for all, but surely the large States would be least unable to take care of themselves, and to make connections with ["each other" stricken out]. The weak therefore were most interested in establishing some general system for maintaining order. If among individuals, composed partly of weak, and partly of strong, the former most the protection of law & Government, the case is exactly the same with weak & powerful States. What would be the situation of Delaware (for these things he found must be spoken out, & it might as well be done first as last) what wa be the [illegible word stricken out] of Delaware in case of a separation of the States? Would she not lie at the mercy of Pennsylvania? would not her true interests lie in being consolidated with her, and ought she not now to wish for such a union with Pa under one Gov! as will put it ["oup" stricken out] out of the power of Pen to oppress her? Nothing can be more ideal than the danger appreheded by the States, from their being formed into one nation. Mass's was originally three colonies, viz old Masst - Plymouth- & the province of Mayne. These apprehensions existed then. An incorporation took place; ["&" stricken out] all parties were safe & satisfied; and every distinction is now forgotten. The case was similar with Connecticut & Newhaven. The dread of Union was reciprocal; the consequence of it equally salutary and satisfactory. In like manner N. Jersey has been made one society out of two parts. of the States A n Should a separation take place, the fate of N. Jersey w be worst of all. She has no foreign commerce & can have but |