ⅭⅩⅩⅨ.
OBSERVATIONS
on the
PLAN OF GOVERNMENT
submitted to the
FEDERAL CONVENTION,
In PHILADELPHIA, on the 28th of May, 1787.
Delegate from the State of South-Carolina.
Delivered at different Times in the course of their Discussions.
NEW-YORK:—Printed by FRANCIS CHILDS.[1]Mr. President,
It is, perhaps, unnecessary to state to the House the reasons which have given rise to this Convention. The critical and embarrassed situation of our public affairs is, no doubt, strongly impressed upon every mind. I well know, it is an undertaking of much delicacy, to examine into the cause of public disorders, but having been for a considerable time concerned in the administration of the Federal System, and an evidence of its weakness, I trust the indulgence of the House will excuse me, while I endeavor to state with conciseness, as well the motives which induced the measure, as what ought, in my opinion, to be the conduct of the convention.
There is no one, I believe, who doubts there is something particularly alarming in the present conjuncture. There is hardly a man, in, or out of office, who holds any other language. Our government is despised—our laws are robbed of their respected terrors—their inaction is a subject of ridicule—and their exertion, of abhorrence and opposition—rank and office have lost their rever-
- ↑ A reprint of the title-page. The text of the entire pamphlet is corrected from the copy of the original edition in the Library of the New York Historical Society.
From a letter of Madison (see ⅭⅩⅩⅩ below) it is evident that the pamphlet must have been printed before October 14. (It was also reprinted in the State Gazette of South Carolina, October 29—November 29, 1787,—see Jameson, Studies, p. 116, note.) The greater part of the document probably represents a speech prepared in advance by Pinckney to be delivered at the time of presenting his plan of government (See Professor McLaughlin’s explanation of the identity of this speech in the American Historical Review, Ⅸ, 735—741). The lateness of the hour on May 29 doubtless prevented this, but portions of the speech may have been used later in the debates of the Convention. This would account for the unusual wording of the title-page.
As modifications may have been made in the original draft, it has seemed advisable to print it here, rather than with the Records of May 29.
See further, Appendix D.
