George Washington was chosen President of the Convention. 乔治·华盛顿当选为国会总统，

　　He made few speeches. But the speeches that he made were very important. 他很少做演讲，但是他的演讲非常重要，

　　And the mere fact that he approved the Constitution had a tremendous influence throughout the country. 单单他批准宪法这个事实就在全国产生了巨大影响。

　　The oldest man in the Convention was Benjamin Franklin. 本杰明·富兰克林是参加大会人员中年龄最大的，

　　His long experience in politics and in diplomacy with his natural shrewdness had made him an unrivaled manager of men. 他有与生俱来的机敏，漫长的政治和外交生涯使得他在人事管理方面无以匹敌。

　　From all the states came able men. 各州都派来了有才干的人，

　　In fact, with the exception of John Adams, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson, the strongest men in political life were in the Federal Convention. 实际上，除了约翰·亚当斯、萨缪尔·亚当斯、帕特里克·亨利和托马斯·杰斐逊，处在政治生涯巅峰的人都在参加联邦大会。

　　Never in the history of the world have so many great political leaders, learned students of politics, and shrewd business men gathered together. 在世界历史上从来没有这么多伟大的领袖、政治新锐和商界巨子聚集到一起，

　　The result of their labors was the most marvelous product of political wisdom that the world has ever seen. 他们共同完成的是一项最了不起的政治智慧结晶，这一点举世公认。

　　181. Plans for a National Government. 181．国民政府计划

　　As soon as the Convention was in working order, Governor Randolph of Virginia presented Madison's plan for a "national" government. 大会进入日程，弗吉尼亚的理事就立刻提出麦迪逊建设"国民"政府的计划。

　　Charles Pinckney of South Carolina also brought forward a plan. 南卡罗莱纳的查理斯·平克尼也提出一个计划，

　　His scheme was more detailed than was Madison's plan. 他的计划方案比之麦迪逊计划要更加详细，

　　But, like it, it provided for a government with "supreme legislative, executive, and judicial powers." 但是与麦迪逊计划相似，这个计划提出一个有"最高立法权、行政权和司法权"的政府。

　　On May 30 the Convention voted that a "national government ought to be established, consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary." 5月30日，大会投票决定"应该建立一个国民政府，它以最高立法权、行政权和司法权"为主要特征，

　　It next decided that the legislative department should consist of two houses. 接着，大会决定立法机关应该由两个议院构成，

　　But when the delegates began to talk over the details, they began to disagree. 但是，当开始具体讨论时，代表们也开始意见不一。