Posts Tagged ‘The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787’
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 28
Liberty Letters, 28 June 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Luther Martin raised his concerns about protecting state rights, especially those of the smaller states. Equal representation is the only answer. Hugh Williamson countered a strict equality of votes would tempt the smaller states to unite in schemes to redistribute the wealth to pay [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Madison’s Notes — Federal Convention of 1787 — June 25
Liberty Letters, 25 June 1787, James Madison MONDAY. JUNE 25. IN CONVENTION Editor's Summary: Pinkney, at length, explores the system, history, and roots of the British Constitution, dubbing it the best in existence (to date), but wrong for the United States. State and county rights considered and largely defended by Pinkney, Ghorum, Wilson, [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 23
Liberty Letters, Saturday, 23 June 1787, James Madison The 3. Resolution: resumed. 1 On 2 Question yesterday postponed by S. Carol: for agreeing to the whole sentence "for allowing an adequate compensation to be paid out of the Treasury of the U. States" Masts. ay. Cont. no. N. Y. no. N. J. ay. Pena. ay Del. no. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. no. [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 22
Liberty Letters, 22 June 1787, James Madison FRIDAY JUNE 22. IN CONVENTION The clause in Resol. 3. 1 "to receive fixed stipends to be paid out of the Nationl. Treasury" 2 considered. Mr. ELSEWORTH, moved to substitute payment by the States out of their own Treasurys: observing that the manners of different States were very different in [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 21
Liberty Letters, 21 June 1787, James Madison Editors Intro: William Samuel Johnson noted that the New Jersey plans' chief worry was that the states "would retain some portion of sovereignty." Satisfy that and he would be satisfied. Wilson, agreed with Johnson, but was equally concerned with the states encroaching on the general government, and [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 20
Liberty Letters, June 20, 1787, James Madison WEDNESDAY JUNE 20, 1787. 1 IN CONVENTION Editors Overview: Edmund Randolph argues for the new plan to be ratified by the people. John Lansing Jr. understands that any representative, however elected, would have the natural duty of representing the state collectively. Col. Mason noted that in [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 19
Liberty Letters, June 19, 1787, James Madison TUESDAY JUNE 19th. IN COMMITTEE OF 1 WHOLE ON THE PROPOSITIONS OF MR. PATTERSON The substitute offered yesterday by Mr. Dickenson being rejected by a vote now taken on it; Con. N. Y. N. J. Del. ay. 2 Mas. Pa. V. N. C. S. C. Geo. no. 3 Mayd. divided. Mr. PATTERSON's plan was again at large [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 18
Liberty Letters, June 18, 1787, James Madison The Moral Liberal summary: Alexander Hamilton makes the case for republican government modeled after the British Constitution, it being the only one in the world uniting public strength with individual security. He praises its mixed representation, checks and balances, and the greater stability and [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 16
Liberty Letters, June 16, 1787, James Madison SATURDAY JUNE 16th. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON 1 RESOLUTIONS PROPOSD. BY MR. P. & MR. R Mr. LANSING called for the reading of the 1st. resolution of each plan, which he considered as involving principles directly in contrast; that of Mr. Patterson says he sustains the sovereignty of the [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 14-15
Liberty Letters, June 14-15, 1787, James Madison THURSDAY JUNE 14. IN CONVENTION 1 Mr. PATTERSON, observed to the Convention that it was the wish of several deputations, particularly that of N. Jersey, that further time might be allowed them to contemplate the plan reported from the Committee of the Whole, and to digest one purely [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention — June 13
Liberty Letters, June 13, 1787, James Madison WEDNESDAY JUNE 13. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Resol: 9 1 being resumed The latter parts of the clause relating to the jurisdiction of the Natil. tribunals, was struck out nem. con in order to leave full room for their organization. Mr. RANDOLPH & Mr. MADISON, then moved the following [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention — June 12
Liberty Letters, June 12, 1787, James Madison TUESDAY JUNE 12th. IN COMMITTEE OF 1 WHOLE The Question 2 taken on Resolution 15, 3 to wit, referring the new system to the people of the 4 States for ratification it passed in the affirmative: Massts. ay. Cont. no. N. Y. no. N. J. no. Pa. *5 ay. Del. divd. Md. divd. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S. C. [...]
Madison’s Notes — The Federal Convention of 1787 — June 11
Liberty Letters, June 11, 1787, James Madison MONDAY JUNE 11th. MR. ABRAHAM BALDWIN FROM GEORGIA TOOK HIS SEAT. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE The clause concerning the rule of suffrage in the natl. Legislature postponed on Saturday was resumed. Mr. SHARMAN proposed that the proportion of suffrage in the 1st. branch should be according to [...]
Madison’s Notes, The Federal Convention, June 9
Liberty Letters, June 9, 1787, James Madison SATURDAY JUNE 9th. MR. LUTHER MARTIN FROM MARYLAND TOOK HIS SEAT IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Mr. GERRY, according to previous notice given by him, moved "that the National Executive should be elected by the Executives of the States whose proportion of votes should be the same with that allowed to [...]
