Tempest at Dawn (31 page)

Governor Clinton ran the most corrupt
government in the nation and shamelessly used his delegation to
guard his interests. New York City was the center of government and
a hotbed for western land speculation. The two were intertwined,
and the governor bribed legislators with participation in his
elaborate deals. Clinton was an astute politician and had the
foresight to see that a new government might move the capital away
from his fondling hands.

Paterson followed. “I’ve already given my
sentiments on Randolph’s plan and will avoid repetition.”

Madison noticed with irritation that both
Lansing and Paterson referred to it as Randolph’s plan. Following
the approving vote earlier in the week, Madison believed it
rightfully should be called the Federal Convention Plan.

Paterson continued, “The New Jersey Plan
remains faithful to our instructions and the sentiments of the
people. If the confederacy is mortally flawed, let’s return to
Congress and ask for larger powers, not assume them. If
proportional representation is so right, then why do we vote here
with one vote per state?”

Wilson, normally reserved, jumped up and
nearly shouted, “The larger states conceded the point, not because
it was right, but because it was the only way to gather the states
into this chamber.”

“
Are you now at liberty to take it
back?” Paterson shouted back. “This convention doesn’t have the
authority to change equal sovereignty.”

Wilson compared the two plans as if he were
presenting a lesson.

“
In the Virginia Plan, there are two
branches in the legislature. In the New Jersey Plan, a single
house.

“
The people provide the base for one.
State legislatures pillar the other.

“
Proportional representation in one.
Equal state suffrage in the other.

“
A single executive heads one. A
plurality in the other.

“
In the one, the national legislature
makes laws in all cases to which the states are incompetent. In the
other, Congress has limited authority.

“
In one, a veto of state laws. In the
other, no veto.

“
In one, the executive can be removed
by impeachment and conviction. In the other, the executives are
removable by a majority of the state executives.

“
Revision of the laws provided for in
one. No such check in the other.

“
Finally, ratification by the people
versus ratification by the states.”

Wilson stood a moment to let the comparison
hang in the chamber.

“
Gentlemen, this comparison speaks for
itself. The plan of New Jersey vests executive power in a
plurality, a grievous error. Three men will fight until one becomes
the master. In the triumvirates of Rome, first Caesar, then
Augustus, witnessed this truth. The kings of Sparta and the consuls
of Rome prove the factious consequences of dividing the
executive.

“
I also wish to address this absurd
notion that we lack authority. Gentlemen, we are authorized to
conclude nothing—but are at liberty to propose anything.

“
As for the sentiments of the people,
how are we to know? We commonly mistake those in our circle for the
general voice. Why should a national government be unpopular? Has
it less dignity? Will citizens enjoy less liberty? Will becoming a
citizen of the United States debase a citizen of
Delaware?

“
Gentlemen, place the plans on a
scale. The New Jersey Plan is light as air.”

Enthusiastic applause burst from the large
state tables, while the small state proponents sat with frozen
expressions.

Mason challenged Paterson directly. “Explain to me,
Mr. Paterson, will the militia march from state to state to collect
taxes?” Mason turned to the entire assembly. “Not even despots
decree death to punish tax delinquents. And make no mistake, the
bayonet does not discriminate between the innocent and the
guilty.”

Mason sat to the same distribution of applause, and
then Madison cringed to see Pinckney gain the floor.

“
The whole comes to this: give New Jersey an
equal vote, and she’ll forget her scruples. Withhold an equal vote,
and she’ll sacrifice our great nation.” Pinckney stared directly at
Paterson. “I can’t imagine greater selfishness.”

Edmund Randolph looked nervous but evidently
felt the need to defend the Randolph plan. “Some accuse us of
treason, but it would be treason to not propose what is necessary
to save our nation. There’re seasons when we must dispense with
caution and the present moment is favorable—and the last
available.”

As the meeting adjourned, Madison thought
the session had gone better than expected. Except for Pinckney’s
insults, debate had been mostly polite. As he gathered up his
things, Robert Morris came over and whispered, “Please join us at
my home, immediately.”

Before Madison looked up, Morris had
passed on to greet another delegate. Madison knew
immediately
meant without a stop at
the Indian Queen to lighten his load and freshen up. Whatever was
being schemed, he was grateful to be included.

Dickinson wandered over next. “Mr. Madison,
I presume you see the consequence of pushing things too far.”

“
I fear the consequences of not
pushing things far enough.”

“
If we can’t come to a mutual
understanding, we’ll be stuck in this stuffy chamber all summer.”
Dickinson looked over to the sealed windows and then at Madison.
“I’d rather be home.”

“
As would I.”

“
Mr. Madison, please understand, some
small state members support a strong national
government.”

“
Then it should be easy for you to
vote against the New Jersey Plan.”

“
We’d sooner submit to a foreign power
than be deprived of equal suffrage in both houses of the
legislature. You must yield on at least one house.”

“
Republican principles dictate
proportional representation.”

“
No one dictates to this
convention.”

“
A poor choice of words, but my
meaning was clear. You have no principled justification for equal
votes.”

“
Our survival provides justification
enough.”

“
No one threatens your survival. I
tire of all this talk about the big states wanting to devour you.”
Madison rapped his knuckles against the table. “Mr. Dickinson, I’d
appreciate it if you would arrest your suspicions”

“
We’ll check our paranoia when we see
our views respected. You ramrod this convention. Your deeds feed
our fears.”

“
Paterson was given an opportunity to
present his plan. Respect doesn’t mean capitulation.”

“
Your stubbornness astounds
me.”

“
You utter my exact words.”

The two men stared at each other, all
civility discarded. Finally, Dickinson whirled and marched out of
the chamber. The formal debate had lacked emotion, but Madison saw
that rage simmered below the surface. Why couldn’t they see reason?
Sound principles demanded proportional representation, but logic
persuaded no one. Everyone stood in the exact spot in which they
had arrived.

Madison knocked on the door of the Morris
home. A servant led him to the parlor used by men when they
retreated after a meal. Morris, Washington, and Franklin sat in the
comfortable room smoking pipes and sipping port.

Following recent discoveries and excavations
abroad, the room had been decorated in the Herculaneum- and
Pompeii-inspired neoclassical style. The yellow wallpaper employed
a Doric column pattern, and a geometric rug in indigo covered the
wide-plank floor. Charles Willson Peale and John Singleton Copley
portraits flanked a fireplace carved with Greek relief figures.
Expensive European furniture accented the room, and a cane daybed
imported from China rested against one wall.

“
Come in, come in,” Morris said.
“We’ve been waiting for you.”

“
I’m sorry for the delay. Dickinson
held me up.”

“
What’d he want?”

“
Unconditional surrender.”

“
Our boys were feeling their oats
today. Never mind, we have some plans of our own.”

Madison poured a glass of port from a
sideboard. As he took a wing chair, a garish new painting over the
mantle startled him. The colors were bright pastels, with frothy
lines, curlicues, and vivid flowers. The contrast with the room’s
classical formality made it look out of place.

“
You have a new painting,” Madison
said.

“
Do you like it?”

“
I’ve never seen anything like
it.”

“
It’s in the French rococo style. A
fashion popular before neoclassical, but it appeals to my prurient
spirit. This one is by François Boucher.”

“
Quite interesting.”

Morris laughed uproariously. “Quite tactful,
Jemmy. Tell me, what do you really think?”

“
To tell the truth, it looks
feminine.”

“
Ha, right you are. The general shares
your opinion.”

“
Then may I ask why you display it in
the parlor?”

“
Because it’s scandalous, my boy.
You’re supposed to read sexual innuendo into the symbolism. The
garlands of flowers, baskets, and hats represent the female
anatomy. The flute, of course, symbolizes something quite the
opposite. No. We can’t have that out in front of the
ladies.”

“
The imagery escapes me.”

“
Because you don’t see with a
Frenchman’s eyes,” Franklin said. “That young damsel is luring
those two men into an amorous fling. Perhaps together.”

“
Together?”

“
Indeed,” Franklin
chuckled.

“
I’ve never heard of such a thing. You
must be mistaken.”

“
No, the good doctor knows the French
intimately. This dandy erotic piece cost me a large
sum.”

“
Money poorly spent. I believe the
artist merely painted an idyllic peasant picnic.”

“
You must stretch your
imagination.”

“
It refuses to stretch that
far.”

Everyone laughed, including Washington.
Madison felt uncomfortable with the conversation, so he asked a
question to change the subject.

“
Will Hamilton join us?”

“
No. You’ll see why in a moment,”
Washington said.

“
Jemmy, we’re in a quandary,” Franklin
said. “We must build broader support for the convention’s
plan.”

Madison became wary. Was Washington ready to
compromise?

“
If five states repudiate the
convention’s work, ratification will fail,” Washington
said

“
You’d sacrifice proportionality?”
Madison asked.

“
Nothing’s decided,” Morris
answered.

“
But you have a scenario you wish to
discuss.” Madison felt the seed of his apprehension
grow.

“
More like a finesse,” Washington
said. “Do you understand the need for a broad
consensus?”

“
I know we must seduce some small
states to support the plan. My guess is at least three to gain
credibility. Without that, we’ll surely suffer disharmony, possibly
war. I also know that logic and reason have gotten us
nowhere.”

“
You do understand. What you don’t
know is that New Hampshire may send a delegation.”

Madison froze. New Hampshire’s attendance
boded disaster. The six large states would be pitted against five
small states, plus possibly New York. Governor Clinton could
control the convention by causing a deadlock, then demanding an
enormous price to switch over to the large state side.

“
Rhode Island?”

“
Thankfully, no,” Morris
said.

“
Are you sure?”

“
I have sources,” Morris said. “The
Rhode Island legislature is so corrupt, it’s easy to buy
information. If need be, I can buy obstruction.”

“
Jemmy, we have to negotiate a middle
ground,” Washington said. “But a choice halfway between the two
plans looks appalling. We need a third plan.”

“
Not Pinckney’s?”

“
Oh, goodness no,” Franklin said, “I’d
forgotten about that one.”

“
He hasn’t,” Madison said. “He
demanded to present it again, just this morning.”

“
It is on the wrong side of the
Virginia Plan,” Franklin said. “We need something on the other
side.”

“
The other side?”

“
A limited monarchy,” Franklin said
with his twinkle.

“
A monarchy? That would be discarded
with contempt.”

“
We need something that makes our plan
look prudent,” Franklin said.

“
Who would propose such a thing?” The
silence of the three men answered the question. “Does Alex
know?”

Washington said, “We’ll have dinner
together.”

“
He may refuse.”

“
He’d never refuse me.”

“
There are risks,” Madison
said.

“
Yes, horrible risks,” Washington said
in mock terror. “I could be made king.”

“
Seriously, people might assume that
he speaks in your behalf.”