Convention at Annapolis, Sept 11, 1786 216 Hamilton's address calling for a convention at Philadelphia 217 The impost amendment defeated by the action of New York; last ounce upon the camel's back 218–220 Sudden changes in popular sentiment 221 The Federal Convention meets at Philadelphia, May, 1787 222 Mr. Gladstone's opinion of the work of the convention 223 The men who were assembled there 224, 225 Character of James Madison 226, 227 The other leading members 228 Washington chosen president of the convention 229 CHAPTER VI. THE FEDERAL CONVENTION. Why the proceedings of the convention were kept secret for so many years 230 Difficulty of the problem to be solved 231 Symptoms of cowardice repressed by Washington's impassioned speech 232 The root of all the difficulties; the edicts of the federal government had operated only upon states, not upon individuals, and therefore could not be enforced without danger of war 233–233 The Virginia plan, of which Madison was the chief author, offered a radical cure 236 And was felt to be revolutionary in its character 237–239 Fundamental features of the Virginia plan 240, 241 How it was at first received 242 The House of Representatives must be directly elected by the people 243 Question as to the representation of states brings out the antagonism between large and small states 244 William Paterson presents the New Jersey plan; not a radical cure, but a feeble palliative 245 Straggle between the Virginia and New Jersey plans 246–249 The Connecticut compromise, according to which the national principle is to prevail in the House of Representatives, and the federal principle in the Senate, meets at first with fierce opposition 250, 251 But is at length adopted 252 And proves a decisive victory for Madison and his methods 253 A few irreconcilable members go home in dudgeon 254 But the small states, having been propitiated, are suddenly converted to Federalism, and make the victory complete 255 Vague dread of the future west 255 The struggle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery parties began in the convention, and was quieted by two compromises 256 Should representation be proportioned to wealth or to population? 257 Were slaves to be reckoned as persons or as chattels? 258 Attitude of the Virginia statesmen 259 It was absolutely necessary to satisfy South Carolina 260 The three fifths compromise, suggested by Madison, was a genuine English solution, if ever there was one 261 There was neither rhyme nor reason in it, but for all that, it was the best solution attainable at the time 262 The next compromise was between New England and South Carolina as to the foreign slave-trade and the power of the federal government over commerce 263 George Mason calls the slave-trade an "infernal traffic" 264 And the compromise offends and alarms Virginia 265 Belief in the moribund condition of slavery 266 The foundations of the Constitution were laid in compromise 267 Powers granted to the federal government 268