Debates in the Congress of the Confederation, from February 19, 1787 to April 25, 1787

which declares that the National Executive shall be chosen by the
National Legislature, to substitute therefor that the National Exe-
cutive be elected by the Executives of the States, their proportion
of votes to be the same as in electing the second branch of the
National Legislature-Disagreed to.

MONDAY, June 11th

835

Motion to consider Mr. Randolph's second proposition, as to the

right of suffrage in the National Legislature, which had been post-

poned-Agreed to-Motion to substitute therefor that the right of

suffrage in the National Legislature ought not to be according to

the rule in the Articles of Confederation, (an equality, each State

having one vote therein,) but according to some equitable ratio of

representation-Agreed to-Motion that this equitable ratio of re-

presentation should be according to the quotas of contribution-

Postponed-Motion that this equitable ratio of representation
should be in proportion to the number of free citizens and inhabit-
ants, and three fifths of other persons in each State-Agreed to-
Motion that there should be an equality of suffrage in the second
branch of the National Legislature, each State to have one vote
therein-Disagreed to-Motion that the right of suffrage should
be the same in each branch-Agreed to.

Motion to consider Mr. Randolph's eleventh proposition, guaran-

teeing republican government and its territory to each State, which

had been postponed-Agreed to-Motion to amend it, so as to guar-

antee to each State a republican Constitution, and its existing laws

-Agreed to.

Motion to consider Mr. Randolph's thirteenth proposition, provi-

ding for amendments to the Constitution, which had been post-
poned, agreed to-Motion that provision for amendments ought to
be made Agreed to-That the assent of the National Legislature
ought not to be required-Postponed.

Motion to consider Mr. Randolph's fourteenth proposition, requi-
ring oaths of National and State officers to observe the National
Constitution, which had been postponed-Agreed to-Motion to
strike out the part requiring oaths of State officers-Disagreed to
-Proposition agreed to.

TUESDAY, June 12th

846

Mr. Randolph's fifteenth proposition relative to ratification of the

Constitution by State Conventions considered and agreed to.

Motion to consider that part of Mr. Randolph's fourth proposi

tion relative to the qualifications of the members of the first branch,
which had been postponed-Agreed to-Motion that the members

of the first branch shall be elected every three years-Agreed to-

Shall be of - years of age-Disagreed to-Shall be allowed a

fixed compensation, to be paid out of the National Treasury-

Agreed to-Shall be ineligible to State or National offices during

their term of service, or for one year after-Agreed to-Shall be

incapable of re-election for
years after, and subject to recall

-Disagreed to.

The part of Mr. Randolph's fifth proposition relative to qualifi-

cations of the members of the second branch, considered-Motion

that the members of the second branch shall be of the age of

thirty years-Agreed to-Shall hold their offices for the term of

seven years-Agreed to-Shall be entitled to no compensation-

Disagreed to Shall be subject to the same qualifications as to

compensation and ineligibility as the members of the first branch

-Agreed to.

WEDNESDAY, June 13th

855

The part of Mr. Randolph's ninth proposition relative to the juris-

diction of the National Judiciary was struck out-Motion that

National Judiciary shall have jurisdiction in cases of national rev-

enue, impeachments of national officers and questions of national

peace and harmony-Agreed to-Motion that the judges of the

supreme tribunal be appointed by the second branch (Senate) of

National Legislature-Agreed to.

Motion to amend that part of the sixth proposition which em-

powers each branch to originate acts by restraining the second
(senatorial) branch from originating money bills-Disagreed to.

State of the resolutions (nineteen in number) as adopted by the
Committee of the Whole; and founded on Mr. Randolph's fifteen
propositions.

FRIDAY, June 15th

862

Mr. Patterson submits nine propositions to be substituted for those

of Mr. Randolph-Propositions stated.

SATURDAY, June 16th

867

Mr. Patterson's first proposition-The Articles of Confederation to

be revised and enlarged-Adjourned.

MONDAY, June 18th

879

Mr. Patterson's first proposition-The Articles of Confederation to

be revised and enlarged, resumed--Motion to amend so as to pro-

vide for an adequate government of the United States-Post-

poned.

Mr. Hamilton submits eleven propositions as amendments which

་

he should probably offer to those of Mr. Randolph-Read but
not moved.

TUESDAY, June 19th

893

Motion to amend Mr. Patterson's first proposition so as to provide

for an adequate government of the United States, resumed-Dis-

agreed to-Motion to postpone Mr. Patterson's first proposition-

Agreed to.

Motion for the Committee of the Whole to rise and report the

nineteen resolutions founded on Mr. Randolph's propositions as
amended and adopted in committee-Agreed to.

First resolution establishing a National Government to consist
of a Legislative, Executive and Judiciary, considered by the Con-
vention.

WEDNESDAY, June 20th

908

First resolution, establishing a National Government, resumed—

Motion to amend so as to establish a government of the United

States-Agreed to.

Second resolution that the National Legislature consist of two

branches-Motion to amend by striking out National-Agreed to
-Motion to amend by declaring that legislation be vested in the
United States in Congress-Disagreed to.

THURSDAY, June 21st

920

Second resolution, that the Legislature consist of two branches, re-

sumed--Agreed to.

Third resolution, fixing election, term, qualifications, &c. of the

first branch of the Legislature-Motion to amend so as to provide
that the election of the first branch be, as the State Legislatures,
direct-Disagreed to-Motion to amend so as to provide that the
term of the first branch be for two years-Agreed to.

FRIDAY, June 22d

931

Third resolution fixing election, term, qualifications, &c. of the

first branch, resumed-Motion to amend so as to provide that the

compensation of members of the first branch shall be fixed by the

National Legislature-Disagreed to-Motion to amend, by stri-

king out its payment from the National Treasury-Disagreed to—

Motion to amend so as to provide that the compensation shall be

fixed-Agreed to-Motion to amend so as to provide that the

members of the first branch shall be twenty-five years of age-

Agreed to-Motion to amend by striking out the ineligibility of

members of the first branch-Disagreed to.

VOL. II.-B

SATURDAY, June 23d

938

Third resolution for fixing the qualifications, &c. of the first branch,

resumed-Motion to amend by striking out the ineligibility of the

members to State offices-Agreed to-Motion to amend by confer-

ring their ineligibility to such National offices as had been estab-

lished, or their emoluments increased while they were members-

Disagreed to-Motion to confine their ineligibility to National

offices, during one year after their term of service is expired-

Agreed to.

MONDAY, June 25th

945

Fourth resolution, fixing election, term, qualifications, &c. of the

second branch of the Legislature-Motions to amend the clause

relating to their term of office by making it six or five years-Dis-

agreed to.

TUESDAY, June 26th

961

Fourth resolution relative to the term of the second branch of the

Legislature, resumed-Motion to amend so as to make their term

nine years, one third to go out every third year-Disagreed to-To

make their term six years, one third to go out every second year

-Agreed to--Motion to amend by striking out their compensation

-Disagreed to-Motion to amend so as to provide that their com-

pensation be paid by the States-Disagreed to-Motion to provide

that their compensation be paid out of the National Treasury—

Disagreed to-Motion to amend by striking out the ineligibility of

the member to State offices-Agreed to-Motion to confine their

ineligibility to National offices during one year after their term of

service is expired.

Fifth resolution authorizing each branch to originate acts-

Agreed to.

Sixth resolution defining the powers of the Legislature-Post-

poned.

Seventh resolution fixing the right of suffrage in the first branch
of the Legislature, considered.

THURSDAY, June 28th

976

Seventh resolution, fixing the right of suffrage in the first branch,

resumed-Motion to amend so as to provide that the right of suf-

frage in the first branch should be the same as in the Articles of

the Confederation, (an equality, each State having one vote there

in)-Postponed.

Amendment proposed to the seventh resolution, so as to give each

State an equal suffrage in the first branch, resumed-Disagreed to

-Remaining clauses of seventh resolution postponed.

Eighth resolution, fixing the same right of suffrage in the second

branch of the Legislature as in the first-Motion to amend so as
provide that each State should have an equal suffrage in the sec-
ond branch-Adjourned.

SATURDAY, June 30th

998

Amendment proposed to the eighth resolution, so as to give each

State an equal suffrage in the second branch, resumed-Proposi-

tion to amend so as to provide that each State should send an

equal number of members to the second branch; that in all ques-

tions of State sovereignty and of appointments to office, each State

shall have an equal suffrage, and that in fixing salaries and appro-

priations, each State shall vote in proportion to its contributions to

the Treasury-Not moved.

MONDAY, July 2d

1016