Page images
PDF
EPUB

Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

NAY-Delaware

DIVIDED-New Hampshire

9

1

1

It was moved and seconded to reconsider the twentyfirst and twenty-second articles

Which, the question being separately put upon each article, passed in the affirmative.

YEAS-Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia

7

NAYS-Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, South Caro

lina

DIVIDED-New Hampshire

3

1

It was moved and seconded to postpone the twentyfirst article, in order to take up the following:

"Resolved, That the foregoing plan of a constitu"tion be transmitted to the United States, in Con66 gress assembled, in order that, if the same shall be "agreed to by them, it may be communicated to the "legislatures of the several states, to the end that they

may provide for its final ratification, by referring the 66 same to the consideration of a convention of depu"ties in each state, to be chosen by the people thereof; "and that it be recommended to the said legislatures, "in their respective acts for organizing such conven❝tion, to declare that, if the said convention shall ap66 prove of the said constitution, such approbation shall "be binding and conclusive upon the state; and fur"ther, that if the said convention should be of opinion "that the same, upon the assent of any new states "thereto, ought to take effect between the states so assenting, such opinion shall thereupon be also bind

[ocr errors]

"ing upon such state; and the said constitution shall "take effect between the states assenting thereto." On the question to postpone,

It passed in the negative.
YEA-Connecticut

NAYS-New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

[ocr errors]

On the question to agree to the twenty-first article, It passed unanimously in the affirmative.

1

10

It was moved and seconded to restore the words "for their approbation," to the twenty-second article. It passed in the negative.

It was moved and seconded to refer the following to the committee of revision:

[ocr errors]

"That it be an instruction to the committee to prepare an address to the people to accompany the "present constitution, and to be laid with the same, "before the United States in Congress"Which passed in the affirmative.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1787.

The house met. But the committee of revision not having reported, and there being no business before the convention

The house adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1787.

The honourable Mr. Johnson, from the committee of revision, informed the house, that the committee were prepared to report the constitution as revised

and arranged. The report was then delivered in at the 'secretary's table; and having been once read throughout,

Ordered, That the members be furnished with printed copies thereof.

REVISED DRAFT OF THE CONSTITUTION,

REPORTED SEPTEMBER 12, 1787, BY THE COMMITTEE OF REVISION.

WE the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, to establish justice, insure domestick tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

ARTICLE 1.

Sect. 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives.

Sect. 2. The house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature. No person shall be a representative who shall not

* Paper furnished by general Bloomfield. The original is Mr. Brearly's copy of the draft, with manuscript interlineations and erasures of the amendments adopted on the examination and discussion.

have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen

[ocr errors]

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every forty thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

The house of representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and they shall have the sole power of impeachment.

Sect. 3. The senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by

the legislature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote.

[ocr errors]

*Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year; so that one third may be chosen every second year. And if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature.

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state, for which he shall be chosen.'

The vice president of the United States shall be, ex officio, president of the senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.

The senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the vice president, or when he shall exercise the office of president of the United States.

The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath. When the president of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of the members present."

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »