Posts Tagged ‘The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787’
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 for [...]
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 [...]
