8 IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE. Mr. Gorham in the chair. It was moved by Mr. Dickinson, seconded by to postpone the consideration of the first resolution submitted by Mr. Patterson, in order to introduce the following, namely, 66 "Resolved, That the articles of confederation ought "to be revised and amended, so as to render the government of the United States adequate to the exi"gencies, the preservation, and the prosperity of the "union." And on the question to agree to the same, It passed in the affirmative. YEAS-Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgiä DIVIDED Pennsylvania [See col. Hamilton's plan on the next page.] 10 It was then moved and seconded, that the committee do how rise, report á further progress, and request leave to sit again. The committee then rose. IN THE HOUSE. Mr. President resumed the chair. Mr. Gorham reported from the committee, That the committee had made a further progress in the matter to them referred; and had directed him to move that they may have leave to sit again. Resolved, That the house will to-morrow again resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to consider of the state of the American union. And then the house adjourned till to-morrow, at 11 o'clock, A. M. COL. HAMILTON'S PLAN OF GOVERNMENT. THE FOLLOWING PAPER WAS READ BY COL. HAMILTON, AS CONTAINING HIS IDEAS OF A SUITABLE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES, IN A SPEECH UPON THE FOREGOING MOTION OF MR. DICKINSON. 1. THE supreme legislative power of the United States of America to be vested in two distinct bodies of men, the one to be called the assembly, the other the senate, who, together, shall form the legislature of the United States, with power to pass all laws whatsoever, subject to the negative hereafter mentioned. 2. The assembly to consist of persons elected by the people, to serve for three years... 3. The senate to consist of persons elected to serve during good behaviour; their election to be made by electors chosen for that purpose by the people. In order to this, the states to be divided into election districts. On the death, removal, or resignation of any. senator, his place to be filled out of the district from which he came. 4. The supreme executive authority of the United * Paper furnished by general Bloomfield. States to be vested in a governour, to be elected to serve during good behaviour. His election to be made by electors, chosen by electors, chosen by the people in the election districts aforesaid. His authorities and functions to be as follows: To have a negative upon all laws about to be passed, and the execution of all laws passed; to have the entire direction of war, when authorized, or begun; to have, with the advice and approbation of the senate, the power of making all treaties; to have the sole appointment of the heads or chief officers of the departments of finance, war, and foreign affairs; to have the nomination of all other officers, (ambassadors to foreign. nations included) subject to the approbation or rejection of the senate; to have the power of pardoning all offences, except treason, which he shall not pardon, without the approbation of the senate. 5. On the death, resignation, or removal of the governour, his authorities to be exercised by the presi dent of the senate, until a successor be appointed. 6. The senate to have the sole power of declaring war; the power of advising and approving all treaties; the power of approving or rejecting all appointments of officers, except the heads or chiefs of the departments of finance, war, and foreign affairs. 7. The supreme judicial authority of the United States to be vested in judges, to hold their offices during good behaviour, with adequate and permanent salaries. This court to have original jurisdiction in all causes of capture; and an appellative jurisdiction in all causes, in which the revenues of the general government, or the citizens of foreign nations, are concerned. ส 8. The legislature of the United States to bave power to institute courts in each state, for the determi pation of all matters of general concern, 9. The governours, senators, and all officers of the United States to be liable to impeachment for mal and corrupt conduct; and, upon conviction, to be removed from office, and disqualified for holding any place of trust, or profit. All impeachments to be tried by a court to consist of the chief, or senior judge of the superior court of law in each state; provided, that such judge hold his place during good behaviour, and have a permanent salary. 1 10. All laws of the particular states, contrary to the constitution or laws of the United States, to be utterly void. And the better to prevent such laws being pass ed, the governour or president of each state shall be appointed by the general government, and shall have negative upon the laws about to be passed in the state of which he is governour, or president, 11. No state to have any forces, land or naval; and the militia of all the states to be under the sole and exclusive direction of the United States; the officers of which to be appointed and commissioned by them, TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1787. The order of the day being read, The house resolved itself into a committee of the whole house to consider of the state of the American union. Mr. President left the chair. IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE. Mr. Gorham in the chair. On a question to adopt Mr. Dickinson's motion, moved yesterday, It passed in the negative, YEAS Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Dela NAYS Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia DIVIDED Maryland 1 It was then moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the first proposition offered by Mr. Patterson, It passed in the affirmative. YEAS-Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia NAYS New York, New Jersey It was then moved and seconded, that the committee do now rise; and report to the house that they do not agree to the propositions offered by the honourable Mr. Patterson; and that they report the resolutions offered by the honourable Mr. Randolph, heretofore reported from a committee of the whole house, Passed in the affirmative. 7 YEAS-Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, The committee then rose. : 3 |