Compromising Quotes

June 29, 1787. Oliver Ellsworth.

“We were partly national, partly federal. The proportional representation in the first branch was conformable to the national principle, and would secure the large States against the small. An equality of voices was conformable to the federal principle, and was necessary to

secure the small States against the large.”

• Great Compromise

• 3/5 Compromise

• Presidential Election Compromise

• Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise

May 30, 1787. James Madison.

“Whatever reason might have existed for the equality of suffrage when the Union was a federal one among sovereign States, it must cease when a national Governmt. should be put into the place.”

• Great Compromise

• 3/5 Compromise

• Presidential Election Compromise

• Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise

July 11, 1787. Gouverneur Morris.

“For [I] could never agree to give such encouragement to the slave trade as would be given by allowing them a representation for their negroes, and [I] did not believe those States would ever confederate on terms that would deprive them of that trade.”

• Great Compromise

• 3/5 Compromise

• Presidential Election Compromise

• Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise

August 21, 1787. Oliver Ellsworth.

“[I am] for leaving the clause as it stands. Let every State import what it pleases. The morality or wisdom of slavery are considerations belonging to the States themselves. What enriches a part enriches the whole, and the States are the best judges of their particular interest.”

• Great Compromise

• 3/5 Compromise

• Presidential Election Compromise

• Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise

August 22, 1787. John Rutledge.

“If the Convention thinks that N. C. S. C. & Georgia will ever agree to the plan, unless their right to import slaves be untouched, the expectation is vain. The people of those States will never be such fools as to give up so important an interest.”

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• 3/5 Compromise

• Presidential Election Compromise

• Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise

September 4, 1787.

Gouverneur Morris. “The 1st. was the danger of intrigue & faction if the appointmt. should be made by the Legislature. [...] 4. No body had appeared to be satisfied with an appointment by the Legislature. 5. Many were anxious even for an immediate choice by the people. 6. The indispensible necessity of making the Executive independent of the Legislature.”

• Great Compromise

• 3/5 Compromise

• Presidential Election Compromise

• Commerce/Slave Trade Compromise