Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
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Source: July 1987 Volume 25 Number 3, Pages 97–98

On Ratifying the Constitution

Brian Zagol

Page 97

[Note: This article was one of four winning entries in this year's annual American History Essay contest sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution for students in grades five through eight. In this year's contest the pupils were asked to assume the identity of one of the signers of the Constitution and to write a letter to the editor of a newspaper urging the ratification of the Constitution in behalf of his state.]

September 7, 1787

Dear Editor:

"If I had a vein which did not beat with the love of my country, I myself would open it. If I had a drop of blood that could flow dishonorably, I myself would let it out."

I said this to the British when I was held prisoner during the war, and I say it now when the future of our country is again at stake.

I served under General George Washington when he led us to victory in our war for freedom. I am serving under him again, now, when, as President of the Constitutional Convention, he is leading us to preserve that freedom.

Page 98

We must correct the defects of the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles, our central government cannot act for our nation as a whole, or provide for our common welfare and defense. The country cannot pay its debts. We are in danger of becoming 13 separate independent countries. States are arguing among themselves and passing their own laws. If we do not correct the mistakes of the Articles of Confederation, we could lose our freedom, our prosperity and our union.

The Constitution will correct the defects of the Confederation, and will form a better union. The Constitution will establish a representative form of government with representation based on both population and property. The Constitution will provide for a central government with specific powers granted by the people. The Constitution will provide for "checks and balances" between the federal government and states, between large states and small states, between northern states and southern states, and between the government and the people. The Constitution will create a strong central government that can act for the union in dealings with foreign countries, can provide for a common defense and can promote prosperity.

The price we paid to win our freedom 10 years ago was blood. The price we must pay now, to preserve our freedom, our liberty and our union, is a willingness to compromise and to put the interests of the nation ahead of local interests. My fellow delegates and I went to the convention with the self interests of our separate states and regions in mind. But we also attended knowing that our individual interests could only be achieved if we were willing to compromise in the interest of the union. John Rutledge of South Carolina and Abraham Baldwin of Gerogia served on the committee I suggested to break the representation deadlock. Small states agreed to representation based on population in one house of Congress, and large states agreed to equal representation in the other. I argued that slaves should count in determining representation, but I agreed to counting slaves as three-fifths of a free person. Because of Rutledge's and my efforts, slavery will continue, but we agreed to stopping the importation of slaves in 1808. I worked to prevent the taxation of cotton, silk, hemp, wines and other exports, but I agreed to a ten dollar import tax on each slave. For the good of the nation, these compromises are reasonable.

We need a strong national government, but not too strong. We need a national government in which all interests are represented, but no one interest has control. We need a national government of the people, but in a representative form. We need the national government established by the Constitution.

We must ratify the Constitution. The future of our country, our children and our children's children depends on it!

For freedom, for liberty, for union,
General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney