NY Ratification Convention Debates (June 20, 1788) - New York Packet (June 24, 1788)

"So punctual has the attendance of the members of the Convention been, that they made a house on Tuesday, and after settling their plans, for the regular transacting of the business, it was on Thursday opened by the Chancellor [Robert R. Livingston], with an eloquent speech, which lasted one hour. Yesterday the business of the day was opened by Mr. Lansing, with some observations on the Chancellor's speech.

Debates ensued, in which the Chancellor, Mr. Smith and Mr. Lansing, were principals; they then proceeded to read the Constitution. The first objections were stated by Mr. Smith, with a long and labored introduction. The American Cicero [Alexander Hamilton] then arose, the force of whose eloquence and reasoning were irresistable. The objections that were made vanished before him; he remained an hour and twenty minutes on the floor; after which Mr. Smith, with great candor, got up, and after some explanations, confessed that Mr. Hamilton had, by his reasoning, removed the objections he had made, respecting the apportioning, the representation, and direct taxes. That part of the Constitution with regard to the number of the representatives, is to be the subject of this day's debate.— Things seem to wear a favorable aspect— people on the federal side are sanguine; and several of the anti-federal members are not so prejudiced as we feared. Much, however, depends on the conduct of a few GREAT MEN."