The Writings of James Madison: 1787. The journal of the Constitutional convention

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G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1787 - Constitutional history
 

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Page 19 - Resolved, that each branch ought to possess the right of originating acts; that the National Legislature 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 separate States are incompetent, or in which the harmony of the United States may be interrupted by the exercise of individual legislation...
Page 41 - That a national government ought to be established, consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.
Page 56 - ... the use of force, the more he doubted the practicability, the justice, and the efficacy of it, when applied to people collectively, and not individually. A union of the states containing such an ingredient seemed to provide for its own destruction. The use of force against a state would look more like a declaration of war than an infliction of punishment, and would probably be considered by the party attacked as a dissolution of all previous compacts by which it might be bound.
Page 310 - In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard; and they were graciously answered. All of us, who were engaged in the struggle, must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor.
Page 162 - ... that the National Legislature 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 separate States are incompetent, or in which the harmony 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 Union, or any treaty subsisting under the authority of...
Page 18 - Resolved, That the members of the second branch of the national Legislature ought to be elected by those of the first out of a proper number of persons nominated by the individual Legislatures...
Page 48 - WILSON contended strenuously for drawing the most numerous branch of the Legislature immediately from the people. He was for raising the federal pyramid to a considerable altitude, and for that reason wished to give it as broad a basis as possible.
Page 310 - We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it.
Page 19 - States should hereafter be increased or diminished. 4. RESOLVED, that the United States in Congress be authorized to elect a Federal Executive, to consist of persons, to continue in office for the term of years, to receive punctually at stated times a fixed compensation for their services, in which no increase or diminution shall be made so as to affect the persons...

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