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
The whole of these joint supplies to be absolutely in the
disposition of Congress.
The Congress in this case to be composed of an equal number of
Delegates from each State.
And their decisions to be by the Majority of individual members
voting.
If these joint and equal supplies should on particular occasions
not be sufficient, Let Congress make requisitions on the richer
and more powerful States for further aids, to be voluntarily
afforded, leaving to each State the right of considering the
necessity and utility of the aid desired, and of giving more or
less as it should be found proper.
This mode is not new. It was formerly practised with success by
the British Government with respect to Ireland and the Colonies.
We sometimes gave even more than they expected, or thought just
to accept; and in the last war carried on while we were united,
they gave us back in 5 years a million Sterling. We should
probably have continued such voluntary contributions, whenever
the occasions appeared to require them for the common good of
the Empire. It was not till they chose to force us, and to
deprive us of the merit and pleasure of voluntary contributions
that we refused & resisted. Those contributions however were to
be disposed of at the pleasure of a Government in which we had
no representative. I am therefore persuaded, that they will not
be refused to one in which the Representation shall be equal.
My learned colleague (M^r Wilson) has already mentioned that the
present method of voting by States, was submitted to originally
by Congress, under a conviction of its impropriety, inequality,
and injustice. This appears in the words of their Resolution. It
is of Sep^r 6. 1774. The words are
"Resolved that in determining questions in this Cong^s each
Colony or province shall have one vote: The Cong^s not being
possessed of or at present able to procure materials for
ascertaining the importance of each Colony."
On the question for agreeing to M^r King's and M^r Wilson's motion it
passed in the affirmative.
Mass^{ts} ay. C^t ay. N. Y. no. N. J. no. P^a ay. Del. no.
M^d div^d. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
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