OF THE

FORMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

BY

GEORGE BANCROFT.

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. II.

FIFTH EDITION.

NEW YORK:

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,
1, 8, AND 5 BOND STREET.

COPYRIGHT BY

GEORGE BANCROFT,

1882.

-

Events overruled by justice, 3-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

-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

interposes, 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 executive, 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

legislature, 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

-

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-

mittce 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-Speech and plan of Hamilton, 42- How his plan was received, 45

– The Virginia plan reported to the house, 46.

--

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.

--

CHAPTER IV.

THE ADJUSTMENT OF REPRESENTATION.

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-