* * * * *
On the morning following before the hour of the Convention a number of
the members from the larger States, by common agreement met for the
purpose of consulting on the proper steps to be taken in consequence of
the vote in favor of an equal Representation in the 2^d branch, and the
apparent inflexibility of the smaller States on that point. Several
members from the latter States also attended. The time was wasted in
vague conversation on the subject, without any specific proposition or
agreement. It appeared indeed that the opinions of the members who
disliked the equality of votes differed much as to the importance of
that point, and as to the policy of risking a failure of any general act
of the Convention by inflexibly opposing it. Several of them supposing
that no good Governm^t could or would be built on that foundation, and
that as a division of the convention into two opinions was unavoidable;
it would be better that the side comprising the principal States, and a
majority of the people of America, should propose a scheme of Gov^t to
the States, than that a scheme should be proposed on the other side,
would have concurred in a firm opposition to the smaller States, and in
a separate recommendation, if eventually necessary. Others seemed
inclined to yield to the smaller States, and to concur in such an Act
however imperfect & exceptionable, as might be agreed on by the
Convention as a body, tho' decided by a bare majority of States and by a
minority of the people of the U. States. It is probable that the result
of this consultation satisfied the smaller States that they had nothing
to apprehend from a Union of the larger, in any plan whatever ag^{st}
the equality of votes in the 2^d branch.