Posts Tagged ‘The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787’
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 15
Liberty Letters, 15 September 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: First Article, relative to the Legislative powers, resumed. Motion to change the present proportion of members in the House of Representatives in favor of one more representative for both North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Disagreed to. Motion that the inspection [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 14
Liberty Letters, 14 September 1787, James Madison Editor's overview: 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 [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: September 13
Liberty Letters, 13 September 1787, James Madison Col George Mason. He had moved without success for a power to make sumptuary regulations. He had not yet lost sight of his object. After descanting on the extravagance of our manners, the excessive consumption of foreign superfluities, and the necessity of restricting it, as well with economical [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: September 11
Liberty Letters, 11 September 1787 The Report of the Committee of Stile and arrangement not being made and being waited for, The House Adjourned ______________________ Copyright of Madison's Notes to the Federal Convention of 1787 is in the Public Domain.
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 10
Liberty Letters, 10 September 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Motion that Legislature may propose amendments, to be binding when assented to by three-fourths of the States. Agreed to. Motion to require the assent of the present Congress, before submitting it to the States for ratification. Disagreed to. Motion to require the assent [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 08
Liberty Letters, 08 September 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: Motion to require treaties of peace to be consented to by two-thirds of the Senate, briefly debated and agreed to. Motion to strike out the requirement of a two-thirds vote of the Senate for making treating. Disagreed to. Motion to require that in treaties of peace cases [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 07
Liberty Letters, 07 Sept. 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: The mode of constituting the Presidency being resumed, Randolph moved, to insert in the first Section of the report made yesterday: "The Legislature may declare by law what officer of the United States shall act as President in case of the death, resignation, or disability of the [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 06
Liberty Letters, 6 September 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: Article ten, relative to the President, resumed. Mr. Gerry motions to exclude members of the Legislature, and public officers from being Electors. Passed. Mr. Spaight and Mr. Williamson enter motion to extend the Executive term from four to seven years. Rejected. And again [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 5
Liberty Letters, 05 September 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: Passed without debate: "To promote the progress of Science and useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries." And yet, today, in the name of so-called Free Trade we let nations like China [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 4
Liberty Letters, 04 September 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: Most important item discussed: Electoral College defined. Note that the electors match the total number of Congressmen for their respective states, that is, they match the representative formula which mixes proportional representation (as in the House) with equal representation [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Sept. 3
Liberty Letters, 3 September 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: After a few small refinements to previously passed measures, the most significant discussion of the day was over the issue of eligibility to serve in civil service positions (and elsewhere in government) while serving in Congress. Pinkney was strenuously opposed to an [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: September 1
Liberty Letters, 01 September 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: Report from the Commission of Eleven offers some refinements to wording of previously accepted motions including the ineligibility of members of either house to serve in civil office during their time in office or visa versa, the establishment of uniform laws on the subject of [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: Aug. 31
Liberty Letters, 31 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: KING moved to add to the end of Article XXI the words "between the said States" so as to confine the operation of the Government to the States ratifying it. Interestingly, only one dissenting vote. Mr. MADISON, however proposed to fill the blank in the article with "any seven [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: August 30
Liberty Letters, 30 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: Debate over the policy of admitting new states to the Union renewed. Still unresolved. Art: XX. taken up: "or affirmation" was added after "oath." Mr. Pinkney moved to add to the article: "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 29
Liberty Letters, 29 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Overview: Pinkney moved to commit article XVI, with the following proposition, "To establish uniform laws upon the subject of bankruptcies, and respecting the damages arising on the protest of foreign bills of exchange" Randolph moved the following proposition: "Whenever the act of any [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: August 28
Liberty Letters, 28 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Notes: Mr. Sherman made the following report regarding items referred to committee: 1. That there be inserted after the 4th clause of 7th. section "Nor shall any regulation of commerce or revenue give preference to the ports of one State over those of another, or oblige vessels bound to or [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 27
Liberty Letters, 27 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Introduction: After a seeking a few clarifications and refinements on the Constitution, the majority of this day's short business focused on the powers and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Madison feared that it went to far to give the courts jurisdiction "over all cases that shall arise [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787, August 25
Liberty Letters, 25 August 1787, James Madison The 1st. clause of 1 Sect. of art: VII 2 being reconsidered Col. MASON objected to the term "shall" — fullfil the engagements & discharge the debts &c as too strong. It may be impossible to comply with it. The Creditors should be kept in the same plight. They will in one respect be [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 24
Liberty Letters, 24 August 1787, James Madison Governour LIVINGSTON, from the Committee of Eleven, to whom were referred the two remaining clauses of the 4th. Sect & the 5 & 6 Sect: of the 7th. art: 2 delivered in the following Report: "Strike out so much of the 4th Sect: as was referred to the Committee and insert — "The migration or [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787, August 23
Liberty Letters, 23 August 1787, James Madison The Report of the Committee of Eleven made Aug: 21. 2 being taken up, and the following clause being under consideration to wit "To make laws for organizing, arming & disciplining the Militia, and for governing such part 3 of them as may be employed in the service of the U. S. reserving to the [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: August 21
Liberty Letters, 21 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Governor Livingston reads report from the Committee of Eleven granting Congress the power to discharge the debts incurred by the United States as well as the debts of the several states during the late war, and to make laws for organizing and disciplining the militia, or such part [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: 20 August
Liberty Letters, 20 August 1787, James Madison ___________________ Editor's Summary: Pinckney and Morris introduced quite a number of new motions, all of which were sent to committee without discussion, some of them seeming quite contradictory, ranging from items that would belong in a Bill of Rights, to items that had all the appearances of [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787, August 18
Liberty Letters, 18 August 1787, James Madison ____________________ Editor's Summary: Madison submits a list of powers to be added to Congress, to include, surprisingly, the creation of a National University, the power to create encouragements beyond securing patents to advance "useful knowledge and discoveries" by "offering premiums and [...]
On the Dangers of Deficits and Perpetual Revenue
The Moral Liberal with Steve Farrell In the Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, Mr. Mason of Virginia, suggested: the necessity of preventing the danger of perpetual revenue which must of necessity subvert the liberty of any Country. If it be objected to on the principle of Mr. Rutledge's motion that public credit may require perpetual [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 17
Liberty Letters, 17 August 1787, James Madison ___________________ Editor's Summary: Ghorum moves to involve the House in the appointment of the Treasurer. Pinkney and Sherman opposed it as favoring the larger states. Mason desired it might be considered to whom the money would belong; if to the people, the legislature representing the people [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 16
Liberty Letters, 16 August 1787, James Madison ______________________ Editor's Notes: Revision/veto power of the President continues to be tinkered with. James Wilson upon request of Mr. Martin explains the difference between duties and imposts: "duties are applicable to many objects to which the word imposts does not relate. The latter are [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787, August 15
Liberty Letters, 15 August 1787, James Madison _____________________ Editor's Summary: Madison moved that all bills ought to be submitted not just to the President, but to the Supreme Court for approval, something that was done in England to insure that laws were both soundly written and Constitutional (this was not the first time this was [...]
Democracy: A More Pure and Unmixed Tyranny
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, James Wilson Mr. Wilson, after viewing the subject with all the coolness and attention possible was most apprehensive of a dissolution of the Government from the legislature swallowing up all the other powers. He remarked that the prejudices against the Executive resulted from a misapplication of the adage [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: August 14
Liberty Letters, 14 August 1787, James Madison ____________________ Editor's Summary: The debate for 14 August 1787 focused on two issues. 1. Should members of the House be eligible under the Constitution to accept civil service offices during or shortly thereafter serving in the House? And why or why isn't this a danger? 2. Who should pay [...]
A Meaningless Old Parchment?
by Steve Farrell Today we are bombarded with the idea that private virtue has nothing to do, nothing to say, about proper governing and the maintenance of free government. Not so among America's Founders. On August 14, 1787, John Francis Mercer, a Delegate from Maryland to the Constitutional Convention rose to his feet. He said: What led to [...]
Gouverneur Morris: On Office Hunting
Liberty Letters Quote of the Day, Gouverneur Morris To avoid another inconveniency, we are to have a whole Legislature at liberty to cut out offices for one another. He thought a self-denying ordinance for ourselves would be more proper. ... He had scarcely seen a single corrupt measure in the Legislature of North Carolina, which could not be [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 12
Liberty Letters, 12 August 1787, James Madison _____________________ Editor's Summary: Minimum citizenship requirements for members of the House of Representatives considered. Wilson and Randolph advocated lowering the requirement from 7 years a citizen to 4. Mr. GERRY objected, wishing that in the future "the eligibility might be confined to [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 11
Liberty Letters, 11 August 1787, James Madison Editor's summary: Brief debate regarding motion by Madison and Rutlidge "that each House shall keep a journal of its proceeding; except such part of the proceedings of the Senate, when acting not in its Legislative capacity as may be judged by that House to require secrecy." This secrecy item was [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 10
Liberty Letters, 10 August 1787, James Madison Art. VI. Sect. 2. 1, 2 taken up. Mr. PINKNEY. The Committee as he had conceived were instructed to report the proper qualifications of property for the members of the Natl. Legislature; instead of which they have referred the task to the Natl. Legislature itself. Should it be left on this footing, [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 9
Liberty Letters, 9 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: The most significant discussion had to do with citizenship requirement in the Senate. See my column on the subject: "Common Sense and the Debate on Minimum Citizenship Requirements at the Constitutional Convention." Steve Farrell Art: IV. Sect. 6. 1, 2 Mr. RANDOLPH expressed his [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 8
Liberty Letters, 8 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: John F. Mercer of Virginia opposed the entire plan (he disliked the idea of a strong federal government) and then went on to express his opinion that candidates for Congress ought to be nominated by the state legislatures, and then voted on by the people. This because he mistrusted [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787: August 7
Liberty Letters, 7 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: The Report of the Committee of detail was taken up. Col. Mason doubted the propriety of giving each branch a negative on the other "in all cases." Debated. Point of interest: Rufus King could not think there would be a necessity for a meeting every year. A great vice in our [...]
Madison’s Notes: The Federal Convention of 1787: 6 August
Liberty Letters, 6 August 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Mr. Rutlidge delivered from the Committee of detail a printed copy of those resolutions passed thus far, or in other words, the new Constitution as it stood to date. Most noticeable are these: 1. The still undeveloped preamble began: "We the people of the states of New Hampshire, [...]
Madison’s Notes, Federal Convention of 1787, 26 July
Liberty Letters, 26 July 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Mason opens the session reviewing the difficulty of selecting the mode of electing the President. He notes: "It has been proposed that the election should be made by the people at large; that is that an act which ought to be performed by those who know most of Eminent characters, [...]
Madison’s Notes: Federal Convention of 1787, July 25
Liberty Letters, 25 July 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: More background on the Electoral College. Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut moved that the President be elected the first time around by the U.S. Congress, and if he decides to run for a second term, this time the election will take place via electors chosen by the state legislature, [...]
Madison’s Notes, Federal Convention of 1787, 24 July
Liberty Letters, 24 July 1787, James Madison Editor's Summary: Appointment of Electors for electing the president reconsidered. Houston wanted electors appointed by the National Legislature chiefly on the improbability that capable men would undertake the service of Electors in the more distant states. Mr. Spaight seconded the motion. Gerry [...]
Madison’s Notes, The Federal Convention of 1787, July 23
Liberty Letters, 23 July 1787, James Madison Editor's Comments: Would it surprise a few libertarians, who more than state rights advocates, lean toward anarchy, and like to justify their leanings, for instance, in favor of the right to secession, that the justification for state ratifying conventions involving the people, rather than their [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Obama Complies With Agenda 21 and Expands Federal Power
By Henry Lamb Listen here President Obama’s Executive Order 13547 issued July 19, further extends federal power, embraces global governance, diminishes the rights and privileges of individuals, and brings the United States into compliance with Agenda 21, Chapter 17.6, which says: “Each coastal State should consider establishing, or where [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
