James Madison to Martin Van Buren (May 13, 1828)

May 13 1828.

You will not I am sure, take it amiss if I here point to an error of fact, in your "observations on Mr. Foot's amendment." It struck me when first reading them, but escaped my attention -when thanking you for the copy with which you favored me.—The threatning contest, in the Convention of 1787. did not, as you supposed, turn on the degree of power to be granted to the Federal Govt: but on the rule by which the States should be represented and vote in the Govt: the smaller States insisting on the rule of equality in all respects; the larger on the rule of proportion to inhabitants: and the Compromize which ensued was that which established an equality in the Senate, and an inequality in the House of Representatives.

The contests &compromises, turning on the grants of power, tho' very important in some instances, were Knots of a less "Gordian" character.