The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 1Madison, James
History
The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 1
Madison, James
Constitutional law -- United States; Constitutions -- United States; United States. Constitution
M^r Wilson, hoped if the Confederacy should be dissolved, that a
_majority_, that a _minority_ of the States would unite for their
safety. He entered elaborately into the defence of a proportional
representation, stating for his first position that as all authority was
derived from the people, equal numbers of people ought to have an equal
n^o of representatives, and different numbers of people different
numbers of representatives. This principle had been improperly violated
in the Confederation, owing to the urgent circumstances of the time. As
to the case of A. & B. stated by M^r Patterson, he observed that in
districts as large as the States, the number of people was the best
measure of their comparative wealth. Whether therefore wealth or numbers
were to form the ratio it would be the same. M^r P. admitted persons,
not property to be the measure of suffrage. Are not the Citizens of
Pen^a equal to those of N. Jersey? does it require 150 of the former
to balance 50 of the latter? Representatives of different districts
ought clearly to hold the same proportion to each other, as their
respective Constituents hold to each other. If the small States will not
confederate on this plan, Pen^a & he presumed some other States, would
not confederate on any other. We have been told that each State being
sovereign, all are equal. So each man is naturally a sovereign over
himself, and all men are therefore naturally equal. Can he retain this
equality when he becomes a member of Civil Government. He can not. As
little can a Sovereign State, when it becomes a member of a federal
govern^t. If N. J. will not part with her sovereignty it is vain to talk
of Gov^t. A new partition of the States is desirable, but evidently &
totally impracticable.
M^r Williamson illustrated the cases by a comparison of the different
States, to Counties of different sizes within the same State; observing
that proportional representation was admitted to be just in the latter
case, and could not therefore be fairly contested in the former.
The Question being about to be put M^r Patterson hoped that as so much
depended on it, it might be thought best to postpone the decision till
tomorrow, which was done, nem. con.
The Com^e rose & the House adjourned.
MONDAY, JUNE 11^{TH} M^R ABRAHAM BALDWIN FROM
GEORGIA TOOK HIS SEAT. IN COMMITTEE OF THE
WHOLE.
The clause concerning the rule of suffrage in the Nat^l Legislature
postponed on Saturday was resumed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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