It passed in the affirmative. It was then moved and seconded so to alter the resolution that it should read, Resolved, That the rights of suffrage in the national legislature ought not to be according It was then moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the last resolution. And on the question to postpone, It passed unanimously in the affirmative. 1 The following resolution was then moved by Mr. Madison, seconded by Mr. G. Morris: Resolved, That the equality of suffrage, established by the articles of confederation, ought not to prevail in the national legislature; and that an equitable ratio of representation ought to be substituted. It was moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the last resolution. And on the question to postpone, It passed in the affirmative. It was moved and seconded that the committee de now rise. IN THE HOUSE. Mr. President resumed the chair. Mr. Gorham reported from the committee, That the committee had made a progress in the matter to them referred; and had directed him to move that they may have leave to sit again. Resolved, That this 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 10 o'clock, A. M. THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1787. The honourable William Pierce Esq. a deputy of the state of Georgia, attended and took his seat. The following credentials were produced and read. [See p. 54.] 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. It was moved and seconded that the committee proceed to the consideration of the following resolution, submitted by Mr. Randolph : "Resolved, That the national legislature ought to "consist of two branches." And on the question to agree to the said resolution, It passed in the affirmative. YEAS-Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina 7 1 It was then moved and seconded to proceed to the consideration of the following clause of the fourth resolution, submitted by Mr. Randolph : > "Resolved, That the members of the first branch of "the national legislature ought to be elected by the "people of the several states." And on the question to agree to the said clause of the fourth resolution, It passed in the affirmative. YEAS-Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia 6 2 2 It was then moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the remaining clauses in the said fourth resolution. And on the question to postpone the remaining clauses of the said fourth resolution, It passed in the affirmative. It was then moved and seconded to proceed to the consideration of the following resolution, being the fifth submitted by Mr. Randolph : "Resolved, That the members of the second branch "of the national legislature ought to be elected by those of the first out of," &c. And on the question to agree to the said fifth resolution, It passed in the negative. YEAS-None. NAYS-Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia DIVIDED-Delaware 9 1 It was then moved and seconded to proceed to the consideration of the following resolution, being the sixth submitted by Mr. Randolph : "Resolved, That each branch ought to possess the "right of originating acts :-That the national legisla"ture ought to be empowered to enjoy the legislative "rights vested in Congress by the confederation :“And moreover, to legislate in all cases, to which the 66 separate states are incompetent, or in which the har mony of the United States may be interrupted, by the "exercise of individual legislation:-To negative all "laws, passed by the several states, contravening, in "the opinion of the national legislature, the articles of "the union"-(the following words were added to this clause on motion of Mr. Franklin)-" or any treaties subsisting under the authority of the union." Questions being taken separately on the foregoing clauses of the sixth resolution, they were agreed to. It was then moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the last clause of the sixth resolution, namely, "To call forth the force of the union against any "member of the union, failing to fulfil its duty under "the articles thereof." On the question to postpone the consideration of said clause, It passed in the affirmative. 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 this 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 10 o'clock, A. M. FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1787. The honourable William Houstoun, Esq. a deputy of the state of Georgia, attended and took his seat. The following credential was produced and read: [See p. 54.] 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. It was moved and seconded to proceed to the consideration of the seventh resolution submitted by Mr. Randolph, namely, "Resolved, That a national executive be instituted, "to be chosen by the national legislature, for the term "of years; to receive punctually, at stated times, "a fixed compensation for the services rendered, in "which no increase or diminution shall be made, so as "to affect the magistracy existing at the time of such "increase or diminution; and to be ineligible a se"cond time; and that, besides a general authority to "execute the national laws, it ought to enjoy the exe"cutive rights vested in Congress by the confederation." On motion of Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. C. Pinckney, to amend the first clause of the resolution, |