One last note from the Constitutional Convention:

As it stood on August 24, 1787, Article X, Section 1 of the Constitution read:

The Executive power of the U. S. shall be vested in a single person. His style shall be “The President of the U. S. of America” and his title shall be “His Excellency.” He shall be elected by ballot by the Legislature. He shall hold his office during the term of seven years; but shall not be elected a second time.

Since everything was still on the table at this point, Daniel Carroll of Maryland proposed that the president be elected by the people, rather than by Congress.

Mr. Carroll moved to strike out “by the Legislature” and insert “by the people.” Mr. Wilson seconded him & on the question.

This proposal was— as we all know —

defeated.

N. H. no. Massts no. Cont no. N. J. no. Pa ay. Del. ay. Md no. Va no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no.

There was still a lot of work to do.

I don’t know if today’s citizens realize how much horse-trading went on.

A president with “one un-reelectable term of seven years” was traded for “reelectable terms of four years each” [along with other concessions on both sides, such as giving the president the ability to appoint justices — but then only with the consent of the Senate] in order to obtain a president elected by the people, not Congress.

The negotiations were very heated, and lasted for months . . . hot summer months, in a room with windows closed tightly to keep out the flies; with no air conditioning, no electric fans, no carpeting, heavy woolen clothing, and wooden chairs.

People tend to think of the “Miracle in Philadelphia” as more or less a given, when the outcome was anything but. Many states and representatives threatened to (and did) boycott the proceedings.  Rhode Island never participated.  Many then tried to block the ratification of the Constitution once it was hashed out.  Was it worth all the effort?

The years since have rendered a verdict.  And the Democrats are now voicing theirs.