of Babel, and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another’s throats.  Thus I consent, sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure that it is not the best.  The opinions I have had of its errors I sacrifice to the public good.  I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad.  Within these walls they were born and here they shall die.  If every one of us, in returning to our constituents, were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavour to gain partisans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects and great advantages resulting naturally in our favour among foreign nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity.  Much of the strength and efficiency of any government, in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends on opinion—­on the general opinion of the goodness of the government as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors.  I hope, therefore, that for our own sakes, as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress and confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts and endeavours to the means of having it well administered.  On the whole, sir, I cannot help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it would, with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and, to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.

He then moved that the Constitution be signed by the members, and offered the following as a convenient form, viz.:  “Done in Convention by the unanimous consent of the States present the seventeenth of September, etc.  In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.”  This ambiguous form had been drawn up by Mr. Gouverneur Morris, in order to gain the dissenting members, and put into the hands of Doctor Franklin, that it might have the better chance of success. [Considerable discussion followed, Randolph and Gerry stating their reasons for refusing to sign the Constitution.  Mr. Hamilton expressed his anxiety that every member should sign.  A few characters of consequence, he said, by opposing or even refusing to sign the Constitution, might do infinite mischief by kindling the latent sparks that lurk under an enthusiasm in favour of the Convention which may soon subside.  No man’s ideas were more remote from the plan than his own were known to be; but is it possible to deliberate between anarchy and convulsion on one side, and the chance of good to be expected from the plan on the other?  This discussion concluded, the Convention voted that its journal and other papers should be retained by the President, subject to the order of Congress.] The members then proceeded to sign the Constitution as finally amended.  The Constitution being signed by all the members except Mr. Randolph, Mr. Mason, and Mr. Gerry, who declined giving it the sanction of their names, the Convention dissolved itself by an adjournment sine die.