<P> At the time of the convention, the South was growing more quickly than the North, and Southern states had the most extensive Western claims . South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia were small in the 1780s, but they expected growth, and thus favored proportional representation . New York was one of the largest states at the time, but two of its three representatives (Alexander Hamilton being the exception) supported an equal representation per state, as part of their desire to see maximum autonomy for the states . (The two representatives other than Hamilton had left the convention before the representation issue was resolved, leaving Hamilton, and New York State, without a vote .) </P> <P> James Madison and Hamilton were two of the leaders of the proportional representation group . Madison argued that a conspiracy of large states against the small states was unrealistic as the large states were so different from each other . Hamilton argued that the states were artificial entities made up of individuals, and accused small state representatives of wanting power, not liberty (see History of the United States Senate). </P> <P> For their part, the small state representatives argued that the states were, in fact, of a legally equal status, and that proportional representation would be unfair to their states . Gunning Bedford, Jr. of Delaware notoriously threatened on behalf of the small states, "the small ones w (ould) find some foreign ally of more honor and good faith, who will take them by the hand and do them justice ." </P> <P> Elbridge Gerry ridiculed the small states' claim of sovereignty, saying "that we never were independent States, were not such now, & never could be even on the principles of the Confederation . The States & the advocates for them were intoxicated with the idea of their sovereignty ." </P>

When creating the constitution what plan favored the large states