["for" stricken out] as a competitor. Λ out] and claimed the indulgence of the House towards the involuntary errors which his inexperience might occasion. + [The nomination came with particular grace from Penna, as Doc! Franklin alone could have been thought of ["President [illegible words] of obtaining the [illegible word] of Gen! Washington." stricken out] The Doc was himself to have made the nomination ["of the Gen! but the season of of of General Washington, but the state Λ of the weather and ["the state" stricken out] of his health confined him to his house.] A the rain did not permit him to venture to the Convention chamber." stricken out] Mr Wilson moved that a Secretary ["should" stricken out] be appointed, and nominated M Temple Franklin. Col Hamilton nominated Major Jackson. On the ballot Maj' Jackson had 5 votes & M' Franklin 2 votes. On reading the Credentials of the deputies it was noticed that those from Delaware were prohibited from changing the Article in the Confederation establishing an equality of votes among the States. The appointment of a Committee, consisting of Messrs Wythe, Hamilton & C. Pinkney, on the motion с standing & orders с Λ of M Pinkney, to prepare rules was the only remaining Λ taken on Λ step ["of" stricken out] this day Λ h Monday May 28.— ¶ From Masst's, Nat: Goram & Caleb Strong ["took their seats" stricken out]. From ConnetiΛ cut Oliver Elseworth. From Delaware Gunning Bedford. From Maryland James McHenry, From Penna. B. Franklin, George Clymer, Ths. Mifflin & Jared Ingersol took their seats. Mr. Wythe from The Committee for preparing rules which employed the deliberations of this day. a made report Λ ["M: Wythe delivered in the Report." stricken out] [Illegible word, “members reported," illegible word stricken out] Mr King objected to one of the rules in the Report authorising any member to call for the yeas & nays and have them entered on the minutes. He urged that ["it was unnecessary." stricken out] as the acts of the Convention were not to it was unnecessary to bind the Constituents ["to" stricken out] exhibit this evidence of the votes; and improper as changes of opinion would be frequent in the course of the business & fill the minutes with contradictions. Mason A an V that would A Col. seconded the objection; adding such a record of the opinions of members would be obstacle to a change of them on conviction; and in case of its being hereafter promulged must furnish ["a" stricken out] handles to the adversaries of the Result of the Meeting. The proposed rule was rejected nem. contradicente. The standing rules* agreed to were as follow: [see the Journal] [“*” stricken out] & copy here the printed rules ["The Rule restraining members from communicating the proceedings of the Convention &c. was [illegible word stricken out] agreed to nem. con. for reasons similar to those above mentioned. "One Another of the Rules being disagreed to, the sett was agreed to understand as follows. See note B." stricken out.] every in the Convention had * Previous to the arrival of a majority of the States, the rule by which they ought to vote been made a subject of conversation among the members present. It was pressed by Gouverneur Morris ["with" stricken out] and favored by Robert Morris and others from Pennsylvania, that the large States should unite in firmly refusing to the small States an equal vote, as unreasonable, and as enabling the small States to negative every good system of Government, which must in the nature of things, be founded on a violation of that equality. The members from Virginia, conceiving that such an attempt might ["produce fatal con" stricken out] beget fatal altercations between the large & small States, and that it would be easier to prevail on the latter, ["to" stricken out] in the course of the deliberations, to give up their equality for the sake of on taking the field of discussion, to disarm themselves of the right an effective Government, than [illegible words; "of the right on taking the field of discussion" stricken out] & thereby throw themselves on the mercy of the large States, discountenanced & stifled the project. [viz, A House to do business shall consist of the Deputies) of not less than seven States; and all questions shall be decided by the greater number of these which shall be fully represented: but a less number than seven may adjourn from day to day. Immediately after the President shall have taken the chair, and the members their seats, the minutes of the preceding day shall be read by the Secretary. Every member, rising to speak, shall address the Presi book, [The words beginning, "[viz.A House," &c., and ending shall be received]”, were written upon a slip of paper pasted dent; and whilst he shall be speaking, none shall pass with, "the debate between them, or hold discourse with another, or read a pamphlet or paper, printed or manuscript-and of two bers rising at the same time, the President shall name him who shall be first heard. mem-over the words be A member shall not speak oftener than twice, without special leave, upon the same question; and not the second time, before every other, who had been silent, shall have been heard, if he choose to speak upon the subject. A motion made and seconded, shall be repeated, and if written, as it shall be when any member shall so require, read aloud by the Secretary, before it shall be debated; and may be withdrawn at any time, before the vote upon it shall have been declared. Orders of the day shall be read next after the minutes, and either discussed or postponed, before any other business shall be introduced. When a debate shall arise upon a question, no motion, other than to amend the question, to commit it, or to postpone the debate shall be received.] ["[A question which is complicated, shall, at the request of any member, be divided, and put separately on the propositions. of which it is compounded. ginning, "The Rule restraining", and ending with, "as follows. See note B.", which had first been stricken out. attached, is also Upon this slip, so written the note beginning, "* Previous to the arrival of", &c, and on the back of the slip are contained the remain der of the rules, be ginning: "[a question", &c., and end ing: "until the Pres ident pass him.]"] "The determination of a question, altho' fully debated, shall be postponed, if the deputies of any State desire it until the next day. "A writing which contains any matter brought on to be considered, shall be read once throughout for information, then by paragraphs to be debated, and again, with the amendments if any, made on the second reading; and afterwards, the question shall be put on the whole, amended, or approved in its original form, as the case shall be. 'Committees shall be appointed by ballot; and the members who have the greatest number of ballots, altho' not a majority of the votes present, shall be the Committee-When two or more members have an equal number of votes, the member standing first on the list in the order of taking down the ballots, shall be preferred. "A member may be called to order by any other member, as well as by the President; and may be allowed to explain his conduct or expressions supposed to be reprehensible.—and all questions of order shall be decided by the President without appeal or debate. "Upon a question to adjourn for the day, which may be made at any time, if it be seconded, the question shall be put without a debate. "When the House shall adjourn, every member shall stand in his place, until the President pass him.]" stricken out] A letter from sundry persons of the State of Rho. Island addressed to the Honorable The Chairman of the General Convention was presented to the chair by Mr Gov! Morris, and being read, was ordered to lie on the table for further consideration. [For the letter see Note ["C" stricken out] in the appendix.] ["unlicensed" stricken out] Mr Butler moved that the house provide agst interruption of business by absence of members, and against ["licencious which licentious stricken out], publications of their procedings-to was added John Λ Tuesday May 29. ["M" stricken out] Dickinson, and Elbridge Gerry, the former from Delaware, the latter from Massts took their seats, The following rules were added, on the report of Mr. Wythe, from the Committee [see the Journal] Λ ×[“A few new rules added as appears by the minutes as reported by M Wythe from the committee to whom was referred the motions of M Butler & Spaight" stricken out] ["[Here insert the rules]" stricken out] ["X For these additional rules see next Mr C. Pinkney moved that a Committee page." stricken out] ["should" stricken out] be appointed to superintend the minutes. Mr Gov! Morris objected to it. The entry of the proceedings of the Convention belonged to the Secretary as their impartial officer. A committee might have an interest & bias in moulding the entry according to their opinions and wishes The motion was negatived, ["by" stricken out] 5 noes ["agst," stricken out] 4 ays. ["On the question 5 noes were agst 4 ayes so the motion was negatived." stricken out] then [here insert his speech. ["A]" stricken out] M: Randolph opened the main business ["in a long speech out in which he pointed the various defects of the federal system, |