U.S. Constitution: Foundation & Evolution (Including the Biographies of the Founding Fathers). Madison James

n.

6 See P. L. Ford's Pamphlets on the Constitution, 419.

7 See p. 19, n.

      Chronology of James Madison

       Table of Contents

      1787.

      1787. Prepares the "Virginia plan" in conjunction with the May 6-25. Virginia delegates.

      May 14. Attends the first gathering of the delegates.

      May 30. Moves postponement of question of representation by free

       population.

      Moves that congressional representation be proportioned

       to the importance and size of the States.

      Makes his first speech on this subject.

      May 31. Advocates representation in one house by popular

       election.

      Opposes uniting several States into one district for

       representation in Senate.

      Doubts practicability of enumerating powers of national

       legislature.

      Suggests the impossibility of using force to coerce

       individual States.

      June 1. Moves that the powers of the Executive be enumerated.

      June 2. Objects to giving Congress power to remove the President upon demand of a majority of the State legislatures.

      June 4. Favors giving power to more than a majority of the national legislature to overrule an Executive negative of a law.

      June 5. Opposes election of judges by both branches of Congress.

      Advocates submission of constitution to conventions of the people.

      Favors inferior judicial tribunals.

      June 6. Speaks for popular representation in the House.

      Seconds motion to include a portion of the Judiciary

       with the Executive in revisionary power over laws.

      June 7. Speaks for proportional representation in both houses

       of Congress.

      June 8. Seconds motion to give Congress power to negative State

       laws.

      Suggests temporary operation of urgent laws.

      June 12. Seconds motion to make term of Representatives three years.

      Thinks the people will follow the convention.

      Favors a term of seven years for Senators.

      June 13. Moves defining powers of Judiciary.

      Objects to appointment of judges by whole legislature.

      Thinks both houses should have right to originate money

       bills.

      Advocates a national government and opposes the "Jersey

       plan."

      June 21. Speaks in favor of national supremacy.

      Opposes annual or biennial elections of Representatives.

      June 22. Favors fixing payment of salaries by a standard.

      June 23. Proposes to debar Senators from offices created or enhanced during their term.

      Speaks for the proposition.

      June 25. Wishes to take up question of right of suffrage.

      June 26. Speaks for a long term for Senators.

      Opposes their payment by the States.

      June 28. Speaks for proportional representation.

      June 29. Insists that too much stress is laid on State

       sovereignty.

      June 30. Contends against equal State representation in the Senate.

      Speaks again on subject, but would preserve State

       rights.

      July 2. Opposes submission of the question to a special

       committee.

      July 5. Opposes compromise report of committee.

      July 6. Thinks part of report need not be postponed.

      July 7. Thinks question of representation ought to be settled before other questions.

      July 9. Suggests free inhabitants as basis of representation in one house, and all inhabitants as basis in the other house.

      July 10. Moves increase of Representatives.

      July 11. Favors representation based on population.

      July 14. Urges proportional representation as necessary to protect the smaller States.

      July 17. Advocates national power of negative over State laws.

      Thinks the branches of government should be kept separate.

      Thinks monarchy likely to follow instability.

      Thinks there should be provision for interregnum between

       adoption and operation of constitution.

      Moves national guarantee of States against domestic

       violence.

      July 18. Seconds motion forbidding a State to form any but a

       republican government.

      Journal of the Constitutional Convention of 1787

       Table of Contents

      Monday May 14^th 1787 was the day fixed for the meeting of the deputies in Convention for revising the federal System of Government. On that day a small number only had assembled. Seven States were not convened till, Friday 25 of May, when the following members appeared to wit:

From Massachusetts, Rufus King. N. York, Robert Yates,1 Alex Hamilton. N. Jersey, David Brearly, William Churchill Houston, William Patterson. Pennsylvania, Robert Morris, Thomas Fitzsimons, James Wilson, Governeur Morris. Delaware, George Read, Richard Basset,2 Jacob Broome. Virginia, George Washington, Edmund Randolph, John Blair,3 James Madison, George Mason, George Wythe, James McClurg. N. Carolina, Alexander Martin, William Richardson Davie, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson. S. Carolina, John Rutlidge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler. Georgia, William Few.4

Mr. Robert Morris5 informed the members assembled that by the instruction & in behalf, of the deputation of Pennsylvania he proposed George Washington,Esquire late Commander in chief for president of the Convention. Mr. John Rutlidge seconded the motion; expressing his confidence that the choice would be unanimous, and observing that the presence of General Washington forbade any observations on the occasion which might otherwise be proper.

General Washington6 was