Debates in the Federal Convention, from Tuesday, August 7, 1787 until its final adjournment, Monday, September 17, 1787

point 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 5th

1494

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 gov-

ernment, and for other purposes with the consent of the State Leg-

islatures-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 high-
est-Disagreed to-To the thirteen highest-Disagreed to.

THURSDAY, September 6th

1503

Article tenth, relative to the Executive, resumed-Motion to ex-

clude members of the Legislature, and public officers from being

Electors Agreed to-Motions 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 7th.

1514

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 Execu-

tive-Disagreed to-Motion to appoint an Executive Council-

Disagreed to.

SATURDAY, September 8th

1524

Article tenth, relative to the Executive, resumed-Motion to re-

quire treaties of peace to be consented to by two thirds of the Sen-

ate-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-Mo-

tion to withdraw trial of impeachment from the Senate-Disa-

greed to.

Article fourth, relative to the House of Representatives, resum-

ed-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 Com-
mittee of Revision.

MONDAY, September 10th

1533

Article nineteenth, relative to amendments of the Constitution, re-

sumed-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 rati-

fication-Disagreed to.

Article twenty-second, relative to the mode of ratifying the Con-

stitution-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 12th

1543

The Constitution as reported by the Committee of Revision, con-

sidered.

Article first, relative to the Legislative power-Motion to re-

quire 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 13th

1568

Motion for a Committee to report articles of association for en-

couraging, 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 neces-
sary to execute their inspection laws-Agreed to.

Resolutions directing the mode of proceeding in the present Con-
gress to submit the Constitution to the States.

FRIDAY, September 14th

1571

Article first, relative to the Legislative powers, resumed-Motion

to change the present proportion of members in the House of Rep-

resentatives-Disagreed to-Motion that officers impeached be sus-

pended till trial-Disagreed to-Motion to require the House of

Representatives to publish all its proceedings-Disagreed to-Mo-

tion that Treasurer be appointed as other officers-Agreed to-

Motion to provide for cutting canals and granting charters of in-

corporation, 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 15th

1582

Article first, relative to the Legislative powers, resumed--Motion

to change the present proportion of members in the House of Rep-

resentatives-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 Presi-

dent 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 infe-
rior 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-Mo-
tion 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 guarantee to the States an equal representation in the Senate
-Agreed to-Motion to forbid the passage of a navigation act be-
fore 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 17th

1596

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 Pres-

ident Agreed to.