Here we are thinking about how we will elect our next President and members of Congress of the United States of America. But imagine that first Constitutional Convention where the original Constitution was still being debated and the method of electing the both houses of Congress was under consideration and debate.

There was very heated debate about this process. A constitution of this nature had never been debated, much less created. The members of the Convention did not agree on the method to ascertain who would be the new leaders of the new nation.

James Madison, now known as the Father of the Constitution, had one idea, and many of the other representatives had different ideas. It almost came to a stalemate. It seemed that the smaller states were digging in their heels against the larger states.

One evening, after a tedious day of debate, George Washington, President of the Convention, took James Madison to listen to some music and to dine together. He told Madison that there was now a great need for some consensus among the delegates. There was a need now for harmony just as there is in music. They listened together to the harmony between the flutes and the string instruments. And commented on that.

Madison then said something like “history will not forgive us if both houses don’t represent the people.”

Washington then replied: “You persuaded me to come to this Convention, Mr. Madison. Here I am. I will not see this Convention crumble around me because the brightest and stubbornest of us will not yield the Senate to the smaller states.” This was an amazing compliment for the young Madison, who was only 36, and who had almost singlehandedly brought together this assembly.

Washington’s statement exemplified his own humility. Washington who was 55, and who had been asked to become King, and who would become the first President, referred to Madison as the “brightest.” Eventually Madison relented and accepted compromise. And we had a new Constitution.