Free Republic

Article VI Sections 1- 7. Property Qualifications. The $100,000 President. Rich Rogues. Quorums. Compel Attendance. Free Speech. Expulsion. Journal. In Convention. Art. VI. Sect. 2. [FN1], [FN2] 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, the first Legislature will meet without any particular qualifications of property: and if it should happen to consist of rich men they might fix such such qualifications...

Article IV Sections 6-7. Article V. Article VI Section 1. Senate Vacancies. More Money Bills and Senate Suffrage. Immigration & Citizenship. Times, Places and Manners. In Convention. Art: IV. Sect. 6. [FN1], [FN2] Mr. RANDOLPH expressed his dissatisfaction at the disagreement yesterday to Sect. 5. concerning money bills, as endangering the success of the plan, and extremely objectionable in itself; and gave notice that he should move for a reconsideration of the vote. Mr. WILLIAMSON said he had formed a like intention. Mr. WILSON, gave notice that he shd. move to reconsider the vote, requiring seven instead of three years...

Article IV Sections 1-5. Resident or Inhabitant. Representation in First House. King Speech on Slaves, Taxes, and Exports. Forty Thousand. Why Worry? Morris & Accursed Slavery. In Convention. Art: IV. Sect. I. [FN1], [FN2] -Mr. MERCER expressed his dislike of the whole plan, and his opinion that it never could succeed. Mr. GHORUM. he had never seen any inconveniency [FN3] from allowing such as were not freeholders to vote, though it had long been tried. The elections in Phila. N. York & Boston where the Merchants, & Mechanics vote are at least as good as those made by freeholders only....

Report of the Committee of Detail, Preamble Through Article IV Section 1. Presidential Election by Joint or Separate Sessions of Congress? Annual Sessions. Legislating Too Much. Inquisitorial Powers. Travel Weather. Broad Legislative Powers? Freeholders. Voting Franchise. Dickinson & Morris on Suffrage. Taxation and Representation. Madison’s Prediction. Franklin Speech. American v. British Sailors. In Convention. The Report of the Committee of detail being taken up, Mr. PINKNEY moved that it be referred to a Committee of the whole. This was strongly opposed by Mr. GHORUM & several others, as likely to produce unnecessary delay; and was negatived. Delaware Maryd & Virga...

First Draft of Constitution. In Convention. Mr. John Francis Mercer from Maryland took his seat. Mr. RUTLIDGE delivered in the Report of the Committee of detail as follows: a printed copy being at the same time furnished to each member: "We the people of the States of New Hampshire, Massachussetts, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare, and establish the following Constitution for the Government of Ourselves and our Posterity. ARTICLE I The stile of the Government shall be, "The United States of America" II The Government shall consist...

Seven Ways to Elect an Executive. Term Limits. Property Requirements. Appointment by National Legislature to Single Seven Year Term. Virtuous Voters. Landed Debt. Seat of Government. Resolutions Submitted to Committee of Detail. In Convention. Col. [FN1] MASON. In every Stage of the Question relative to the Executive, the difficulty of the subject and the diversity of the opinions concerning it have appeared. Nor have any of the modes of constituting that department been satisfactory. 1. [FN2] It has been proposed that the election should be made by the people at large; that is that an act which ought to be...

Executive Electors. Foreign Influence and Bribes. Madison Speech and Popular Election. More National v. State Legislature v. Popular Election Debate. In Convention. [FN1] Clause relating to the Executive [FN2] again under consideration. Mr. ELSEWORTH moved "that the Executive be appointed by the Legislature," except when the magistrate last chosen shall have continued in office the whole term for which he was chosen, & be reeligible, in which case the choice shall be by Electors appointed by the Legislatures of the States for that purpose." By this means a deserving magistrate may be reelected without making him dependent on the Legislature....

Executive Electors. Twenty Year President. Single or Multiple Executives. How Many Terms? Impeachment. State Legislatures or Congressional Appointment. G. Morris Speech. Roll the Dice. Committee of Detail. Pinckney and NJ/Patterson Plans Discharged. In Convention. The appointment of the Executive by Electors [FN1] reconsidered. Mr. HOUSTON moved that he be appointed by the "Natl. Legislature," instead of "Electors appointed by the State Legislatures" according to the last decision of the mode. He dwelt chiefly on the improbability, that capable men would undertake the service of Electors from the more distant States. Mr. SPAIGHT seconded the motion. Mr. GERRY opposed it. He...

Amendments. Oaths. Mason Speech on Popular Ratification. Retained Powers. Secession. Ratification by Legislatures. G. Morris, Madison and Judicial Review. Oaths to State Constitutions. Two Senators per State. Per Capita Voting. Executive Electors. Export Taxation Ban. In Convention. Mr. John Langdon & Mr. Nicholas Gilman from N. Hampshire, took their seats. Resoln.: 17. [FN1] that provision ought to be made for future amendments of the articles of Union, [FN2] agreed to, nem. con. Resoln. 18. [FN3] "requiring the Legis: Execut: & Judy. of the States to be bound by oath to support the articles of Union," [FN2] taken into consideration. Mr....

Judicial Veto and Judicial Review. Madison & G. Morris Speeches. Strength to Veto Bad Bills. Transfer Payments, Remission of Debt. Executive Veto, Two Thirds Override. Executive nomination of Judges w/Senatorial veto. Luther Martin, George Mason and Judicial Review. What is Proper Law? Senatorial Appointment of Judges. In Convention. Mr. WILLIAMSON moved that the Electors of the Executive should be paid out of the National Treasury for the Service to be performed by them." Justice required this: as it was a national service they were to render. The motion was agreed to Nem. Con. Mr. WILSON moved as an amendment to...

Presidential Electors. How Many? Impeachment. Separation of Powers. Statholder. Mr. Morris & Impeachable Offenses. Executive Salary. In Convention. The postponed [FN1] Ratio of Electors for appointing the Executive; to wit 1 for each State whose inhabitants do not exceed 100,000, [FN2] &c. being taken up. Mr. MADISON observed that this would make in time all or nearly all the States equal. Since there were few that would not in time contain the number of inhabitants intitling them to 3 Electors: that this ratio ought either to be made temporary, or so varied as that it would adjust itself to the...

Popular Presidential Elections. Multiple Terms. Biennial Elections. President for Life. State Electors. Separation of Powers by Madison. North v. South Popular Suffrage. Elbridge Gerry Speech – State Governors Appoint Electors. State Legislatures Appoint Electors. Six Year Terms. In Convention. On reconsideration of the vote rendering the Executive re-eligible a 2d. time, Mr. MARTIN moved to reinstate the words, "to be ineligible a 2d. time." Mr. GOVERNEUR MORRIS. It is necessary to take into one view all that relates to the establishment of the Executive; on the due formation of which must depend the efficacy & utility of the Union among...

Judiciary. Advise and Consent. Compensation of Judges. Inferior Courts. Jurisdiction. Continuation of Government. Republican Government Guarantee. Rebellions. In Convention On motion of Mr. L. Martin to fix tomorrow for reconsidering the vote concerning "eligibility of Exective. [FN1] a 2d. time" it passed in the affirmative. Mas. ay. Cont. ay. N. J. absent. Pa. ay. Del. ay. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. absent. [FN2] The residue of Resol. 9 [FN3] concerning the Executive was postpd. till tomorrow. Resol. 10. [FN4] that Executive shl. have a right to negative legislative acts not afterwards passed by 2/3...

Sixth Resolution. Taxation. Requisitions. Congressional Veto of State Law. Roger Sherman, James Madison, Governeur Morris & Judicial Review. Congressionally Elected Executive. Term Limits. President for life. In Convention Mr. GOVERNR. MORRIS. moved to reconsider the whole Resolution agreed to yesterday concerning the constitution of the 2 branches of the Legislature. His object was to bring the House to a consideration in the abstract of the powers necessary to be vested in the general Government. It had been said, Let us know how the Govt. is to be modelled, and then we can determine what powers can be properly given to...

The Great Compromise. Initial House Apportionment. Enumerated Powers. Treatment of New States. Decennial Census. Three Fifths of Slaves. House Money Bills Unalterable by Senate. Equal Senatorial State Suffrage. Threat of Dissolution. In Convention. On the question for agreeing to the whole Report as amended & including the equality of votes in the 2d. branch. it passed in the Affirmative. Mas. divided Mr. Gerry, Mr. Strong, ay. Mr. King Mr. Ghorum no. Cont. ay. N.J.ay. Pena.no. Del.ay. Md.ay. Va.no. N.C. ay. Mr. Spaight no. S.C.no. Geo.no. [FN1] [Here enter the whole in the words entered in the Journal July 16] [FN2]...

Domination of New States. Dissolution. Equality of Senatorial State Suffrage. Rufus King Speech. National vs. Federal. In Convention. Mr. L. MARTIN called for the question on the whole report, including the parts relating to the origination of money bills, and the equality of votes in the 2d. branch. Mr. GERRY. wished before the question should be put, that the attention of the House might be turned to the dangers apprehended from Western States. He was for admitting them on liberal terms, but not for putting ourselves into their hands. They will if they acquire power like all men, abuse it....

Taxation & Representation. Population, not Wealth Basis in First Branch. Morris Speech. Mississippi River.In Convention. It being moved to postpone the clause in the Report of the Committee of Eleven as to the originating of money bills in the [FN1] first branch, in order to take up the following "that in the 2d. branch each State shall have an equal voice." Mr. GERRY, moved to add as an amendment to the last clause agreed to by the House, "that from the first meeting of the Legislature of the U. S. till a census shall be taken all monies to be...

Taxation & Representation. Requisitions. Three-Fifths Rule. Census. In Convention. Mr. Govr. MORRIS moved to add to the clause empowering the Legislature to vary the Representation according to the principles of wealth & number [FN1] of inhabts. a "proviso that taxation shall be in proportion to Representation." Mr. BUTLER contended again that Representation Sd.. be according to the full number of inhabts. including all the blacks; admitting the justice of Mr. Govr. Morris's motion. Mr. MASON also admitted the justice of the principle, but was afraid embarrassments might be occasioned to the Legislature by it. It might drive the Legislature to...

Census of Freemen and Slaves. Three-Fifths Rule. Wealth v. Population in First Branch. Periodic or Occasional Census. In Convention. Mr. RANDOLPH's motion requiring the Legislre. to take a periodical census for the purpose of redressing inequalities in the Representation, was resumed. Mr. SHERMAN was agst. shackling the Legislature too much. We ought to choose wise & good men, and then confide in them. Mr. MASON. The greater the difficulty we find in fixing a proper rule of Representation, the more unwilling ought we to be, to throw the task from ourselves, on the Genl. Legislre. He did not object to...

Apportionment in First House of Reps. Population Statistics. Slavery. Trade. Periodic Census. In Convention. Mr. KING reported from the Come. yesterday appointed that the States at the 1st. meeting of the General Legislature, should be represented by 65 members in the following proportions, to wit. N. Hamshire by 3. Masts. 8. R. 1st. 1. Cont. 5. N. Y. 6. N. J. 4. Pa. 8. Del. 1. Md. 6. Va. 10. N. C. 5. S. C. 5. Georgia 3. Mr. RUTLIDGE moved that N. Hampshire be reduced from 3 to 2. members. Her numbers did not entitle her to 3 and...