Document H Source: Report of Rawlin Lowndes' speech to the South Carolina House of Representatives, debat- ing the adoption of the federal constitution (January 17, 1788) Mr. Lowndes expatiated some time on the nature of compacts... and solemnly called on the house to consider whether it would not be better to add strength to the old Confederation, instead of hastily adopting another; asking whether a man could be looked on as wise, who, possessing a magnificent building, upon discovering a flaw, instead of repairing the injury, should pull it down, and build another. Indeed, he could not understand with what propriety the Convention proceeded to change the Confederation; for every person with whom he had conversed on this subject con- curred in opinion that the sole object of appointing a convention was to inquire what alterations were necessary in the Confederation, in order that it might answer those salutary purposes for which it was originally intended.... Mr. Lowndes concluded a long speech with a glowing eulogy on the old Confederation....

Document H Source: Report of Rawlin Lowndes' speech to the South Carolina House of Representatives, debat- ing the adoption of the federal constitution (January 17, 1788) Mr. Lowndes expatiated some time on the nature of compacts... and solemnly called on the house to consider whether it would not be better to add strength to the old Confederation, instead of hastily adopting another; asking whether a man could be looked on as wise, who, possessing a magnificent building, upon discovering a flaw, instead of repairing the injury, should pull it down, and build another. Indeed, he could not understand with what propriety the Convention proceeded to change the Confederation; for every person with whom he had conversed on this subject con- curred in opinion that the sole object of appointing a convention was to inquire what alterations were necessary in the Confederation, in order that it might answer those salutary purposes for which it was originally intended.... Mr. Lowndes concluded a long speech with a glowing eulogy on the old Confederation....