"  We  have  arrived,  Mr. President,"  said  he,  "  at  a  very  momen-
tous and  interesting  crisis  in  our  deliberations. Hitherto  our  views
have  been  as  harmonious,  and  our  progress  as  great,  as  could  reason-
ably have  been  expected. But  now  an  unlooked  for  and  formidable
obstacle  is  thrown  in  our  way,  which  threatens  to  arrest  our  course,
and,  if  not  skilfully  removed,  to  render  all  our  fond  hopes  of  a  con-
stitution abortive. The  ground  which  has  been  taken  by  the  dele-
gates of  the  four  smallest  states,  was  as  unexpected  by  me,  and  as
repugnant  to  my  feelings,  as  it  can  be  to  any  other  member  of  this
Convention. After  what  I  thought  a  full  and  impartial  investiga-
tion of  the  subject,  I  recorded  my  vote  in  the  affirmative  side  of  the
question,  and  I  have  not  yet  heard  anything  whch  induces  me  to
change  my  opinion. But  I  will  not,  therefore,  conclude  that  it  is
impossible  for  me  to  be  wrong!  I  will  not  say  that  those  gentlemen
who  differ  from  me  are  under  a  delusion  —  much  less  will  I  charge
them  with  an  intention  of  needlessly  embarrassing  our  delibera-
tions. It  is  possible  some  change  in  our  late  proceedings  ought  to
take  place  upon  principles  of  political  justice;  or  that,  all  things  con-
sidered, the  majority  may  see  cause  to  recede  from  some  of  their  just
pretensions,  as  a  matter  of  prudence  and  expediency. For  my  own
part,  there  is  nothing  I  so  much  dread,  as  a  failure  to  devise  and  estab-
lish some  efficient  and  equal  form  of  government  for  our  infant
republic. The  present  effort  has  been  made  under  the  happiest
auspices,  and  has  promised  the  most  favorable  results;  but  should
this  effort  prove  vain,  it  will  be  long  ere  another  can  be  made  with
any  prospect  of  success. Our  strength  and  our  prosperity  will  depend
on  our  unity;  and  the  secession  of  even  four  of  the  smallest  states,
interspersed  as  they  are,  would,  in  my  mind,  paralyze  and  render
useless,  any  plan  which  the  majority  could  devise. I  should  there-
fore be  grieved,  Mr. President,  to  see  matters  brought  to  the  test,
which  has  been,  perhaps  too  rashly  threatened  on  the  one  hand,
and  which  some  of  my  honored  colleagues  have  treated  too  lightly


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APPENDIX  A,    CCCLV  47 1

on  the  other. 