Journal of the Federal ConventionThe MADISON PAPERS James Madison appreciated the significance of the Federal Convention and took great care to compile an accurate report of its proceedings, which were held behind closed doors. His journal, which covers the period from May 14 to September 17, 1787, is often referred to as "The Madison Papers" or "Madison's Notes." It remains the most complete record of the proceedings. This volume is based on the edition of 1840. Edited from Madison's original manuscripts, which were purchased by the Federal government from Mrs. Madison, it was published under the direction of President Jackson. The volume also includes the text of another manuscript that traces the history of American constitutionalism from 1754 to 1787 and E.H. Scott's complete "general and analytical" index. Founding father, statesman and political theorist, JAMES MADISON [1751-1836] was the primary author of the United States Constitution. While a member of the First Congress, he drafted the Bill of Rights and helped to organize the new Federal government. Along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, he was one of the authors of the Federalist Papers. He established the Democratic-Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson. Elected in 1809, Madison served two terms as president. He was, without question, one of the most inflfl uential national leaders in the early years of the United States. |
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Page 79
... wished to give it as broad a basis as possible . No government could long subsist without the confidence of the people . In a repub- lican government , this confidence was peculiarly essential . He also thought it wrong to increase the ...
... wished to give it as broad a basis as possible . No government could long subsist without the confidence of the people . In a repub- lican government , this confidence was peculiarly essential . He also thought it wrong to increase the ...
Page 80
... wished the expedient to be resorted to only in the appointment of the second branch of the Legislature , and in the Executive and Judiciary branches of the government . He thought , too , that the great fabric to be raised would be more ...
... wished the expedient to be resorted to only in the appointment of the second branch of the Legislature , and in the Executive and Judiciary branches of the government . He thought , too , that the great fabric to be raised would be more ...
Page 85
... wished that the gentlemen would deliver their sentiments on it before the question was put . Mr. Kutledge animadverted on the shyness of gentle- men on this and other subjects . He said it looked as if they supposed themselves precluded ...
... wished that the gentlemen would deliver their sentiments on it before the question was put . Mr. Kutledge animadverted on the shyness of gentle- men on this and other subjects . He said it looked as if they supposed themselves precluded ...
Page 88
... wished to take place , being apprehensive that it might appear chimerical . He would say , however , at least , that in theory he was for an election by the peo- ple . Experience , particularly in New York and Massa- chusetts , showed ...
... wished to take place , being apprehensive that it might appear chimerical . He would say , however , at least , that in theory he was for an election by the peo- ple . Experience , particularly in New York and Massa- chusetts , showed ...
Page 89
... wished to derive not only both branches of the Legislature from the people without the intervention of the State Legislatures , but the Execu- tive also , in order to make them as independent as possible of each other , as well as of ...
... wished to derive not only both branches of the Legislature from the people without the intervention of the State Legislatures , but the Execu- tive also , in order to make them as independent as possible of each other , as well as of ...
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Common terms and phrases
Adjourned admitted agreed amendment appointment Article Articles of Confederation authority bill of attainder citizens clause Colonel MASON Committee concur Confederation Congress Connecticut considered Constitution Convention danger Delaware divided Doctor FRANKLIN Doctor JOHNSON duties election Electors ELLSWORTH established Executive exports favor Federal foreign Georgia GERRY give GORHAM GOUVERNEUR MORRIS moved Hampshire House of Representatives impeachment ineligible interest Jersey Judges Judiciary KING lature laws legislative liberty MADISON MADISON observed majority Maryland Massachusetts ment militia mode money bills moved to insert moved to strike National Government National Legislature necessary negative North object observed Pennsylvania PINCKNEY postpone present President principle proper proportion proportional representation proposed proposition question RANDOLPH ratified reason referred regulation Report representation require Resolution RUTLEDGE second branch seconded the motion Sect Senate SHERMAN slaves South Carolina suffrage thought tion tive treaties two-thirds Union United Virginia whole WILLIAMSON WILSON wished words York
Popular passages
Page 161 - 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 455 - Congress be authorized to make such requisitions in proportion to the whole number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants, of every age, sex, and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and threefifths of all other persons not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians not paying taxes...
Page 456 - ... be final and decisive, the judgment or sentence and other proceedings being in either case transmitted to congress, and lodged among the acts of congress for the security of the parties concerned : provided that every commissioner, before he sits in judgment, shall take an oath to be administered by one of the judges of the supreme or superior court of the state, where the cause shall be tried, "well and truly to hear and determine the matter in question, according to the best of his judgment,...
Page 147 - Confederation, but according to some equitable ratio of representation, namely, in proportion to the whole number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants, of every age, sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and threefifths of all other persons, not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians not paying taxes, in each State.
Page 456 - Whenever the legislative or executive authority or lawful agent of any state in controversy with another shall present a petition to congress stating the matter in question and praying for a hearing, notice thereof shall be given by order of congress to the legislative or executive authority of the other state in controversy, and a day assigned for the appearance of the parties by their lawful agents...
Page 742 - In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such ; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered...
Page 364 - ... Resolved, that all acts of the United States in Congress, made by virtue and in pursuance of the powers hereby, and by the Articles of Confederation, vested in them, and all treaties made and ratified under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the respective States, so far forth as those acts or treaties shall relate to the said States or their citizens ; and that the Judiciary of the several States shall be bound thereby in their decisions, any thing in the respective...
Page 62 - Judiciary, ought to compose a council of revision with authority to examine every act of the National Legislature before it shall operate, and every act of a particular Legislature before a Negative thereon shall be final; and that the dissent of the said Council shall amount to a rejection, unless the Act of the National Legislature be again passed, or that of a particular Legislature be again negatived by of the members of each branch.