ewhat higher order than would be gathered together today； because the social conditions of those days tended to bring forward men of a better class； and because the seriousness of the crisis had called out leaders of the highest type。 Two or three days were consumed in organizing the Conventionelecting officers； considering the delegates' credentials； and adopting rules of procedure； and when these necessary preliminaries had been accomplished the main business was opened with the presentation by the Virginia delegation of a series of resolutions providing for radical changes in the machinery of the Confederation。 The principal features were the organization of a legislature of two houses proportional to population and with increased powers； the establishment of a separate executive； and the creation of an independent judiciary。 This was in reality providing for a new government and was probably quite beyond the ideas of most of the members of the Convention； who had come there under instructions and with the expectation of revising the Articles of Confederation。 But after the Virginia Plan had been the subject of discussion for two weeks so that the members had become a little more accustomed to its proposals； and after minor modifications had been made in the wording of the resolutions； the Convention was won over to its support。 To check this drift toward radical change the opposition headed by New Jersey and Connecticut presented the so…called New Jersey Plan； which was in sharp contrast to the Virginia Resolutions； for it contemplated only a revision of the Articles of Confederation； but after a relatively short discussion； the Virginia Plan was adopted by a vote of seven States against four； with one State divided。 The dividing line between the two parties or groups in the Convention had quickly manifested itself。 It proved to be the same line that had divided the Congress of the Confederation； the cleavage between the large States and the small States。 The large States were in favor of representation in both houses of the legislature according to population； while the small States were opposed to any change which would deprive them of their equal vote in Congress； and though outvoted； they were not ready to yield。 The Virginia Plan； and subsequently the New Jersey Plan； had first been considered in committee of the whole； and the question of 〃proportional representation；〃 as it was then called； would accordingly come up again in formal session。 Several weeks had been occupied by the proceedings； so that it was now near the end of June； and in general the discussions had been conducted with remarkably good temper。 But it was evidently the calm before the storm。 And the issue was finally joined when the question of representation in the two houses again came before the Convention。 The majority of the States on the 29th of June once more voted in favor of proportional representation in the lower house。 But on the question of the upper house； owing to a peculiar combination of circumstancesthe absence of one delegate and another's change of vote causing the position of their respective States to be reversed or nullifiedthe vote on the 2d of July resulted in a tie。 This brought the proceedings of the Convention to a standstill。 A committee of one member from each State was appointed to consider the question； and； 〃that time might be given to the Committee； and to such as chose to attend to the celebration on the anniversary of Independence； the Convention adjourned〃 over the Fourth。 The committee was chosen by ballot； and its composition was a clear indication that the small…State men had won their fight； and that a compromise would be effected。 It was during the debate upon this subject； when feeling was running high and when at times it seemed as if the Convention in default of any satisfactory solution would permanently adjourn； that Franklin proposed that 〃prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven 。 。 。 be held in this Assembly every morning。〃 Tradition relates that Hamilton opposed the motion。 The members were evidently afraid of the impression which would be created outside； if it were suspected that there were dissensions in the Convention； and the motion was not put to a vote。 How far physical conditions may influence men in adopting any particular course of action it is impossible to say。 But just when the discussion in the Convention reached a critical stage； just when the compromise presented by the committee was ready for adoption or rejection； the weather turned from unpleasantly hot to being comfortably cool。 And； after some little time spent in the consideration Of details； on the 16th of July； the great compromise of the Constitution was adopted。 There was no other that compared with it in importance。 Its most significant features were that in the upper house each State should have an equal vote and that in the lower house representation should be apportioned on the basis of population； while direct taxation should follow the same proportion。 The further proviso that money bills should originate in the lower house and should not be amended in the upper house was regarded by some delegates as of considerable importance； though others did not think so； and eventually the restriction upon amendment by the upper house was dropped。 There has long been a prevailing belief that an essential feature of the great compromise was the counting of only three…fifths of the slaves in enumerating the population。 This impression is quite erroneous。 It was one of the details of the compromise； but it had been a feature of the revenue amendment of 1783； and it was generally accepted as a happy solution of the difficulty that slaves possessed the attributes both of persons and of property。 It had been included both in the amended Virginia Plan and in the New Jersey Plan； and when it was embodied in the compromise it was described as 〃the ratio recommended by Congress in their resolutions of April 18； 1783。〃 A few months later； in explaining the matter to the Massachusetts convention； Rufus King said that； 〃This rule 。 。 。 was adopted because it was the language of all America。〃 In reality the three…fifths rule was a mere incident in that part of the great compromise which declared that 〃representation should be proportioned according to direct taxation。〃 As a further indication of the attitude of the Convention upon this point； an amendment to have the blacks counted equally with the whites was voted down by eight States against two。 With the adoption of the great compromise a marked difference was noticeable in the attitude of the delegates。 Those from the large States were deeply disappointed at the result and they asked for an adjournment to give them time to consider what they should do。 The next morning； before the Convention met； they held a meeting to determine upon their course of action。 They were apparently afraid of taking the responsibility for breaking up the Convention； so they finally decided to let the proceedings go on and to see what might be the ultimate outcome。 Rumors of these dissensions had reached the ears of the public； and it may have been to quiet any misgivings that the following inspired item appeared in several local papers： 〃So great is the unanimity； we hear； that prevails in the Convention； upon all great federal subjects； that it has been proposed to call the room in which they assemble Unanimity Hall。〃 On the other hand the effect of this great compromise upon the delegates from the small States was distinctly favorable。 Having obtained equal representation in one branch of the legislature； they now proceeded with much greater willingness to consider the strengthening of the central government。 Many details were yet to be arranged； and sharp differences of opinion existed in connection with the executive as well as with the judiciary。 But these difficulties were slight in comparison with those which they had already surmounted in the matter of representation。 By the end of July the fifteen resolutions of the original Virginia Plan had been increased to twenty…three； with many enlargements and amendments； and the Convention had gone as far as it could effectively in determining the general principles upon which the government should be formed。 There were too many members to work efficiently when it came to the actual framing of a constitution with all the inevitable details that were necessary in setting up a machinery of government。 Accordingly this task was turned over to a committee of five members who had already given evidence of their ability in this direction。 Rutledge was made the chairman； and the others were Randolph； Gorham； Ellsworth； and Wilson。 To give them time to perfect their work； on the 26th of July the Convention adjourned for ten days。
CHAPTER VII。 FINISHING THE WORK Rutledge and his associates on the committee of detail accomplished so much in such a short time that it seems as if they must have worked day and night。 Their efforts marked a distinct stage in the development of the Constitution。 The committee left no records； but some of the members retained among their private papers drafts of the different stages of the report they were framing； and we are therefore able to surmise the way in which the committee proceeded。 Of course the members were bound by the resolutions which had been adopted by the Convention and they held themselves closely to the general principles that had been laid down。 But in the elaboration of details they seem to have begun with the Articles of Confederation and to have used all of that document that was consistent with the new plan of government。 Then they made use of the New Jersey Plan； which had been put forward by the smaller States； and of a third plan which had been presented by Charles Pinckney； for the rest they drew largely upon the State Constitutions。 By a combination of these different sources the committee prepared a document bearing a close resemblance to the present Constitution； although subjects were in a different order and in somewhat different proportions； which； at the end of ten days； by working on Sunday； they were able to present to the Convention。 This draft of a constitution was printed on seven folio pages with wide margins for