Debates in the Congress of the Confederation, from February 19, 1787 to April 25, 1787

poned.

Seventh resolution fixing the right of suffrage in the first branch
of the Legislature, considered.

THURSDAY, June 28th

976

Seventh resolution, fixing the right of suffrage in the first branch,

resumed-Motion to amend so as to provide that the right of suf-

frage in the first branch should be the same as in the Articles of

the Confederation, (an equality, each State having one vote there-

in)-Postponed.

Amendment proposed to the seventh resolution, so as to give each

State an equal suffrage in the first branch, resumed-Disagreed to

-Remaining clauses of seventh resolution postponed.

Eighth resolution, fixing the same right of suffrage in the second

branch of the Legislature as in the first-Motion to amend so as
provide that each State should have an equal suffrage in the sec-
ond branch-Adjourned.

Amendment proposed to the eighth resolution, so as to give each

State an equal suffrage in the second branch, resumed-Proposi-

tion to amend so as to provide that each State should send an

equal number of members to the second branch; that in all ques-

tions of State sovereignty and of appointments to office, each State

shall have an equal suffrage, and that in fixing salaries and appro-

priations, each State shall vote in proportion to its contributions to

the Treasury-Not moved.

MONDAY, July 2d

1016

Amendment proposed to the eighth resolution, so as to give each

State an equal suffrage in the second branch, resumed-Disa-

greed to.

Motion to refer the clauses of the seventh and eighth resolutions,

relating to the suffrages of both branches of the Legislature, to a
Committee-Agreed to.

Report of Committee to amend the seventh resolution so as to pro-

vide that the proportion of suffrage of each State in the first branch,

shall be one member for every forty thousand inhabitants of the

description mentioned in that resolution, that each State shall have

one member in the first branch; that all bills for raising or appro-

priating money shall originate in the first branch, and not be alter-

ed in the second; and that no payments shall be made from the

Treasury except on appropriations by law.

Report to amend the eighth resolution so as to provide that each

State shall have an equal suffrage in the second branch.

FRIDAY, July 6th

1036

Clause of the report on the seventh resolution, providing that the

proportion of suffrage of each State in the first branch, should be

one member for every forty thousand inhabitants, resumed-Refer-

red to a Committee-Clause of the report on the seventh resolution

providing that all money bills shall originate in the first branch,
resumed-Agreed to.

SATURDAY, July 7th

1046

Report on the eighth resolution, providing that each State shall

have an equal suffrage in the second branch, resumed-Agreed to.

1051

MONDAY, July 9th

Report of the Committee, to amend the clause of the seventh res-

olution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the first branch, by

fixing at present the whole number therein at forty-six, and appor-

tioning them in a certain ratio among the States, considered-Re-

ferred to another Committee.

Report of the Committee, providing that the future number of

members of the first branch may be altered from time to time and
fixed by the Legislature, on the principles of the wealth and num-
bers of inhabitants of each State-Agreed to.

TUESDAY, July 10th

1056

Report of the Committee on the seventh resolution, providing that

at present the whole number of members in the first branch shall

be sixty-five and apportioning them in a certain ratio among the

States Agreed to-Motion that a census be taken every

years, and the representation in the first branch be arranged by the

Legislature accordingly-Adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, July 11th

1064

Amendment to the seventh resolution, requiring the future repre-

sentation to be arranged by the Legislature according to a periodi

cal census, resumed-Motion to amend it by requiring the Legis-

lature to arrange the representation according to a census of the

free inhabitants, taken at least every fifteen years-Agreed to—

Motion farther to amend by requiring the census to include three

fifths of the negroes-Disagreed to.

THURSDAY, July 12th

1079

Seventh resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the first

branch, resumed-Motion to provide that representation and direct

taxation shall be in the same proportion-Agreed to-Motion to

provide that for the future arrangement of representation, a census

shall be taken within six years, and within every ten years after-

wards, and that it shall be made according to the whole number

of inhabitants, rating the blacks at three fifths of their number-

Agreed to.

Seventh resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the first

branch, resumed-Motion to provide that until the first census be

taken, the proportion of the representatives from the States in the

first branch, and the moneys raised from them by direct taxation

shall be the same-Agreed to-Motion to strike out the amend-

ment heretofore made for regulating future representation on the

principle of wealth-Agreed to.

SATURDAY, July 14th

1094

Seventh resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the first

branch, resumed-Motion that the number of representatives in

the first branch from new States, shall never exceed those of the

present States-Disagreed to.

Eighth resolution, relative to the proportion of suffrage in the

second branch, resumed-Motion to provide that the second branch
shall consist of thirty-six members, distributed among the States
in certain proportions-Disagreed to.

MONDAY, July 16th.

1107

Seventh and eighth resolutions as amended, and fixing the suffrage

in both branches, resumed-Agreed to.

Sirth resolution defining the powers of the Legislature, resumed

-Motion to amend by giving a specification of the powers not
comprised in general terms-Disagreed to.

TUESDAY, July 17th

1114

Sixth resolution, defining the powers of the Legislature, resumed-

Motion to amend, so as to provide that the National Legislature

should not interfere with the governments of the States in matters

of internal police, in which the general welfare of the United

States is not concerned-Disagreed to-Motion to amend so as to

extend the power of the Legislature to cases affecting the general

interests of the Union-Agreed to-Motion to agree to the power

of negativing State laws-Disagreed to-Motion to provide that

the acts of the Legislature, and treaties made in pursuance of the

Constitution, shall bind the several States-Agreed to.

Ninth resolution, relative to National Executive-Motion to

amend so as to provide that the Executive be chosen by the people
-Disagreed to-That he be chosen by Electors appointed by the
State Legislatures-Disagreed to-Motion to amend by striking
out the provision that the Executive is to be ineligible a second
time-Agreed to-Motion to amend so as to provide that the
term of the Executive should be during good behaviour-Disa-

greed to-Motion to amend by striking out seven years as the Ex-
ecutive term-Disagreed to.