Madison’s Notes: Analytical Table of Contents (Elliot ed.)
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Source: The debates in the several state conventions on the adoption of the federal Constitution, as recommended by the general convention at Philadelphia, in 1787. Together with the Journal of the federal convention, Luther Martin’s letter, Yates’s minutes, Congressional opinions, Virginia and Kentucky resolutions of ‘98-‘99, and other illustrations of the Constitution … 2d ed., with considerable additions. Collected and rev. from contemporary publications, by Jonathan Elliot. Pub. under the sanction of Congress. (1836), 5 vols.
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CONTENTS.
DEBATES IN THE CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATION, FROM NOVEMBER 4, 1782, TO JUNE 21, 1783; AND FROM FEBRUARY 19 TO APRIL 25, 1787.
[The page numbers refer to the original edition of the book and can be viewed in the facsimile PDF version of the title.]
Monday, November 4, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Elias Boudinot chosen president—Letters from Gen. Washington, Mr. Carmichael, at St. Ildefonso, and Mr. Laurens, at Nantz.
Tuesday, November 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Resolution authorizing Gen. Washington to obtain the exchange of two foreign officers, passed without due consideration, reconsidered—Remarks of Mr. Madison.
Thursday, November 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The resolution referred to above repealed—Motion by Mr. Osgood to fill the vacancy in the Court of Appeals—Opposed by Mr. Duane on the ground of economy—Arguments for and against the motion—Debate on the report of the committee on the case of Capt. Asgill—Debate on the question of making a demand on Gen. Carleton, to fulfil his engagement to pursue the authors of Capt. Huddy’s murder.
Friday, November 8, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Second vote on the preceding question—Motion by Mr. Rutledge directing retaliation for acts of cruelty—Reasons for and against it—Letter from Gen. Carleton.
Tuesday, November 12, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Mr. Jefferson reappointed minister plenipotentiary for negotiating peace—Motion by Mr. Rutledge relative to business in the departments.
Thursday, November 14, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Proceedings on the report of the committee relative to Vermont.
Wednesday, November 20, . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The report on memorials from the legislature of Pennsylvania, to provide for debts to her own citizens considered—Motion by Mr. Rutledge for the committee to report the best mode of liquidating the domestic debts, and of obtaining a valuation of land within the several states—Committee appointed to report a scheme for a valuation.
Thursday, November 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Report on the salaries of foreign ministers—Reasons for and against reduction—Motion by Mr. Howell, to defray the expense of temporary corps employed for the United States—By the same, relative to the communication of intelligence with foreign ministers.
Friday, November 22, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Motion for the ratification of the exchange of Lord Cornwallis for Mr. Laurens-Reasons for and against it.
Monday, November 25, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Letter from the governor of Rhode Island, containing evidence of intrigues of the enemy in Vermont—Motion for the ratification of the exchange of Lord Cornwallis resumed.
Tuesday, November 26, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Report from the superintendent of finance, respecting credits to the states of New Hampshire and Massachusetts—Motion by Mr. Osgood on the subject—The matter debated.
Wednesday, November 27, . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The letter from the governor of Rhode Island about Vermont considered and debated.
Thursday, November 28, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Resignation of Mr. Livingston, secretary for foreign affairs—Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Jay spoken of.
Monday, December 2, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Resignation of the secretary for foreign affairs.
Tuesday, December 3, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Resolution relative to Mr. Livingston—Report of the committee in the case of Vermont.
Wednesday, December 4, . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Motion respecting Paul Jones—Promotion by districts—Committee to confer with a committee of the legislature of Pennsylvania, relative to the memorials from that state—Minutes of the conference.
Thursday, December 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Election of judges of appeals—Resolutions respecting Vermont considered.
Friday, December 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Ordinance extending the franking privilege to the heads of departments discussed—Motion relative to statements by a member in a Boston newspaper—Motions of Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Rutledge, requiring compliance with the requisitions of Congress, for funds to pay the interest of the domestic debt, and defraying the expenses of the ensuing year—Objections—Deputation to Rhode Island.
Saturday, December 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Meeting of the grand committee on the old paper emissions—Plan reported by the sub-committee agreed to—Discussion on the rate of depreciation—Opposition to the rates by the southern delegates.
Tuesday, December 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Motion directing the secretary of war to deliver the resolutions relative to Vermont—Reasons for and against—Motion for determining finally the affair of Vermont.
Wednesday, December 11, . . . . . . . . . . 15
Secretary of war authorized to permit the British prisoners to hire themselves out—The transmission of the resolutions concerning Vermont.
Thursday, December 12, . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Report by the committee touching the publication in the Boston paper.
Friday, December 13, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Mr. Howell’s acknowledgment of the authorship of the letter in the Providence Gazette.
Monday, December 16, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Passage of the answer to the objections by Rhode Island as to the impost.
Tuesday, December 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
The affair of Mr. Howell.
Wednesday, December 18, . . . . . . . . . . 15
Discussion on the case of Mr. Howell—Character of his protest, and the indignation excited thereby.
Friday, December 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Debate on Mr. Hamilton’s motion for revising the requisitions of the preceding and present years—Mode of transmitting to the executive of Rhode Island the several acts of Congress, with a state of foreign loans.
Saturday, December 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Report of the committee to confer with Mr. Livingston to prevail with him to serve till the spring.
Monday, December 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Letters from Dr. Franklin, Mr. Jay, and the Marquis de la Fayette—Embarkation of the French troops for the West Indies.
Tuesday, December 24, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Letter of Mr. Jay, with a copy of the intercepted letter from Marbois, laid before Congress—Remarks thereon—Letter of Mr. Pendleton to Mr. Madison, stating the repeal, by the legislature of Virginia, of her law for the impost—The departure of the deputation to Rhode Island suspended until the further order of Congress—Motion by Mr. Rutledge against salvage for recaptures on land—Passed by compromise as reported by the committee—Report of the grand committee with respect to the old paper money.
Monday, December 30, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Mr. Clark’s motion to exempt ministers from control of France in negotiations for peace—Reasons for and against—Postponed—Letter of Dr. Franklin on commercial reciprocity referred—Contract of Gen. Wayne with British individuals, confirmed with great reluctance.
Tuesday, December 31, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Report on Mr. Madison’s motion, instructing the ministers plenipotentiary to obtain commercial reciprocity and trade with the West Indies—Passed unanimously.
Wednesday, January 1, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Decision of the controversy between Connecticut and Pennsylvania reported—Vote of thanks to Count Rochambeau.
Friday, January 3, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Vote of thanks to the minister of France repealed by his desire—Answer to the note of the French minister passed unanimously—Proceedings of the court in the dispute between Connecticut and Pennsylvania, entered on the Journals.
Monday, January 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Memorial from the army laid before Congress—Debate on the plan of a consular convention with France—Subject postponed—Conference of the grand committee with the superintendent of finance.
Tuesday, January 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Conference of the grand committee with Mr. Morris.
Wednesday, January 8, Thursday, January 9, and Friday, January 10, . . . . 21
Debate on the report for valuation of land—Letter from the superintendent of finance, and special committee appointed to confer and report—Conference of the committee—Mr. Peters’s report relative to secrecy of proceedings—Discussion on the report on the mode of valuation of land, continued.
Monday, January 13, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Report on the valuation of land, referred to a grand committee—Discussion on the motion to make further loans—Audience by the grand committee to the deputies of the army—Sub-committee appointed.
Tuesday, January 14, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Meeting and discussion of the grand committee on the valuation of land.
Wednesday, January 15, . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Evacuation of Charleston.
Friday, January 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Misrepresentations in South Carolina of European negotiation—Report of the committee on foreign loans—Vote of thanks to Gen. Greene—Mr. Webster and Mr. Judd.
From Friday, 17, to Tuesday, January 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Letters from Mr. Adams, relative to siege of Gibraltar, and the treaty of commerce with Holland.
Thursday, January 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Report of committee on treaty with Holland—Purchase of books for the use of Congress discussed.
Friday, January 24, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Violation of passports by citizens of Pennsylvania—Committee confer with the governor—Letter from the superintendent of finance—Discussion thereon—Memorial from the army.
Saturday, January 25, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Ratification of the contract with France—Discussion of the army memorial resumed.
Monday, January 27, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Death of Lord Stirling—Vermont—Army memorial—Resolution in favor of adequate revenue discussed—Resolution of Virginia repealing impost.
Tuesday, January 28, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Subject of permanent revenue resumed.
Wednesday, January 29, . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Treaty with Holland, and its inaccuracies—Permanent revenue—Debate thereon.
Thursday, January 30, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Decision on memorials from the legislature of Pennsylvania.
Friday, January 31, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Instructions to the Virginia delegates, relative to tobacco exported under flags—Valuation of land—Report to Congress taken up.
Tuesday, February 4, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Remonstrance from Vermont—Report proposing a commutation for the half-pay due the army taken up—Letter from Mr. Samuel Adams—Valuation of land.
Wednesday, February 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Rule of voting—Amendments proposed to the report on the valuation of land.
Friday, February 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Reconsideration of the report.
Saturday, February 8, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Discussion on the valuation of land continued.
Monday, February 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Report on Virginia resolutions relative to tobacco exported.
Tuesday, February 11, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Discussion on the valuation of land—Referred to a special committee.
Wednesday, February 12, . . . . . . . . . . . 49
General revenue—Discussion continued—Impost.
Thursday, February 13, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Impost—Violation of passport by seizure of goods for prisoners of war—Speech of the king of Great Britain.
Friday, February 14, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Mr. Jefferson’s mission suspended.
Monday, February 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Report on the valuation lost—Revived—Adopted.
Tuesday, February 18, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Committee of the whole on general revenue—Letter from Mr. William Lee, at Ghent.
Wednesday, February 19, . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Impost, and debate thereon.
Thursday, February 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Motion for limiting the impost to twenty-five years—Decision—The goods seized under passport—Resolution relative to.
Friday, February 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Revival of the discussion on general revenue.
Tuesday, February 25, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Discussion on the motion to refer the officers for half-pay to their respective states.
Wednesday, February 26, . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Refugees in the state of Delaware—Continued debate on the valuation of land—Letter from Mr. Morris relative to his purpose of resigning.
Thursday, February 27, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Report of committee on Mr. Morris’s letter—Reconsideration of the subject of half-pay—Addition of specific duties to the impost proposed—Debate thereon.
Friday, February 28, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Motion by Mr. Wolcott to refer the half-pay to the states—Duty on wine.
Monday, March 3, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Specific duties reported.
Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Abatement of the quotas of certain states—Motion to arrange the department of finance—Attack on, and defence of, Mr. Morris.
Thursday, March 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Report of the committee on revenue ordered to be printed.
Friday, March 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Printed reports delivered to the members—Resolutions contained in the report.
Monday, March 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Report on commutation of half-pay.
Tuesday, March 11, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Impost and specific duties—Appointment of collectors.
Wednesday, March 12, Thursday, 13, Friday, 14, and Saturday, 15, . . . . 65
Despatches brought by Capt. Barney read—Preliminary articles of peace—American ministers.
Monday, March 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Letter from Gen. Washington, enclosing two inflammatory exhortations to the army—Effect of this intelligence.
Tuesday, March 18, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Amendments of the report on specific duties—Letter from the secretary for foreign affairs relative to West Florida.
Wednesday, March 19, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Letter from the superintendent of finance—Dr. Franklin—Count de Vergennes—Conduct of American ministers towards France discussed.
Thursday, March 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Instructions of Virginia relative to confiscated property—Resolutions of Pennsylvania relative to British debts—General revenue.
Friday, March 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Revenue report considered.
Saturday, March 22, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Letter from Gen. Washington—His address to the convention of officers—Licenses to whalers—Report on the conduct of American ministers in France—Debate.
Monday, March 24, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Intelligence of peace sent by La Fayette—Letter from Gen. Carleton received through Gen. Washington—Injunction of secrecy debated.
Wednesday, March 26, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Communication by the minister of France, on the finances and negotiations of the two countries.
Thursday, March 27, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
General revenue taken up—Amendments.
Friday, March 28, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Proportion of slaves to freemen—Vote—Arguments for various rates—Main question.
Saturday, March 29, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Examination of department of finance.
Monday, March 31, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Letter from the governor of Rhode Island—Mr. Howell—Cessation of hostilities on account of the signing of the general preliminaries—American cruisers—Gen. Carleton’s refusal discussed.
Tuesday, April 1, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Report on general revenue—Discussion continued—State conventions—Rate of slaves agreed to.
Wednesday, April 2, Thursday, April 3, Friday, April 4, Saturday, April 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Grand committee on the report on revenue—Committee appointed in consequence of the declaration of peace—Their duties.
Monday, April 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Number allotted by the grand committee to the states—Letter from Gen. Washington on peace.
Tuesday, April 8, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Debt of the United States estimated—Report on revenue.
Wednesday, April 9, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Memorial from Gen. Hazen on behalf of the Canadians—Discussion on a motion to refer to a select committee the subject of western lands—Drawback on salt fish.
Thursday, April 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Letters from Gen. Carleton and Admiral Digby—Letters from Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams—Peace—The secretary of foreign affairs reports a proclamation to Congress—Prisoners of war directed to be discharged.
Friday, April 11, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Proclamation of the secretary of foreign affairs discussed.
Saturday, April 12, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Letter received from Mr. Dana—Remarks thereon—Consideration of the report of the secretary of foreign affairs.
Monday, April 14, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Report of the committee on the ratification of the preliminary articles—Considerations of the committee for recommending a postponement of the decision of Congress.
Tuesday, April 15, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Ratification of the articles.
Wednesday, April 16, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Mr. Hamilton’s views of the provisional articles.
Thursday, April 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Mr. Madison’s views to the adjustment of the revenue—Remarks—Vote.
Friday, April 18, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Termination of hostilities—Debate or the cessions of the states—Passage of the plan of revenue.
Monday, April 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Motion relative to expenses incurred by individual states.
Wednesday, April 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Resolution permitting soldiers to retain their arms—Resolution for granting furloughs and discharges.
Saturday, April 26, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Address to the states, and to Rhode Island.
Monday, May 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Motion as to the vote on the loan from France.
Tuesday, May 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Indemnification of officers for damages—Proposal to erect a statue of Washington—Treaty of commerce with Great Britain referred to a committee.
Wednesday, May 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Resolution for indemnifying officers agreed to—Pay.
Thursday, May 8, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Delivery of slaves—Portrait of Don Galvez.
Friday, May 9, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Report on the occupation of posts postponed—Debate on the recommendation to restore confiscated property.
Wednesday, May 14, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Recommendation relative to the tories.
Thursday, May 15, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Report relating to the department of foreign affairs taken up.
Monday, May 19, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Debate on the report recommending provisions for tories.
Tuesday, May 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Debate on the proposal to discharge the troops—Laid on the table—Confiscated property.
Wednesday, May 21, Thursday, May 22, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Armed neutrality—Treaty of commerce with Russia.
Friday, May 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Report in favor of discharging the soldiers discussed.
Monday, May 26, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Passage of the resolutions for furloughing the troops, and instructing our ministers in Europe to remonstrate against the carrying off the negroes.
Thursday, May 29, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Report of the committee concerning interest on British debts, submitted and discussed.
Friday, May 30, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Debate on the report of the committee recommending the states to comply with certain of the provisional articles—Interest on British debts.
Wednesday, June 4, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Army certificates for land—Secretary of foreign affairs.
Friday, June 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Discussion of the report relating to the territorial cession of Virginia.
Monday, June 9, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
No quorum—Instruction received from New Jersey, in relation to the public lands.
Tuesday, June 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Cession of Virginia—Debate continued—Nominations for secretary of foreign affairs.
Thursday, June 12, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Instruction relative to neutral confederacy.
Friday, June 13, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Mutinous memorial from the sergeants received and read—Sent to the secretary of war.
Tuesday, June 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Consideration of the report relative to the department of finance.
Thursday, June 19, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Information received from the executive council of Pennsylvania, of mutinous proceedings in the army—Conference of a committee with the executive.
Friday, June 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Entrance of the soldiers, from Lancaster, into the city—Amendment to the report on the cession of Virginia—Discussion thereon continued.
Saturday, June 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Mutinous soldiers—Call made upon the executive of Pennsylvania—Conference by the committee—Congress resolves to meet at Trenton—Submission of the mutineers—Their leaders.
Monday, February 19, 1787, . . . . . . . . . 94
Insurrection in Massachusetts—Enlistment of troops by Congress—Motion to stop it rejected.
Wednesday, February 21, . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Report of the convention at Annapolis proposing a Federal Convention—New York delegates move for a convention—Views of different members—Congress sanction it.
Tuesday, March 13, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Refusal to remove the military stores from Springfield—Conference of Mr. Madison and Mr. Bingham with Mr. Guardoqui relative to the navigation of the Mississippi—Discontents in the western territory—Posts held by the British.
Tuesday, March 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Mr. Jay’s report relative to the effect of British treaty of peace—Obligations imposed on the states by treaties.
Wednesday, March 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Effect of treaties on the states.
Friday, March 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Proposal to reduce salaries—Civil list.
Wednesday, March 28, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Discontinuance of enlistments—Military establishment—Seizure of Spanish property by Gen. Clark—Representations of Virginia relative to disturbances in the western territory.
Thursday, March 29, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Ordinance for settlement of public accounts—Complaints from Illinois—Seizure of Spanish property by Gen. Clark—Unsettled state of the western territory—Navigation of the Mississippi—Conference of Virginia delegates with Mr. Guardoqui.
Friday, March 30, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Mr. Jay’s report on the admission of Mr. Bond as British consul—Subject postponed—Representations of North Carolina relative to discontents in the western territory—Navigation of the Mississippi—Negotiation between Mr. Jay and Mr. Guardoqui.
Monday, April 2, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Resolution to lay the negotiation between Mr. Jay and Mr. Guardoqui before Congress.
Tuesday, April 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Future seat of Congress.
Wednesday, April 11, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Future seat of Congress.
Wednesday, April 18, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Negotiation between Mr. Jay and Mr. Guardoqui—Motion to send Mr. Jefferson to Madrid—Referred to the secretary of foreign affairs.
Thursday, April 19, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Representations of Virginia relative to the navigation of the Mississippi.
Monday, April 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Mr. Jay’s report against sending Mr. Jefferson to Madrid.
Wednesday, April 25, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Motion that a vote of nine states is requisite to authorize suspension of the use of the Mississippi, not decided by Congress.
LETTERS OF MR. MADISON PRIOR TO THE CONVENTION OF 1787.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, February 25, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Congress sanction the Federal Convention—Embarrassment of the treasury—Prospect of disunion.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, March 11, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Appointments by states of delegates to the Federal Convention.
To Thomas Jefferson. New York, March 19, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Navigation of the Mississippi—Opinions of several states in regard to it.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, April 8, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Propositions in the Federal Convention expected from Virginia—Mr. Madison’s ideas of a federal constitution.
DEBATES IN THE FEDERAL CONVENTION, FROM MONDAY, MAY 14, 1787, UNTIL ITS FINAL ADJOURNMENT, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1787.
Introduction, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Confederacies—Meeting of colonial deputies at Albany in 1754—Congress of 1774—Declaration of independence—Articles of Confederation—Difficulties arising from the public lands, and duties on foreign commerce—Want of a permanent revenue—Resolution of Virginia for a convention—Meeting of the convention at Annapolis, in 1786—Recommends Federal Convention—Proceedings of Virginia and other states—Previous suggestions for a convention by Pelatiah Webster, Gen. Schuyler, Alexander Hamilton, Richard H. Lee, and Noah Webster—Defects to be provided for by a constitution—Mr. Madison’s sketch—Meeting of Federal Convention in 1787—Manner in which the reports of the debates were taken.
Friday, May 25, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Organization of Convention—Gen. Washington chosen president, and Maj. Jackson secretary—Delaware credentials—Committee on rules.
Monday, May 28, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Rules reported—No yeas and nays required—Vote by states—Letter from Rhode Island.
Tuesday, May 29, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Additional rules—Keeping of minutes—Convention goes into committee of the whole—Mr. Randolph submits fifteen propositions—His remarks—Propositions stated—Mr. Charles Pinckney submits a plan of a constitution—Plan stated.
Wednesday, May 30, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Mr. Randolph’s first proposition withdrawn, and a substitute offered—The proposed government to be national, and to consist of a legislature, executive, and judiciary.
Mr. Randolph’s second proposition—The right of suffrage in the national legislature, to be proportioned to the quotas of contribution, or the number of free inhabitants, as is best in different cases—Postponed.
Thursday, May 31, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Mr. Randolph’s third proposition—The national legislature to have two branches—Agreed to.
Mr. Randolph’s fourth proposition—First branch of the national legislature to be elected by the people—Agreed to—Qualifications, &c., of members of first branch—Postponed.
Mr. Randolph’s fifth proposition—Second branch of the national legislature to be chosen by the first branch, from nominations by state legislatures—Disagreed to—Qualifications of members of second branch—Not considered.
Mr. Randolph’s sixth proposition—Powers of the national legislature—Each branch to originate laws—Agreed to—National legislature to possess all the legislative powers of the Congress of the Confederation, to pass laws where state legislatures are incompetent, or where necessary to preserve harmony among the states, and to negative state laws contravening the articles of union or foreign treaties—Agreed to—The national legislature authorized to exert the force of the whole against a delinquent state—Postponed.
Friday, June 1, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Mr. Randolph’s seventh proposition—The national executive to possess the executive powers of the Congress of the Confederation—Amended, to possess power to execute the national laws, and appoint to offices not otherwise provided for—Amendment agreed to—To be chosen for a term of—years—Amended, for seven years—Amendment agreed to—To be chosen by the national legislature—Postponed.
Saturday, June 2, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Mr. Randolph’s seventh proposition—The national executive to be chosen by the national legislature, resumed—Agreed to—To receive fixed compensation—Amended, to receive no salary, but expenses to be defrayed—Amendment postponed—To be ineligible a second time—Amended to be removable on impeachment—Clause and amendment agreed to—To consist of—persons—Postponed.
Monday, June 4, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Mr. Randolph’s seventh proposition—The national executive to consist of—persons, resumed—Amended, a single person—Agreed to.
Mr. Randolph’s eighth proposition—A council of revision, to consist of the national executive, and a convenient number of the national judiciary, to have a negative on acts of national legislature unless again passed by—members of each branch—Amended, to give the national executive alone that power, unless overruled by two thirds of each branch of the national legislature—Amendment agreed to.
Mr. Randolph’s ninth proposition—The national judiciary to be established—Agreed to—To consist of one or more supreme tribunals, and of inferior tribunals—Amended, to consist of one supreme tribunal, and of inferior tribunals—Amendment agreed to.
Tuesday, June 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Mr. Randolph’s ninth proposition—The national judiciary to be chosen by the national legislature—Disagreed to—To hold office during good behavior, and to receive fixed compensation—Agreed to—To have jurisdiction over offences at sea, captures, cases of foreigners and citizens of different states, of national revenue, impeachments of national officers, and questions of national peace and harmony—Postponed.
Mr. Randolph’s tenth proposition—New states to be admitted—Agreed to.
Mr. Randolph’s eleventh proposition—Republican government and its territory: except in case of voluntary junction, to be guarantied to each state—Postponed.
Mr. Randolph’s twelfth proposition—The Congress of the Confederation to continue till a given day, and its engagements to be fulfilled—Agreed to.
Mr. Randolph’s thirteenth proposition—Provision to be made for amendments of the Constitution without the assent of the national legislature—Postponed.
Mr. Randolph’s fourteenth proposition—National and state officers to take an oath to support the national government—Postponed.
Mr. Randolph’s fifteenth proposition—The Constitution to be ratified by conventions of the people of the states recommended by the state legislatures—Postponed.
Motion to strike out “inferior tribunals” in the ninth proposition—Agreed to.
Motion to amend the ninth proposition, so as to empower the national legislature to institute inferior tribunals—Agreed to.
Wednesday, June 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Motion to amend fourth proposition so as to provide that the first branch of the national legislature be elected by the state legislatures—Disagreed to.
Motion to reconsider the vote on the eighth proposition, so as to unite a convenient number of the national judiciary with the national executive in the revision of the acts of the national legislature—Disagreed to.
Thursday, June 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Motions to supply the blank occasioned by the disagreement to Mr. Randolph’s fifth proposition relative to the mode of choosing the second branch of the national legislature—To be elected by the people divided into large districts—Disagreed to—To be appointed by the national executive out of nominations by the state legislatures—Disagreed to—To be chosen by the state legislatures—Agreed to.
Friday, June 8, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Motion, on a reconsideration of that part of the sixth proposition which gives the national legislature power to negative state laws contravening the articles of union, or foreign treaties, to extend the power so as to authorize the national legislature to negative all laws which they should judge to be improper—Disagreed to.
Saturday, June 9, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Motion, on a reconsideration of that part of the seventh proposition, which declares that the national executive shall be chosen by the national legislature, to substitute therefor that the national executive be elected by the executives of the states, their proportion of votes to be the same as in electing the second branch of the national legislature—Disagreed to.
Monday, June 11, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Motion to consider Mr. Randolph’s second proposition, as to the right of suffrage in the national legislature, which had been postponed—Agreed to—Motion to substitute therefor, that the right of suffrage in the national legislature ought not to be according to the rule in the Articles of Confederation, (an equality, each state having one vote therein,) but according to some equitable ratio of representation—Agreed to—Motion that this equitable ratio of representation should be according to the quotas of contribution—Postponed—Motion that this equitable ratio of representation should be in proportion to the number of free citizens and inhabitants, and three fifths of other persons in each state—Agreed to—Motion that there should be an equality of suffrage in the second branch of the national legislature, each state to have one vote therein—Disagreed to—Motion that the right of suffrage should be the same in each branch—Agreed to.
Motion to consider Mr. Randolph’s eleventh proposition, guarantying republican government and its territory to each state, which had been postponed—Agreed to—Motion to amend it, so as to guaranty to each state a republican constitution, and its existing laws—Agreed to.
Motion to consider Mr. Randolph’s thirteenth proposition, providing for amendments to the Constitution, which had been postponed, agreed to—Motion that provision for amendments ought to be made—Agreed to—That the assent of the national legislature ought not to be required—Postponed.
Motion to consider Mr. Randolph’s fourteenth proposition, requiring oaths of national and state officers to observe the national Constitution, which had been postponed—Agreed to—Motion to strike out the part requiring oaths of state officers—Disagreed to—Proposition agreed to.
Tuesday, June 12, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Mr. Randolph’s fifteenth proposition relative to ratification of the Constitution by state conventions considered and agreed to.
Motion to consider that part of Mr. Randolph’s fourth proposition relative to the qualifications of the members of the first branch, which had been postponed—Agreed to—Motion that the members of the first branch shall be elected every three years—Agreed to—Shall be of—years of age—Disagreed to—Shall be allowed a fixed compensation, to be paid out of the national treasury—Agreed to—Shall be ineligible to state or national offices during their term of service, or for one year after—Agreed to—Shall be incapable of reëlection for—years after, and subject to recall—Disagreed to.
The part of Mr. Randolph’s fifth proposition relative to qualifications of the members of the second branch, considered—Motion that the members of the second branch shall be of the age of thirty years—Agreed to—Shall hold their offices for the term of seven years—Agreed to—Shall be entitled to no compensation—Disagreed to—Shall be subject to the same qualifications, as to compensation and ineligibility, as the members of the first branch—Agreed to.
Wednesday, June 13, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
The part of Mr. Randolph’s ninth proposition relative to the jurisdiction of the national judiciary was struck out—Motion that national judiciary shall have jurisdiction in cases of national revenue, impeachments of national officers, and questions of national peace and harmony—Agreed to—Motion that the judges of the supreme tribunal be appointed by the second branch (Senate) of the national legislature—Agreed to.
Motion to amend that part of the sixth proposition which empowers each branch to originate acts by restraining the second (senatorial) branch from originating money bills—Disagreed to.
State of the resolutions (nineteen in number) as adopted by the committee of the whole, and founded on Mr. Randolph’s fifteen propositions.
Friday, June 15, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Mr. Patterson submits nine propositions to be substituted for those of Mr. Randolph—Propositions stated.
Saturday, June 16, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Mr. Patterson’s first proposition—The Articles of Confederation to be revised and enlarged—Adjourned.
Monday, June 18, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Mr. Patterson’s first proposition—The Articles of Confederation to be revised and enlarged, resumed—Motion to amend so as to provide for an adequate government of the United States—Postponed.
Mr. Hamilton submits eleven propositions as amendments which he should probably offer to those of Mr. Randolph—Read, but not moved.
Tuesday, June 19, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Motion to amend Mr. Patterson’s first proposition so as to provide for an adequate government of the United States, resumed—Disagreed to—Motion to postpone Mr. Patterson’s first proposition—Agreed to.
Motion for the committee of the whole to rise and report the nineteen resolutions founded on Mr. Randolph’s propositions as amended and adopted in committee—Agreed to.
First resolution, establishing a national government, to consist of a legislative, executive, and judiciary, considered by the Convention.
Wednesday, June 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
First resolution, establishing a national government, resumed—Motion to amend so as to establish a government of the United States—Agreed to.
Second resolution, that the national legislature consist of two branches—Motion to amend by striking out “national”—Agreed to—Motion to amend by declaring that legislation be vested in the United States in Congress—Disagreed to.
Thursday, June 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Second resolution, that the legislature consist of two branches, resumed—Agreed to.
Third resolution, fixing election, term, qualifications, &c., of the first branch of the legislature—Motion to amend so as to provide that the election of the first branch be as the state legislatures direct—Disagreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that the term of the first branch be for two years—Agreed to.
Friday, June 22, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Third resolution, fixing election, term, qualifications, &c., of the first branch, resumed—Motion to amend so as to provide that the compensation of members of the first branch shall be fixed by the national legislature—Disagreed to—Motion to amend, by striking out its payment from the national treasury—Disagreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that the compensation shall be fixed—Agreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that the members of the first branch shall be twenty-five years of age—Agreed to—Motion to amend by striking out the ineligibility of members of the first branch—Disagreed to.
Saturday, June 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Third resolution, for fixing the qualifications, &c., of the first branch, resumed—Motion to amend by striking out the ineligibility of the members to state offices—Agreed to—Motion to amend by confining their ineligibility to such national offices as had been established, or their emoluments increased, while they were members—Disagreed to—Motion to confine their ineligibility to national offices, during one year after their term of service is expired—Agreed to.
Monday, June 25, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Fourth resolution, fixing election, term, qualifications, &c., of the second branch of the legislature—Motions to amend the clause relating to their term of office by making it six or five years—Disagreed to.
Tuesday, June 26, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Fourth resolution, relative to the term of the second branch of the legislature, resumed—Motion to amend so as to make their term nine years, one third to go out every third year—Disagreed to—To make their term six years, one third to go out every second year—Agreed to—Motion to amend by striking out their compensation—Disagreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that their compensation be paid by the states—Disagreed to—Motion to provide that their compensation be paid out of the national treasury—Disagreed to—Motion to amend by striking out the ineligibility of the members to state offices—Agreed to—Motion to confine their ineligibility to national offices during one year after their term of service is expired.
Wednesday, June 27, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Fifth resolution, authorizing each branch to originate acts—Agreed to.
Sixth resolution, defining the powers of the legislature—Postponed.
Seventh resolution, fixing the right of suffrage in the first branch of the legislature considered.
Thursday, June 28, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Seventh resolution, fixing the right of suffrage in the first branch, resumed—Motion to amend so as to provide that the right of suffrage in the first branch should be the same as in the Articles of the Confederation, (an equality, each state having one vote therein,)—Postponed.
Friday, June 29, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Amendment proposed to the seventh resolution, so as to give each state an equal suffrage in the first branch, resumed—Disagreed to—Remaining clauses of seventh resolution postponed.
Eighth resolution, fixing the same right of suffrage in the second branch of the legislature as in the first—Motion to amend so as to provide that each state should have an equal suffrage in the second branch—Adjourned.
Saturday, June 30, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Amendment proposed to the eighth resolution, so as to give each state an equal suffrage in the second branch, resumed—Proposition to amend so as to provide that each state should send an equal number of members to the second branch; that, in all questions of state sovereignty and of appointments to office, each state shall have an equal suffrage, and that, in fixing salaries and appropriations, each state shall vote in proportion to its contributions to the treasury—Not moved.
Monday, July 2, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Amendment proposed to the eighth resolution, so as to give each state an equal suffrage in the second branch, resumed—Disagreed to.
Motion to refer the clauses of the seventh and eighth resolutions, relating to the suffrages of both branches of the legislature, to a committee—Agreed to.
Thursday, July 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Report of the committee to amend the seventh resolution, so as to provide that the proportion of suffrage of each state in the first branch shall be one member for every forty thousand inhabitants of the description mentioned in that resolution; that each state shall have one member in the first branch; that all bills for raising or appropriating money shall originate in the first branch, and not be altered in the second; and that no payments shall be made from the treasury, except on appropriations by law.
Report to amend the eighth resolution, so as to provide that each state shall have an equal suffrage in the second branch.
Friday, July 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Clause of the report on the seventh resolution, providing that the proportion of suffrage of each state in the first branch should be one member for every forty thousand inhabitants, resumed—Referred to a committee—Clause of the report on the seventh resolution, providing that all money bills shall originate in the first branch, resumed—Agreed to.
Saturday, July 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Report on the eighth resolution, providing that each state shall have an equal suffrage in the second branch, resumed—Agreed to.
Monday, July 9, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Report of the committee, to amend the clause of the seventh resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the first branch, by fixing at present the whole number therein at forty-six, and apportioning them in a certain ratio among the states, considered—Referred to another committee.
Report of the committee, providing that the future number of members of the first branch may be altered from time to time, and fixed by the legislature, on the principles of the wealth and numbers of inhabitants of each state—Agreed to.
Tuesday, July 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Report of the committee on the seventh resolution, providing that at present the whole number of members in the first branch shall be sixty-five, and apportioning them in a certain ratio among the states—Agreed to—Motion that a census be taken every—years, and the representation in the first branch be arranged by the legislature accordingly—Adjourned.
Wednesday, July 11, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Amendment to the seventh resolution, requiring the future representation to be arranged by the legislature according to a periodical census, resumed—Motion to amend it by requiring the legislature to arrange the representation according to a census of the free inhabitants, taken at least every fifteen years—Agreed to—Motion further to amend by requiring the census to include three fifths of the negroes—Disagreed to.
Thursday, July 12, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Seventh resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the first branch, resumed—Motion to provide that representation and direct taxation shall be in the same proportion—Agreed to—Motion to provide that for the future arrangement of representation, a census shall be taken within six years, and within every ten years afterwards, and that it shall be made according to the whole number of inhabitants, rating the blacks at three fifths of their number—Agreed to.
Friday, July 13, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Seventh resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the first branch, resumed—Motion to provide that, until the first census be taken, the proportion of the representatives from the states in the first branch, and the moneys raised from them by direct taxation, shall be the same—Agreed to—Motion to strike out the amendment heretofore made for regulating future representation on the principle of wealth—Agreed to.
Saturday, July 14, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Seventh resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the first branch, resumed—Motion that the number of representatives in the first branch, from new states, shall never exceed those of the present states—Disagreed to.
Eighth resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the second branch, resumed—Motion to provide that the second branch shall consist of thirty-six members, distributed among the states in certain proportions—Disagreed to.
Monday, July 16, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Seventh and eighth resolutions as amended, and fixing the suffrage in both branches, resumed—Agreed to.
Sixth resolution, defining the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion to amend by giving a specification of the powers not comprised in general terms—Disagreed to.
Tuesday, July 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Sixth resolution, defining the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion to amend, so as to provide that the national legislature should not interfere with the governments of the states in matters of internal police, in which the general welfare of the U. States is not concerned—Disagreed to—Motion to amend so as to extend the power of the legislature to cases affecting the general interests of the Union—Agreed to—Motion to agree to the power of negativing state laws—Disagreed to—Motion to provide that the acts of the legislature, and treaties made in pursuance of the Constitution, shall bind the several states—Agreed to.
Ninth resolution, relative to national executive—Motion to amend so as to provide that the executive be chosen by the people—Disagreed to—That he be chosen by electors appointed by the state legislatures—Disagreed to—Motion to amend by striking out the provision that the executive is to be ineligible a second time—Agreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that the term of the executive should be during good behavior—Disagreed to—Motion to amend by striking out seven years as the executive term—Disagreed to.
Wednesday, July 18, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Tenth resolution, giving the executive a negative on acts of the legislature not afterwards passed by two thirds—Agreed to.
Eleventh resolution, relative to the judiciary—Motion to amend so as to provide that the supreme judges be appointed by the executive—Disagreed to—That they be nominated and appointed by the executive, with the consent of two thirds of the second branch—Disagreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that their compensation shall not be diminished while in office—Agreed to.
Twelfth resolution, relative to the establishment of inferior national tribunals by the legislature—Agreed to.
Thirteenth resolution, relative to powers of the national judiciary—Motion to amend by striking out their power in regard to impeachment of national officers—Agreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that their power shall extend to all cases arising under the national laws, or involving the national peace and harmony—Agreed to.
Fourteenth resolution, providing for the admission of new states—Agreed to.
Fifteenth resolution, providing for the continuance of the Congress of the Confederation and the completion of its engagements—Disagreed to.
Sixteenth resolution, guarantying a republican government and their existing laws to the states—Motion to amend so as to provide that a republican form of government, and protection against foreign and domestic violence, be guarantied to each state—Agreed to.
Thursday, July 19, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Ninth resolution, relative to the national executive, resumed—Motion to amend so as to provide that the executive be chosen by electors chosen by the state legislatures—Agreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that the executive shall be ineligible a second time—Disagreed to—Motion to amend by making the executive term six years—Agreed to.
Friday, July 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Ninth resolution, relative to the national executive, resumed—Motion to provide that the number of electors of the executive to be chosen by the state legislatures shall be regulated by their respective numbers of representatives in the first branch, and that at present it shall be in a prescribed ratio—Agreed to—Motion to amend by striking out the provision for impeaching the executive—Disagreed to—Motion to provide that the electors of the executive shall not be members of the national legislature, nor national officers, nor eligible to the supreme magistracy—Agreed to.
Saturday, July 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Ninth resolution, relative to national executive, resumed—Motion to provide for the payment of the electors of the executive out of the national treasury—Agreed to.
Tenth resolution, relative to the negative of the executive on the legislature, resumed—Motion to amend by providing that the supreme judiciary be associated in this power—Disagreed to.
Eleventh resolution, relative to judiciary, resumed—Motion to provide that the judges be nominated by the executive, and appointed, unless two thirds of the second branch disagree thereto—Disagreed to.
Monday, July 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Seventeenth resolution, providing for future amendments—Agreed to.
Eighteenth resolution, requiring the oath of state officers to support the Constitution—Agreed to.
Nineteenth resolution, requiring the ratification of the Constitution by state conventions—Motion to amend by providing for its reference to the state legislatures—Disagreed to—Motion to a second Federal Convention—Not seconded.
The eighth resolution, relative to the suffrage in the second branch, resumed—Motion to amend so as to provide that the representation consist of two members from each state, who shall vote per capita—Agreed to.
Tuesday, July 24, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Ninth resolution, relative to the national executive, resumed—Motion to amend so as to provide that he be appointed by the national legislature, and not by electors chosen by the state legislatures—Agreed to—Motion to amend so as to provide that the executive be chosen by electors taken by lot from the national legislature—Postponed.
The resolutions, as amended and adopted, together with the propositions submitted by Mr. Patterson, and the plan proposed by Mr. C. Pinckney, referred to a committee of detail, to report a Constitution conformable to the resolutions.
Wednesday, July 25, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Ninth resolution, relative to the national executive, resumed—Motion to appoint the executive by electors appointed by state legislatures, where the actual executive is reëligible—Disagreed to—Motion to appoint the executive by the governors of states and their councils—Not passed—Motion that no person be eligible to the executive for more than six years in twelve—Disagreed to—Motion to authorize copies to be taken of the resolution as adopted—Disagreed to.
Thursday, July 26, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
The ninth resolution, relative to the national executive, resumed—Motion that the executive be for seven years, and not reëligible—Agreed to.
The third and fourth resolutions, relative to the qualifications of the members of the legislature, resumed—Motion to require property and citizenship—Agreed to—Motion to exclude persons indebted to the United States—Disagreed to.
Statement of the resolutions as amended agreed to, and referred to the committee of detail.
Plan of a Federal Constitution, offered by Mr. Charles Pinckney on the 29th May, referred to the committee of detail.
Propositions offered by Mr. Patterson, on the 15th June, referred to the committee of detail.
Monday, August 6, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Report of committee of detail.
Draught of a constitution, as reported by the committee.
Tuesday, August 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
The Constitution, as reported by the committee of detail, considered.
The preamble, article first, designating the style of the government; and article second, dividing into a supreme legislative, executive, and judiciary, agreed to.
Article third, dividing the legislature into two distinct bodies, a House of Representatives and Senate, with a mutual negative in all cases, and to meet on a fixed day—Motion to confine the negative to legislative acts—Disagreed to—Motion to strike out the clauses giving a mutual negative—Agreed to—Motion to add that a different day of meeting may be appointed by law—Agreed to—Motion to give the executive an absolute negative on the legislature—Disagreed to.
Article fourth, relative to the House of Representatives—Motion to confine the rights of electors to freeholders—Disagreed to.
Wednesday, August 8, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Article fourth, relative to the House of Representatives, resumed—Motion to require seven years’ citizenship in members—Agreed to—Motion to require the members to be inhabitants of the states they represent—Agreed to—Motion to require the inhabitancy for a specified period—Disagreed to—Motion to require that after a census the number of members shall be proportioned to direct taxation—Agreed to—Motion to fix the ratio of representation by the number of free inhabitants—Disagreed to—Motion to give every state one representative at least—Agreed to—Motion to strike out the exclusive power over money bills—Agreed to.
Thursday, August 9, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Article fourth, relative to the House of Representatives, resumed—Agreed to as amended.
Article fifth, relative to the Senate—Motion to strike out the right of state executives to supply vacancies—Disagreed to—Motion to supply vacancies by the state legislatures, or by the executive, till its next meeting—Agreed to—Motion to postpone the clauses giving each member one vote—Disagreed to—Motion to require fourteen years’ citizenship in senators—Disagreed to—Motion to require nine years’ citizenship in senators—Agreed to—Motion to require senators to be inhabitants of the states they represent—Agreed to.
Article sixth, relative to the elections, qualifications, and proceedings of the legislature—Motion to strike out the right of the legislature to alter the provisions concerning the election of its members—Disagreed to.
Friday, August 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Article sixth, relative to the elections, qualifications, and proceedings of the legislature, resumed—Motion to require the executive, judiciary, and legislature, to possess a certain amount of property—Disagreed to—Motion to strike out the right of the legislature to establish a qualification of its members—Agreed to—Motion to reduce a quorum of each House below a majority—Disagreed to—Motion to authorize the compulsory attendance of members—Agreed to—Motion to require a vote of two thirds to expel a member—Agreed to—Motion to allow a single member to call the yeas and nays—Disagreed to—Motion to allow senators to enter their dissent on the Journals—Disagreed to—Motion to strike out the clause which confines the keeping and publication of the Journal of the Senate to its legislative business—Agreed to.
Saturday, August 11, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Article sixth, relative to the elections, qualifications, and proceedings of the legislature, resumed—Motion to except from publication such parts of the Senate Journal, not legislative, as it may judge to require secrecy—Disagreed to—Motion to except from publication such parts of the Senate Journal as relate to treaties and military operations—Disagreed to—Motion to omit the publication of such parts of the Journals as either House may judge to require secrecy—Agreed to.
Monday, August 13, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Article fourth, relative to the House of Representatives, resumed—Motion to require only citizenship and inhabitancy in members—Disagreed to—Motion to require nine years’ citizenship—Disagreed to—Motion to require four and five years’ citizenship instead of seven—Disagreed to—Motion to provide that the seven years’ citizenship should not affect the rights of persons now citizens—Disagreed to.
Article fifth, relative to the Senate, resumed—Motion to require seven years’ citizenship in senators, instead of nine—Disagreed to.
Article fourth, relative to the House of Representatives, resumed—Motion to restore the clause relative to money bills—Disagreed to.
Tuesday, August 14, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 420
Article sixth, relative to the elections, qualifications, and proceedings of the legislature, resumed—Motion to permit members to be appointed to office during their term, but to vacate their seats—Disagreed to—Motion to permit members to be appointed during their term to offices in the army or navy, but to vacate their seats—Postponed—Motion to pay the members, out of the national treasury, a sum to be fixed by law—Agreed to.
Wednesday, August 15, . . . . . . . . . . . 427
Article sixth, relative to the elections, qualifications, and proceedings of the legislature, resumed—Motion to unite the judges of the Supreme Court with the President, in his revisory power over acts of the legislature—Disagreed to—Motion to require three fourths, instead of two thirds, to pass bills, negatived by the executive—Agreed to—Motion to extend the negative of the executive to resolves as well as bills—Disagreed to—Motion to allow the executive ten days to revise bills—Agreed to—Article sixth, as amended, agreed to.
Thursday, August 16, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431
Article sixth, relative to the elections, qualifications, and proceedings of the legislature, resumed—Motion to subject joint resolutions (except on adjournment) to the negative of the executive—Agreed to.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature—Motion to exclude exports from duty—Postponed—Motion to authorize the establishment of postroads—Agreed to—Motion to forbid the emission of bills of credit—Agreed to.
Friday, August 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion that it may appoint a treasurer by joint ballot—Agreed to—Subdue rebellion in a state without the application of its legislature when it cannot meet—Disagreed to—Declare war—Agreed to.
Saturday, August 18, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439
Motion to add various powers to the legislature—Referred to the committee of detail.
Motion relative to an assumption of the state debts—Referred to a grand committee.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion that it may make rules for the army and navy—Agreed to—Motion that the army shall be limited in time of peace to a fixed number—Disagreed to—Motion that the subject of regulating the militia be referred to the grand committee—Agreed to.
Monday, August 20, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 445
Motion to add various powers to the legislature—Referred to the committee of detail.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of Congress, resumed—Motion that it may pass sumptuary laws—Disagreed to—Motions to amend the language defining and providing for the punishment of treason—Agreed to—Motion to require the first census in three years—Agreed to.
Tuesday, August 21, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 451
Report of grand committee on assuming state debts, and regulating the militia.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of Congress, resumed—Motion that state quotas for the expenses of the war be adjusted by the same rate as representation and direct taxation—Postponed—Motion that, until a census, direct taxation should be in proportion to representation—Disagreed to—Motion to raise direct taxes by requisitions on the states—Disagreed to—Motion to permit taxes on exports by a vote of two thirds—Disagreed to.
Wednesday, August 22, . . . . . . . . . . . 457
Report of committee of detail on various proposed additional powers of the legislature.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of Congress, resumed—Motion to refer the clauses relative to the importation and migration of slaves, and to a capitation tax, and navigation act, to a grand committee—Agreed to—Motion to prohibit attainders or ex post facto laws—Agreed to—Motion to require the legislature to discharge the debts, and fulfil the engagements, of the United States—Agreed to.
Thursday, August 23, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 464
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion requiring them to organize the militia, when in the service of the United States, reserving the training and appointment of officers to the states—Agreed to—Motion to prohibit foreign presents, offices, or titles, to any officer, without consent of the legislature—Agreed to.
Article eighth, relative to the supreme authority of acts of the legislature and treaties—Agreed to.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion to refer to a committee, to consider the propriety of a power to them to negative state laws—Disagreed to.
Article ninth, relative to the powers of the Senate—Motion to require treaties to be ratified by law—Disagreed to.
Friday, August 24, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 470
Report of the grand committee on the importation and migration of slaves, and a capitation tax, and navigation act.
Article ninth, relative to the powers of the Senate, resumed—Motion to strike out the power to decide controversies between the states—Agreed to.
Article tenth, relative to the executive—Motion that the executive be elected by the people—Disagreed to—By electors chosen by the people of the states—Disagreed to—By joint ballot of the legislature, and a majority of the members present—Agreed to—Motion that each state have one vote in electing the executive—Disagreed to—Motion to require the President to give information to the legislature—Agreed to—Motion to restrain appointing power by law—Disagreed to—Motion to except from the appointing power offices otherwise provided for by the Constitution—Agreed to—Motion to authorize, by law, appointments by state legislatures and executives—Disagreed to.
Saturday, August 25, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion that, in discharging the debts of the United States, they shall be considered as valid under the Constitution as they were under the Confederation—Agreed to—Motion to postpone the prohibition for importing slaves to 1808—Agreed to—Motion to confine the clause to such states as permit the importation of slaves—Disagreed to—Motion that the tax on such importation shall not exceed ten dollars for each person—Agreed to—Motion that a capitation tax shall be in proportion to the census—Agreed to.
Article tenth, relative to the executive, resumed—Motion to limit reprieves to the meeting of the Senate, and requiring their consent to pardons—Disagreed to—Motion to except cases of impeachment from the pardoning power—Agreed to—Motion that his pardons shall not be pleadable in bar—Disagreed to.
Monday, August 27, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480
Article tenth, relative to the executive, resumed—Motion to limit his command of the militia to their being in the service of the United States—Agreed to—Motion to require an oath from the executive—Agreed to.
Article eleventh, relative to the judiciary—Motion to confer equity powers on the courts—Agreed to—Motion that the judges may be removed by the executive, on application of the legislature—Disagreed to—Motion that the salaries of judges should not be increased while they are in office—Disagreed to—Motion to extend jurisdiction to cases in which the United States are a party, or arising under the Constitution, or treaties, or relating to lands granted by different states—Agreed to—Motion to extend the appellate jurisdiction to law and fact—Agreed to.
Tuesday, August 28, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483
Article eleventh, relative to the judiciary—Motion to confine the appellate jurisdiction in certain cases to the Supreme Court—Agreed to—Motion that crimes not committed within any state be tried where the legislature directs—Agreed to—Motion that the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless required by invasion or rebellion—Agreed to.
Article twelfth, relative to the prohibitions on the power of the states—Motions to prohibit them absolutely from emitting bills of credit, legalizing any tender except gold or silver, or passing attainders or retrospective laws, or laying duties on imports—Agreed to—Motion to forbid them to lay embargoes—Disagreed to.
Article thirteenth, relative to the prohibitions on slaves, unless authorized by the national legislature—Motion to include in these duties on exports, and, if permitted, to be for the use of the United States—Agreed to.
Article fourteenth, relative to the rights of citizens of one state in another—Agreed to.
Article fifteenth, relative to the delivery of persons fleeing to other states—Motion to extend it to all cases of crime—Agreed to—Motion to extend it to fugitive slaves—Withdrawn.
Wednesday, August 29, . . . . . . . . . . . 487
Article sixteenth, relative to the effect of public records and documents of one state in another—Motion to refer it to a committee to add a provision relative to bankruptcies and foreign judgments—Agreed to.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion to require two thirds of each House on acts regulating foreign commerce—Disagreed to—Motion to strike out the provision requiring two thirds of each House on navigation acts—Agreed to.
Article fifteenth, relative to the delivery of persons fleeing to other states, resumed—Motion to extend it to slaves—Agreed to.
Article seventeenth, relative to the admission of new states—Motion to strike out the clause requiring their admission on the same terms with the original states—Agreed to.
Thursday, August 30, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 494
Article seventeenth, relative to the admission of new states, resumed—Motion not to require any other assent than that of Congress, to admit other states now existing—Disagreed to—Motion not to require any other assent than that of Congress, to admit states over which those now existing exercise no jurisdiction—Agreed to—Motion to allow the legislature to form new states within the territory claimed by the existing states—Disagreed to—Motion to require assent of the state legislatures to a junction of states—Agreed to—Motion to authorize the legislature to make regulations regarding the territories, but not to affect the claims either of the United States or the states—Agreed to—Motion to refer such claims to the Supreme Court—Disagreed to.
Article eighteenth, guarantying to the states a republican government, and protection against foreign invasion, and, on the application of the state legislature, against domestic violence—Motion to strike out the clause requiring the application of the state legislature—Disagreed to—Motion to authorize it on the application of the state executive—Agreed to—Motion to limit the executive application to a recess of the legislature—Disagreed to.
Article nineteenth, relative to amendments of the Constitution—Agreed to.
Article twentieth, relative to the oath to support the Constitution—Motion to forbid any religious test—Agreed to.
Article twenty-first, relative to the ratification of the Constitution—Motion to require it to be by all the states.
Friday, August 31, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 499
Article twenty-first, relative to the number of states necessary for a ratification of the Constitution, resumed—Motion that the Constitution be confined to the states ratifying it—Agreed to—Motion not to require the ratification to be made by conventions—Disagreed to—Motion to require unanimous ratification of the states—Disagreed to—That of nine states—Agreed to.
Article twenty-second, relative to the mode of ratification—Motion not to require the approbation of the present Congress—Agreed to—Motion that the state legislatures ought to call conventions speedily—Disagreed to.
Article twenty-third, relative to the measures to be taken for carrying the Constitution into effect when ratified—Motion to strike out the clause requiring the legislature to choose the executive—Agreed to.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion that no different duties or regulations, giving preference to the ports of any particular state, or requiring clearances, &c., between them, shall be made—Agreed to.
Monday, September 3, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504
Article sixteenth, relative to the effect of public records and documents of one state in another, resumed—Motion to require the legislature to provide the manner of authenticating them—Agreed to.
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion that they may establish a bankrupt law—Disagreed to.
Article sixth, relative to the elections, qualifications, and proceedings of the legislature, resumed—Motion to amend the rule as to incapacity, by prescribing only that members shall not hold an office of emolument, and shall vacate their seats on appointment—Disagreed to—Motion to limit such incapacity to offices created, or whose emoluments were increased, during their term—Agreed to—Motion to render office and membership incompatible—Agreed to.
Tuesday, September 4, . . . . . . . . . . . . 506
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion that they shall lay and collect taxes to pay debts and provide for the common defence and welfare—Agreed to—Regulate trade with the Indians—Agreed to.
Article tenth, relative to the executive, resumed—Motion to appoint a Vice-President, and he and the President to be chosen by electors appointed in such manner as the state legislatures may direct; if not chosen by a majority of the electors, to be balloted for by the Senate from the five highest—Postponed.
Wednesday, September 5, . . . . . . . . . . 510
Article seventh, relative to the powers of the legislature, resumed—Motion that they may grant letters of marque—Agreed to—Not make army appropriations for more than two years—Agreed to—Have exclusive jurisdiction in the district ceded for the seat of government, and for other purposes, with the consent of the state legislatures—Agreed to—Grant patents and copyrights—Agreed to.
Article tenth, relative to the executive, resumed—Motion that, in case of failure of the electors to elect, the choice shall be by the legislature—Disagreed to—Motion not to require a majority of the electors, but one third, to choose a President—Disagreed to—Motion that the choice of the Senate be limited to the three highest—Disagreed to—To the thirteen highest—Disagreed to.
Thursday, September 6, . . . . . . . . . . . 515
Article tenth, relative to the executive, resumed—Motion to exclude members of the legislature, and public officers, from being electors—Agreed to—Motion to extend the executive term to seven and six years—Disagreed to—Motion to elect the executive by electors—Agreed to—Motion that the election be at the seat of government—Disagreed to—On the same day throughout the Union—Agreed to—Motion to refer it to the Senate, two thirds being present, if not made by the electors—Agreed to—Motion to refer it to the House of Representatives, two thirds of the states being present, and each state to have one vote—Agreed to.
Friday, September 7, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520
Article tenth, relative to the executive, resumed—Motion to leave to the legislature to declare the executive officer in case of death, &c., of President and Vice-President, until a new election—Agreed to—Motion that the President be a natural-born citizen, and thirty-five years of age—Agreed to—Motion that the Vice-President be president of the Senate—Agreed to—Motion to unite House of Representatives in the treaty power—Disagreed to—Motion to give the executive and Senate the appointing power—Agreed to—Motion to allow treaties of peace to be made by the executive and a majority of the Senate—Agreed to—Motion to allow two thirds of the Senate to make treaties of peace without the executive—Disagreed to—Motion to appoint an executive council—Disagreed to.
Saturday, September 8, . . . . . . . . . . . 526
Article tenth, relative to the executive, resumed—Motion to require treaties of peace to be consented to by two thirds of the Senate—Agreed to—Motion to require that in such cases two thirds of all the members be required—Disagreed to—Motion to extend impeachment to high crimes and misdemeanors—Agreed to—Motion to withdraw trial of impeachment from the Senate—Disagreed to.
Article fourth, relative to the House of Representatives, resumed—Motion that it must originate, but Senate may amend, money bills—Agreed to.
Article tenth, relative to the executive, resumed—Motion that he may convene both or either House—Agreed to.
All the articles, as amended and agreed to, referred to a committee of revision.
Monday, September 10, . . . . . . . . . . . . 530
Article nineteenth, relative to amendments of the Constitution, resumed—Motion that legislature may propose amendments, to be binding when assented to by three fourths of the states—Agreed to.
Article twenty-first, relative to the number of states necessary for a ratification of the Constitution—Motion to require the assent of the present Congress, before submitting it to the states for ratification—Disagreed to.
Article twenty-second, relative to the mode of ratifying the Constitution—Motion to require the assent of the present Congress—Disagreed to—Motion to submit the Constitution, after it is acted on by the state conventions, to a second Federal Convention—Postponed—Motion that an address to the states accompany the Constitution, when transmitted for ratification—Agreed to.
Wednesday, September 12, . . . . . . . . . 535
The Constitution, as reported by the committee of revision, considered.
Article first, relative to the legislative power—Motion to require two thirds, instead of three fourths, to overrule the negative of the President—Agreed to.
Motion to add a bill of rights—Disagreed to.
Thursday, September 13, . . . . . . . . . . 539
Motion for a committee to report articles of association for encouraging, by the influence of the Convention, economy, frugality, and American manufactures—Agreed to.
Article first, relative to the legislative power, resumed—Motion to permit the states to impose such duties on exports as are necessary to execute their inspection laws—Agreed to.
Resolutions directing the mode of proceeding in the present Congress to submit the Constitution to the states.
Friday, September 14, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541
Article first, relative to the legislative powers, resumed—Motion to change the present proportion of members in the House of Representatives—Disagreed to—Motion that officers impeached be suspended till trial—Disagreed to—Motion to require the House of Representatives to publish all its proceedings—Disagreed to—Motion that treasurer be appointed as other officers—Agreed to—Motion to provide for cutting canals and granting charters of incorporation, where the states may be incompetent—Disagreed to—To establish a university—Disagreed to—To provide for the preservation of the liberty of the press—Disagreed to—To publish the expenditures—Agreed to.
Saturday, September 15, . . . . . . . . . . . 546
Article first, relative to the legislative powers, resumed—Motion to change the present proportion of members in the House of Representatives—Disagreed to—Motion that the inspection laws of the states may be revised by Congress—Agreed to—Motion that no state shall lay a duty on tonnage, without assent of Congress—Agreed to.
Article second, relative to the executive—Motion that President shall receive no emolument from the states during his term—Agreed to—Motion to deprive the President of the power to pardon treason—Disagreed to—Motion that appointments to inferior offices may be vested by law—Agreed to.
Article third, relative to the judiciary—Motion to provide for trial by jury in civil cases—Disagreed to.
Article fifth, relative to amendments of the Constitution—Motion to require Congress to call a convention on an application of two thirds of the states—Agreed to.
Article first, relative to the legislative power, resumed—Motion to guaranty to the states an equal representation in the Senate—Agreed to—Motion to forbid the passage of a navigation act before 1808, without two thirds of each House—Disagreed to.
Motion that the amendments of the states be submitted to a new Federal Convention—Disagreed to.
The Constitution, as amended, agreed to.
Monday, September 17, . . . . . . . . . . . . 553
Article first, relative to the legislative power, resumed—Motion to provide that thirty thousand, instead of forty thousand, be the lowest ratio of representation—Agreed to.
Motion that the Constitution be signed, as agreed to, by all the states—Agreed to.
Motion that the Journals and papers be deposited with the president—Agreed to.
The Constitution signed as finally amended, and the Convention adjourned.
LETTERS WRITTEN AFTER THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.
To General Washington. New York, September 30, 1787, . . . . . . . . 566
Debates in Congress on Federal Constitution—Proposal to amend it there—Transmitted to the states—Opinions on it.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, October 21, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 567
Opinions on Federal Constitution in different states.
To Thomas Jefferson. New York, October 24, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 568
Proposal of amendments by Congress—R. H. Lee—Dana—Mason.
To General Washington. New York, October 28, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . 568
Prospects for establishment of Federal Constitution—Mr. Charles Pinckney.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, November 18, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 568
Opinions on Federal Constitution.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, December 2, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569
Proceedings of states on Federal Constitution—Commencement of the “Federalist.”
To Thomas Jefferson. New York, December 20, 1787, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 569
Proceedings of states on Federal Constitution.
To General Washington. New York, December 20, 1787, . . . . . . . . . 569
Mr. R. H. Lee’s views on Federal Constitution—Mr. Mason’s—Mr. Jay’s—Navigation of Potomac—Proceedings of states on Federal Constitution.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, January 10, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 570
Mr. Randolph’s views of Federal Constitution—Mr. Henry’s—Mr. S. Adams’s—Proceedings of states on it—Proposal of second convention.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, January 27, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572
Mr. C. Griffin elected president of Congress—Proceedings in convention of Massachusetts—Mr. Gerry and Mr. Dana—Criticisms on views of Mr. Randolph, Mr. Gerry, and Col. Mason.
To General Washington. New York, February 3, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . 572
Proceedings in convention of Massachusetts.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, March 3, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573
Proceedings of states on Federal Constitution.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, July 2, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573
Mr. Jefferson’s opinions on Federal Constitution.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, July 16, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573
Proceedings in convention of New York.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, July 22, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 574
Proceedings in convention of New York.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, August 22, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 574
George Clinton’s views on Federal Constitution—Proposal for second convention.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, September 24, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . 574
State of trade in Virginia—British debts—British ports.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, October 17, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575
Effect of American revolution on reform in Europe—Mr. Madison’s sentiments on being a candidate for Congress.
To Edmund Randolph. New York, November 2, 1788, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575
Feelings of opponents of Federal Constitution towards Mr. Madison—His sentiments on being a candidate for Congress.
APPENDIX TO THE DEBATES IN THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.
No. 1, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 577
Letter from James M. Varnum, of Rhode Island, to the president of the Convention, enclosing the subjoined communication, from certain citizens of Rhode Island, to the Federal Convention.
Letter from certain citizens of Rhode Island to the Federal Convention, enclosed in the preceding.
No. 2, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 578
Note of Mr. Madison to the plan of Charles Pinckney, May 29, 1787.
No. 3, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 579
Project communicated by Mr. E. Randolph, July 10, as an accommodating proposition to small states.
No. 4, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 580
Note to speech of Mr. Madison of August 7, 1787, on the right of popular suffrage.
Second note to speech of Mr. Madison of August 7, 1787.
Third note on the same subject, during the Virginia Convention for amending the constitution of the state, 1829-30.
No. 5, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 584
Copy of a paper communicated to James Madison by Col. Hamilton, about the close of the Convention in Philadelphia, 1787, which, he said, delineated the Constitution which he would have wished to be proposed by the Convention. He had stated the principles of it in the course of the deliberations.