The Written Word
for September 5, 1999

In 1787 a remarkable convention took place in Philadelphia Pennsylvania – remarkable not only for who was there but what they did.

After the Peace of Paris in 1781 had ended the Revolutionary War in the United States favour there remained the task of putting together a constitution. Around fifty – the number varied from time to time – white, well off men gathered in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, under the chairmanship of George Washington to construct a national constitution. Until that time the "nation" had operated under articles of confederation put together by the Continental Congress whose Chairman was sort of the President.

The issues faced were enormous. The country wasn’t a country at all – there was a world of difference between the merchants and artisans of Massachusetts and the planters of Virginia, the largest and most powerful of states. There was the question of slavery. States rights as opposed to federalism was a big issue. Should there be a king was even a question, it being assumed that Alexander Hamilton might like the idea and the post. The biggest question was how you put together a government where the big states would, if unimpeded, run the country as they pleased.

The men gathered under this roof, in a viciously hot summer – no air-conditioning one need scarcely add – were remarkable. The Morris brothers,

Robert and Governeur from Pennsylvania, Elbridge Gerry (of gerrymander fame) from Massachusetts, Alexander Hamilton from New York, James Madison the father of the constitution in legend, from Virginia and the Pinckneys from South Carolina. The conscience of the gathering and the man who forced the big compromise that saved the day was Benjamin Franklin from Pennsylvania. And of course, there was George Washington, with his enormous prestige, from Virginia. What was also remarkable was who was not there. Rhode Island refused to send any delegates. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were abroad as was the firebrand of the Revolution, Thomas (These are the times that test mens’ souls) Paine who was up to his ears in the French Revolution.

This story is told in a wonderful book, long out of print, called Miracle at Philadelphia by the eminent writer Catherine Drinker Bowen. If you can find a copy or borrow one from the Library, do so.

But this is not a book review nor an historical essay. My point here comes out of how this magical convention actually worked.

Going into the debates were several sets of resolutions but the most important one came out of Virginia. What the Virginia Resolutions did was to enable delegates to work off something. It was a guideline, a table of contents if you will. And by that function, a new constitution for the United States was born. And what a constitution it has turned out to be! Without any question, this is the most remarkable political document of all time.

This story is important for British Columbians who, more and more, are seeking changes to their own provincial constitution. The way we vote ensures that a minority will always have a majority of seats and it’s by no means certain that the largest minority will win – as witness the 1996 election. We have top down government with the Premier all powerful. There is an enormous sense of disconnection between voter and elected representative. Clearly, British Columbia could do with a total revamping of its constitution. If it did this, it would be an example to the entire country.

I propose this. Why couldn’t a group of British Columbians create its own Virginia Resolutions to be something a BC constitutional conference could work off? I’m not suggesting any more than a working paper that a constituent assembly to could approve in whole or in part, amend, or simply chuck out.

If we don’t change our ways in this country we’re going to be in a lot of trouble. The most politically aware province in the country with the possible exception of Quebec, is British Columbia. Why shouldn’t we be the leaders in reform?

Couldn’t we have a miracle of 2000 similar to the 1787 miracle in Philadelphia if we put our minds to it?

Shouldn’t we at least give it a try?