Posts Tagged ‘Constitutional Convention’
Questions To Ask Congressional Candidates
By Phyllis Schlafly Many people believe that the congressional election coming up on November 2nd will be the most important election of our times. More and more, voters want to be certain that they are voting for conservative candidates who respect the United States Constitution. Here are some good questions to ask the candidates who seek [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787, July 21
Liberty Letters, July 21, 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: James Wilson moved that the National Judiciary (Supreme Court) should be associated with the Executive in the Revisionary Power. Strong objections were raised by Gerry and Luther Martin. Said Mr. Gerry: "The motion was liable to strong objections. It was combining & mixing [...]
The Event is In the Hand of God
by Steve Farrell As the delegates filtered in the week and a half prior to the start of the Constitutional Convention in May of 1787, George Washington turned to Gouverneur Morris and said: "It is too probable that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If to please the people, we offer what we [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — 20 July
Liberty Letters, 20 July 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Debated ratio of Electors for appointing the president, and the power of impeachment.Mr. Williamson moved as an amendment to Mr. Gerry's allotment of Electors in the 1st. instance that in future elections of the Natl. Executive, the number of Electors to be appointed by the several [...]
Franklin: Executive Branch Salaries — Democratic Thinker
American Debate James Wilson submits Benjamin Franklin’s written amendment to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice; the love of power and the love of money. … The struggles for them are the true source of all [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — 19 July
Liberty Letters, 19 July 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: In regards to the office of President, Mr. Martin moves to reinstate the words "to be ineligible a second time." Morris argues for a vigorous executive as being necessary for a large nation and to act as a check on Congress and wealth and to represent the mass of the people to be [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 18
Liberty Letters, July 18, 1787, James Madison (Editor's Summary: Debated: whether Supreme Court justices should be appointed by the President or the Senate, and if by the President with the consent of the Senate and what percent. Also: salaries for justices, concern expressed over jurisdictional battles between federal and state courts, the need [...]
Fundamental Right of Societies, Clubs, and Nations
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Gouvernor Morris Every society from a great nation down to a club has a right of declaring the conditions on which new members should be admitted. Source: Madison's Notes on the Federal Convention, August 9, 1787, Gouvernor Morris: delegate from Pennsylvania. Liberty Letters are compiled and edited (with [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 16
Liberty Letters, 16 July 1787, James Madison (Editor's Summary: Agreeing to the whole report (thus far), while the equality of votes in the Senate issue heats up, large and small states asked to meet separately early the next morning to attempt to come up with possible solutions or compromises to end this impasse. Besides that big issue, some of [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 14
Liberty Letters, 14 July 1787, James Madison (Editor's Summary: Discussed: how to admit Western State (and on what terms), the origination of money bills, and the equality of votes in the Senate as a check in favor of state rights and also in favor of the smaller states against the larger. The debate focused mostly on this Senate issue with [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 13
Liberty Letters, 13 July 1787, James Madison (Editor's summary: Debate renewed regarding the proposed equality of states within the Senate (the second branch). Discussion continued as to whether numbers or wealth are best for determining representation and taxation. Spelling has been updated and almost all shorthand removed except where Madison [...]
Benjamin Franklin: Applying to the Father of Lights — American Minute
American Minute with Bill Federer The Constitutional Convention was in a deadlock over how large and small states could be represented equally. Some delegates gave up and left. Then, on JUNE 28, 1787, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin spoke and shortly after, the U.S. Constitution became a reality. As recorded by James Madison, Franklin [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 12
Liberty Alerts, 12 July 1787, James Madison (Editor's Summary: Gouvernuer Morris moved to add to the clause empowering the Legislature to vary the Representation according to the principles of wealth and number of inhabitants a "proviso that taxation shall be in proportion to Representation." General Pinckney agreed, Mason, Butler, Wilson [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 11
Liberty Letters, 11 July1787, James Madison (Editor's Note: Discussion regards periodic census resumed, the purpose, said Randolph, "redressing inequality in the Representation. Sherman was against to numerous a House. It would "shackle the legislature. Better to elect a smaller group of "good and wise men, and then confide in them." Mason [...]
Christianity and the Constitution — American Minute
American Minute with Bill Federer The U.S. Constitution went into effect JUNE 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratified it. The 55 writers of the U.S. Constitution consisted of: 26 Episcopalians, 11 Presbyterians, 7 Congregationalists, 2 Lutherans, 2 Dutch Reformed, 2 Methodists, 2 Roman Catholics, 2 Quakers and 1 Deist - Dr. [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 10
Liberty Letters, 10 July 1787, James Madison Editor's Intro: Debate over how many members will be in the first House of Representatives. More discussion on apportionment, and the need for an initial and periodic census. I've removed some of the shorthand, and updated the spelling. Steve Farrell Mr. KING reported from the Come. yesterday [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 9
Liberty Letters, 9 July 1787, James Madison Editor's summary/best quotes: Patterson as to counting slaves in the rep. formula: "What is the true principle of Representation? It is an expedient by which an assembly of certain individuals chosen by the people is substituted in place of the inconvenient meeting of the people themselves. If such a [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 7
Liberty Letters, 7 July 1787, James Madison 1 "Shall the clause allowing each State one vote in the 2d. branch, stand as part of the Report"? being taken up — Mr. GERRY. This is the critical question. He had rather agree to it than have no accomodation. A Governt. short of a proper national plan, if generally acceptable, would be preferable to [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — July 6
Liberty Letters, 6 July 1787, James Madison Mr. GOVr. MORRIS moved to commit so much of the Report as relates to "I member for every 40,000 inhabitants" His view was that they might absolutely fix the number for each State in the first instance; leaving the Legislature at liberty to provide for changes in the relative importance of the States, [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 5
Liberty Letters, 5 July 1787, James Madison Mr. GERRY delivered in from the Committee appointed on Monday last the following Report. "The Committee to whom was referred the 8th. Resol. of the Report from the Committee of the whole House, and so much of the 7th. as has not been decided on, submit the following Report: That the subsequent [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — July 2
Liberty Letters, 2 July 1787, James Madison On the question for allowing each State one vote in the second branch as moved by Mr. Elseworth, 1 Massts. no. Cont. ay. N. Y. ay. N. J. ay. Pa. no. Del. ay. Md. ay. Mr. Jenifer being not present Mr. Martin alone voted Va no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. divd. Mr. Houston no. Mr. Baldwin ay. Mr. PINKNEY [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 30
Liberty Letters, 30 June 1787, James Madison Mr. BREARLY moved that the President. write to the Executive of New Hampshire, informing it that the business depending before the Convention was of such a nature as to require the immediate attendance of the deputies of that State. In support of his motion he observed that the difficulties of the [...]
More Good Advice from James Madison
By Phyllis Schlafly The Father of the United States Constitution, James Madison, wrote a strong warning against ever calling a new constitutional convention. Let's recall some of his compelling reasons. A new convention "would no doubt contain individuals of insidious views, . . . seeking alterations . . . might have a dangerous [...]
Good Advice Against a Con Con
By Phyllis Schlafly Suggestions that the United States call a new constitutional convention, as allowed in the Constitution's Article V, have popped up in some state legislatures and even on a page in the Wall Street Journal. Grandstanding politicians are proposing a wide assortment of many constitutional amendments to produce big [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — June 30
Liberty Letters, June 30 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: The debate over proportional vs. equal representation continues. Wilson sides with Madison in stating that we have more to fear from competition between the states than coalitions. He debunks fears about monarchy and aristocracy. Bad Governments are of two sorts: that which does too [...]
Moral Corruption Fatal in the End — Milton Lomask
Americanist History, 1787, Milton Lomask YZEKCKUYUKU7 "Virtue," a group of New Hampshire ministers pointed out, was helpful "to any kind of government, but it was absolutely necessary to the existence of a republic." In a republic, one of them declared, "the people are not only the source of authority; but the exercise of it is in a great [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 29
Liberty Letters, 29 June 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Doctor Johnson asserts "the States ... must be armed with some power of self-defense," thus the House should represent the people, the Senate the states. Mr. Ghorum says districts within the states feared becoming part of a state government; their fears were unfounded. Read pleads for [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 27
Liberty Letters, 27 June 1787, James Madison (Editor's Summary: For three hours Luther Martin contended that the Federal "powers ought to be kept within narrow limits; that the Senate, and its equality provision, was key to the principle of federalism; that the states, like the people, should never surrender their right of sovereignty; that [...]
The Man who Was Ben Franklin — American Minute
On APRIL 17, 1790, the son of a poor candle-maker died. The 15th of 17 children, he apprenticed as a printer and published a popular almanac. He retired at age 42, then taught himself five languages, invented the rocking chair, bifocal glasses and the lighting rod, which earned him degrees from Harvard and Yale. He helped found the University [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 26
Liberty Letters, 26 June 1787, James Madison (Editor's summary: Duration, rotation, and purpose of U.S. Senate considered. Madison said of the Senate's purpose: "first to protect the people against their rulers: secondly to protect the people against the transient impressions into which they themselves might be led " Also noted: a protection [...]
