"Reviving the American tradition of liberty"

The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787

As Recorded by James Madison

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THURSDAY  AUGUST 30^th 1787. ¹  IN CONVENTION

Art XVII ² resumed for a question on it as amended by Mr. Govr. Morris's substitutes. ³

M^r. CARROL moved to strike out so much of the article as requires the consent of the State to its being divided. He was aware that the object of this prerequisite might be to prevent domestic disturbances, but such was our situation with regard to the Crown lands, and the sentiments of Maryland on that subject, that he perceived we should again be at sea, if no guard was provided for the right of the U. States to the back lands. He suggested that it might be proper to provide that nothing in the Constitution should affect the Right of the U. S. to lands ceded by G. Britain in the Treaty of peace, and proposed a committment to a member from each State. He assured the House that this was a point of a most serious nature. It was desirable above all things that the act of the Convention might be agreed to unanimously. But should this point be disregarded, he believed that all risks would be run by a considerable minority, sooner than give their concurrence.

M^r. L. MARTIN 2ded. the motion for a committment.

M^r. RUTLIDGE is it to be supposed that the States are to be cut up without their own consent. The case of Vermont will probably be particularly provided for. There could be no room to fear, that Virginia or N. Carolina would call on the U. States to maintain their Government over the Mountains.

M^r. WILLIAMSON said that N. Carolina was well disposed to give up her western lands, but attempts at compulsion was ⁴ not the policy of the U. S. He was for doing nothing in the constitution in the present case, and for leaving the whole matter in Statu quo.

M^r. WILSON was against the committment. Unanimity was of great importance, but not to be purchased by the majority's yielding to the minority. He should have no objection to leaving the case of ⁵ new States as heretofore. He knew of ⁶ nothing that would give greater or juster alarm than the doctrine, that a political society is to be torne asunder without its own consent. On Mr. Carrol's motion for commitment

N. H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. N. J. ay. Pa. no. Del. ay. Md. ay. Va. no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no. ⁷

M^r. SHERMAN moved to postpone the substitute for art: XVII agreed to yesterday in order to take up the following amendment "The Legislature shall have power to admit other States into the Union, and new States to be formed by the division or junction of States now in the Union, with the consent of the Legislature of such States." [The first part was meant for the case of Vermont to secure its admission.]

On the question, it passed in the negative

N. H. ay. Mas. ay. Ct. ay. N. J. no. Pa. ay. Del. no. Md. no. Va. no. N. C. no. S. C. ay. Geo. no. ⁸

DOC^r. JOHNSON moved to insert the words "hereafter formed or" after the words "shall be" in the substitute for art: XVII, [the more clearly to save Vermont as being already formed into a State, from a dependence on the consent of N. York to ⁹ her admission.] The motion was agreed to Del. & Md. only dissenting.

M^r. GOVERN^r. MORRIS moved to strike out the word "limits" in the substitute, and insert the word "jurisdiction" [This also ¹⁰ meant to guard the case of Vermont, the jurisdiction of N. York not extending over Vermont which was in the exercise of sovereignty, tho' Vermont was within the asserted limits of New York]

On this question

N. H. ay. Mas. ay. Ct. ay. N. J. no. Pa. ay. Del. ay. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no. ¹¹

M^r. L. MARTIN, urged the unreasonableness of forcing & guaranteeing the people of Virginia beyond the Mountains, the Western people, of N. Carolina, & of Georgia, & the people of Maine, to continue under the States now governing them, without the consent of those States to their separation. Even if they should become the majority, the majority of Counties, as in Virginia may still hold fast the dominion over them. Again the majority may place the seat of Government entirely among themselves & for their own conveniency, ¹² and still keep the injured parts of the States in subjection, under the guarantee of the Genl. Government agst. domestic violence. He wished Mr. Wilson had thought a little sooner of the value of political bodies. In the beginning, when the rights of the small States were in question, they were phantoms, ideal beings. Now when the Great States were to be affected, political societies were of a sacred nature. He repeated and enlarged on the unreasonableness of requiring the small States to guarantee the Western claims of the large ones. — It was said yesterday by Mr. Govr. Morris, that if the large States were to be split to pieces without their consent, their representatives here would take their leave. If the Small States are to be required to guarantee them in this manner, it will be found that the Representatives of other States will with equal firmness take their leave of the Constitution on the table.

It was moved by M^r. L. MARTIN to postpone the substituted article, in order to take up the following. "The Legislature of the U. S. shall have power to erect New States within as well as without the territory claimed by the several States or either of them, and admit the same into the Union: provided that nothing in this constitution shall be construed to affect the claim of the U. S. to vacant lands ceded to them by the late treaty of peace. which passed in the negative: N. J. Del. & Md. only ay.

On the question to agree to Mr. Govr. Morris's substituted article as amended in the words following,

"New States may be admitted by the Legislature into the Union: but no new State shall be hereafter formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any of the present States without the consent of the Legislature of such State as well as of the General Legislature"

N. H. ay. Mas. ay. Ct. ay. N. J. no. Pa. ay. Del. no. Md. no. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay. ¹³

M^r. DICKINSON moved to add the following clause to the last — "Nor shall any State be formed by the junction of two or more States or parts thereof, without the consent of the Legislatures of such States, as well as of the Legislature of the U. States." which was agreed to without a count of the votes.

M^r. CARROL moved to add — "Provided nevertheless that nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to affect the claim of the U. S. to vacant lands ceded to them by the Treaty of peace." This he said might be understood as relating to lands not claimed by any particular States, but he had in view also some of the claims of particular States.

M^r. WILSON was agst. the motion. There was nothing in the Constitution affecting one way or the other the claims of the U. S. & it was best to insert nothing leaving every thing on that litigated subject in statu quo.

M^r. MADISON considered the claim of the U. S. as in fact favored by the jurisdiction of the judicial power of the U. S. over controversies to which they whould be parties. He thought it best on the whole to be silent on the subject. He did not view the proviso of Mr. Carrol as dangerous; but to make it neutral & fair, it ought to go farther & declare that the claims of particular States also should not be affected.

M^r. SHERMAN thought the proviso harmless, especially with the addition suggested by Mr. Madison in favor of the claims of particular States.

M^r. BALDWIN did not wish any undue advantage to be given to Georgia. He thought the proviso proper with the addition proposed. It should be remembered that if Georgia has gained much by the cession in the Treaty of peace, she was in danger during the war, of a Uti possidetis.

M^r. RUTLIDGE thought it wrong to insert a proviso where there was nothing which it could restrain, or on which it could operate.

M^r. CARROL withdrew his motion and moved the following. "Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to alter the claims of the U. S. or of the individual States to the Western territory, but all such claims shall be examined into & decided upon, by the Supreme Court of the U. States."

M^r. GOV^r. MORRIS moved to postpone this in order to take up the following.

"The Legislature shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the U. States; and nothing in this constitution contained, shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims either of the U. S. or of any particular State." — The postponemt. agd. to nem. con.

M^r. L. MARTIN moved to amend the proposition of Mr. Govr. Morris by adding — "But all such claims may be examined into & decided upon by the supreme Court of the U. States."

M^r. GOV^r. MORRIS. this is unnecessary, as all suits to which the U. S. are parties, are already to be decided by the Supreme Court.

M^r. L. MARTIN, it is propor in order to remove all doubts on this point.

¹⁴ Question on Mr. L. Martin's amendatory motion

N. H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. N. J. ay. Pa. no. Del. no. Md. ay. Va. no — ¹⁵ States not farther called the negatives being sufficient & the point ¹⁶ given up.

The Motion of Mr. Govr. Morris was then agreed to, Md. alone dissenting.

Art: XVIII ¹⁷ being taken up, — the word "foreign" was struck out. nem: con: as superfluous, being implied in the term "invasion."

M^r. DICKINSON moved to strike out "on the application of its Legislature, against" He thought it of essential importance to the tranquility of the U. S. that they should in all cases suppress domestic violence, which may proceed from the State Legislature itself, or from disputes between the two branches where such exist

M^r. DAYTON mentioned the Conduct of Rho: Island as shewing the necessity of giving latitude to the power of the U. S. on this subject.

On the question

N. H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. N. J. ay. Pa. ay. Del. ay. Md. no. Va. no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no. ¹⁸

On a question for striking out "domestic violence" and insertg. "insurrections." It passed in the negative.

N. H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. N. J. ay. Pa. no. Del. no. Md. no. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay. ¹⁹

M^r. DICKINSON moved to insert the words, "or Executive" after the words "application of its Legislature" — The occasion itself he remarked might hinder the Legislature from meeting.

On this question

N. H. ay. Mas. no. Ct. ay. N. J. ay. Pa. ay. Del. ay. Md. divd. Va. no. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay. ²⁰

M^r. L. MARTIN moved to subjoin to the last amendment the words "in the recess of the Legislature"

On which question ²¹

N. H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. Pa. no. Del. no. Md. ay. Va. no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no.

On ²² Question on the last clause as amended

N. H. Mas. ay. Ct. ay. N. J. ay. Pa. ay. Del. no. Md. no. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay. ²³

Art: XIX ^{24, 25} taken up.

M^r. GOV^r. MORRIS suggested that the Legislature should be left at liberty to call a Convention, whenever they please.

The art: was agreed to nem: con:

Art: XX. ^{24, 25} taken up. — ²⁶ "or affirmation" was ²⁷ added after "oath."

M^r. PINKNEY moved to add to the art: — "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the authority of the U. States"

M^r. SHERMAN thought it unnecessary, the prevailing liberality being a sufficient security agst. such tests.

M^r. GOV^r. MORRIS & Gen^l. PINKNEY approved the motion. The motion was agreed to nem: con: and then then whole

Article; N. C. only no — & Md. divided

Art: XXI. ^{28, 29} taken up. viz: ³⁰ The ratifications of the Conventions of _____ States shall be sufficient for organizing this Constitution."

M^r. WILSON proposed to fill the blank with "seven" that being a majority of the whole number & sufficient for the commencement of the plan.

M^r. CARROL moved to postpone the article in order to take up the Report of the Committee of Eleven (see Tuesday Augst. 28) ³¹ — and on the question

N. H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. N. J. ay. Pa. no. Del. ay. Md. ay. Va. no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no. ³²

M^r. GOV^r. MORRIS thought the blank ought to be filled in a twofold way, so as to provide for the event of the ratifying States being contiguous which would render a smaller number sufficient, and the event of their being dispersed, which wd. require a greater number for the introduction of the Government.

M^r. SHERMAN. observed that the States being now confederated by articles which require unanimity in changes, he thought the ratification in this case of ten States at least ought to be made necessary.

M^r. RANDOLPH was for filling the blank with "nine" that being a respectable majority of the whole, and being a number made familiar by the constitution of the existing Congress.

M^r. WILSON mentioned "eight" as preferable.

M^r. DICKINSON asked whether the concurrence of Congress is to be essential to the establishment of the system, whether the refusing States in the Confederacy could be deserted — and whether Congress could concur in contravening the system under which they acted?

M^r. MADISON, remarked that if the blank should be filled with "seven" eight, or "nine" — the Constitution as it stands might be put in force over the whole body of the people, tho' less than a majority of them should ratify it.

M^r. WILSON. As the Constitution stands, the States only which ratify can be bound. We must he said in this case go to the original powers of Society. The House on fire must be extinguished, without a scrupulous regard to ordinary rights.

M^r. BUTLER was in favor of "nine." He revolted at the idea, that one or two States should restrain the rest from consulting their safety.

M^r. CARROL moved to fill the blank with "the thirteen," unanimity being necessary to dissolve the existing confederacy which had been unanimously established.

M^r. KING thought this amendt. necessary, otherwise as the Constitution now stands it will operate on the whole though ratified by a part only.

Adjourned

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1. The year "1787" is omitted in the transcript.

2. The word "being" is here inserted in the transcript.

3. The transcript uses the word "substitutes" in the singular.

4. In the transcript the word "was" is crossed out and "were" is written above it.

5. The word "the" is here inserted in the transcript.

6. The word "of" is omitted in the transcript.

7. In the transcript the vote reads: "New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, aye — 3; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, aye — 5; New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, no — 6."

8. In the transcript the vote reads: "New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, aye — 5; New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, no — 6."

9. The word "for" is substituted in the transcript for "to."

10. The word "was" is here inserted in the transcript.

11. In the transcript the vote reads: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, aye — 7; New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, no — 4."

12. The word "conveniency" is changed to "convenience" in the transcript.

13. In the transcript the vote reads: "New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, aye — 8; New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, no — 3."

14. The words "On the" are here inserted in the transcript.

15. In the transcript the vote reads: New Jersey, Maryland, aye — 2; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, no — 6."

16. The word "being" is here inserted in the transcript.

17. See ante.

18. In the transcript the vote reads: "New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, aye — 3; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, no — 8."

19. In the transcript the vote reads: New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, aye — 5; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, no — 6."

20. In the transcript the vote reads: "New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, aye — 8; Massachusetts, Virginia, no — 2; Maryland, divided."

21. the transcript here adds the words: "Maryland only, aye," and omits the vote by States.

22. The word "the" is here inserted in the transcript.

23. In the transcript the vote reads: "New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, aye — 9; Delaware, Maryland, no — 2 "

24. See ante.

25. The words "was then" are here inserted in the transcript.

26. The expression "the words" is here inserted in the transcript.

27. In the transcript the word "was" is crossed out and "were" is written above it.

28. See ante.

29. The words "being then" are here inserted in the transcript.

30. The word "viz" is omitted in the transcript.

31. The words "the twenty-eighth of August" are substituted in the transcript for "Tuesday Augst. 28."

32. In the transcript the vote reads: "New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, aye — 3; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, no — 8."