The Convention: Not Even A Prayer

Since June 11th, the Convention has been stuck on one question - will the representation in the proposed senate be equal (one state, one vote), or proportional? But now, the debates are becoming personal. James Madison will stoop to personal insults. Gunning Bedford (Delaware) will threaten to seek a foreign alliance. And Luther Martin will annoy everybody with his three-hour screed about States Rights and his body odor. Through it all, General Washington knows that those he believes to be demagogues are on the verge of destroying everything.  When the dust settles on Monday, July 2, 1787, one more vote will be taken on the matter. This time, if the small States lose, the Convention will almost certainly break up. But how can they win? The numbers arrayed against them are too strong and too committed to the big State ideal of proportional representation.  There is not even a prayer that they can prevail, or at least... not lose again. There doesn't seem to be any chance of saving the convention or avoiding the feared destruction of The United States of America.  With the clock ticking to the Independence Day celebrations, Ben Franklin will remind the delegates, that if He cares about the sparrow, that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel..."