Bancroft, George, 1800-1891.

History of the formation of the Constitution of the
United States of America.

Reprint. Originally published: New York: D. Appleton,

1882.

Includes index.

1. United States--Constitutional history. 2. United
States--Politics and government--1783-1789.

I. Title.

83-8677

OF THE

FORMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

BY

GEORGE BANCROFT.

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. II.

NEW YORK:

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,

1, 8, AND 5 BOND STREET.

COPYRIGHT BY

GEORGE BANCROFT,

1882.

CONTENTS.

BOOK III.

THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

CHAPTER I.

THE CONSTITUTION IN OUTLINE.

1787.

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Events overruled by justice, General desire for a closer union, 3

Character of the elections to the federal convention, 3—Journey to Philadel-

phia, 4-Arrival of Washington, 4-Opening of the federal convention, 4

-The Virginia members prepare a finished plan, 5- Washington declares for

a new constitution, 5-Position of Edmund Randolph, 5-His station and

character, 6-Virginia unites under the lead of Madison, 7-Shall the con-

vention vote by states, 7— Arrival of delegates, 7—Their jarring opinions, 8

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Washington's appeal to them, 8-The convention organized, 8- Limited

power of the delegates from Delaware, 8-Position of Rhode Island, 8

Character of the delegates, 9-Votes of individuals not to be recorded, 10—

Randolph opens the convention, 10-He proposes an outline of a constitution,

11-Proposal of Virginia to found representation on free inhabitants, 13—

Charles Pinckney presents a plan, 14-Debates in committee, 14-Butler

supports the Virginia plan, 14— Government must act on individuals, 15 –

Sherman not yet ready, 15-Debate on equality of suffrage, 15- Delaware

intcrposes, 15-The legislature to be of two branches, 16-One branch to be

directly chosen by the people, 17-Extent of the federal legislative powers, 17

-The right to negative any state law denied, 18-Coercion of states, 19-

The national executive, 19-The mode of its election and its powers, 20-

Shall it be of one or more, 20-Sherman for its subordination to the legisla

ture, 21-Shall there be unity in the exccutive, 21-Shall it be chosen by the

people, 21-Its period of service, 22- How to be chosen, 22-How to be

removed, 23-Speech of Dickinson for a vote by states in one branch of the

legislaturc, 23 — Randolph proposes an executive of three members, 24—

Opinions on an executive council, 24-The executive to be single, 25-The

veto power, 25 - The judiciary, 26-Shall the house of representatives be

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chosen by the states, 26-Or by the people, 27-How both branches are to be

chosen, 28-Hamilton's opinion, 29-Appointment of judges, 29- How to

choose the senate, 29-Are the states in danger, 30-The equality of the.

small states defended, 31 — Franklin interposes as a peacemaker, 32-Con-

necticut the umpire between the small states and the large ones, 32-The

large states prevail, 33- The requirement of an oath, 34-Term of office and

qualifications of representatives, 34-Of senators, 35-The work of the com-

mittee ended, 35.

CHAPTER II.

NEW JERSEY CLAIMS AN EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE STATES. 1787.

The small states dissatisfied, 36—The plan of Connecticut, 36— New Jersey

resists the large states, 38-The plan of New Jersey, 39-Debate on the ex-

tent of the powers of the convention, 39-Paterson pleads for the equality of

the states in one supreme council, 40— Debate on the sovereignty of a single

body, 41-Specch and plan of Hamilton, 42-How his plan was received, 45

– The Virginia plan reported to the house, 46.

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CHAPTER III.

THE CONNECTICUT COMPROMISE. 1787.

The states and the nation, 47-Independence declared unitedly, 48-Con-

necticut takes the lead, 48- Character of Roger Sherman, 48-Of Johnson,

50-Of Ellsworth, 51- Federal and national, 51-Speech of Mason for two

branches, 52- Sherman for two branches, 53-The convention decides for

two branches, 54-Wilson speaks for the general government and the state

governments, 55- - Ellsworth would graft a general government on the state

governments, 56— The mode of choosing and term of office of the senators, 56

-The decision, 57- Fierce contest between the smaller states and the large

ones, 58-Franklin proposes prayer, 59- The debate continues, 60-Suffrage

in the first branch proportioned to population, 61--Ellsworth would have the

vote in the senate by states, 62-Speech of Baldwin, 62- Wilson refuses to

yield, 62-So does Madison, 63 -Persistence of Ellsworth, 64-He is sup.

ported by North Carolina, 65-The convention equally divided, 66-Appoint-

ment of a grand committee to report a compromise, 67.

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CHAPTER IV.

THE ADJUSTMENT OF REPRESENTATION.

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Franklin's compromise, 68— Morris claims representation for property, 69

-The ratio of representation referred to a committee, 70-Report of the
committee, 71-Appointment of a committee of one from each state, 72 — Its
report, 72-Madison's proposal of compromise, 72- Report of the new com-

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