and that, besides a general authority to execute the national laws, it ought to enjoy the executive rights vested in Congress by the confederation.

8. Resolved, That the executive, and a convenient number of the national 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.

9. Resolved, That a national judiciary be established

to hold their offices during good behaviour, and to receive punctually, at stated times, fixed compensation for their services, in which no increase or diminution shall be made, so as to affect the persons actually in office at the time of such increase or diminutionThat the jurisdiction of the inferior tribunals, shall be, to hear and determine, in the first instance, and of the supreme tribunal to hear and determine, in the dernier resort, all piracies and felonies on the high seas; captures from an enemy; cases in which foreigners, or citizens of other states, applying to such jurisdictions, may be interested, or which respect the collection of the national revenue; impeachments of any national officer; and questions which involve the national peace or harmony.

10. Resolved, That provision ought to be made for the admission of states, lawfully arising within the

limits of the United States, whether from a voluntary junction of government and territory, or otherwise, with the consent of a number of voices in the national legislature less than the whole.

11. Resolved, That a republican government, and the territory of each state (except in the instance of a voluntary junction of government and territory) ought to be guarantied by the United States to each state.

12. Resolved, That provision ought to be made for the continuance of a Congress, and their authorities and privileges, until a given day, after the reform of the articles of union shall be adopted, and for the completion of all their engagements.

13. That provision ought to be made for the amendment of the articles of union, whensoever it shall seem necessary; and that the assent of the national legislature ought not to be required thereto.:

14. Resolved, That the legislative, executive, and judiciary powers within the several states ought to be bound by oath to support the articles of union.

15. Resolved, That the amendments, which shall be offered to the confederation by the convention, ought, at a proper time or times, after the approbation of Congress, to be submitted to an assembly or assemblies of representatives, recommended by the several legislatures, to be expressly chosen by the people to consider and decide thereon.

Resolved, That the house will to-morrow resolve itself into a committee of the whole house to consider of the state of the American union.

Ordered, That the propositions this day laid before

the house, for their consideration, by Mr. Randolph, be referred to the said committee.

Mr. Charles Pinckney, one of the deputies of South Carolina, laid before the house, for their consideration, the draft of a federal government to be agreed upon between the free and independent states of America.

MR. CHARLES PINCKNEY'S DRAFT OF A FEDERAL GO

VERNMENT.*

W the people of the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare, and establish the following constitution for the government of ourselves and posterity.

ARTICLE 1.

The style of this government shall be the United States of America, and the government shall consist of supreme legislative, executive and judicial powers.

The legislative power shall be vested in a Congress, to consist of two separate houses; one to be called the house of delegates; and the other the senate, who shall meet on the in every

year.

day of

ARTICLE III.

The members of the house of delegates shall be

• Paper furnished by Mr. Pinckney.

chosen every year by the people of the several states; and the qualification of the electors shall be the same as those of the electors in the several states for their legislatures. Each member shall have been a citizen of the United States for be of

years; shall years of age, and a resident in the state until a census of the people

he is chosen for

shall be taken in the manner hereinafter mentioned.

The house of delegates shall consist of

to be

chosen from the different states in the following pro

portions for New Hampshire,

for Massachu

every

legislature shall hereafter regulate the number of delegates by the number of inhabitants, according to the provisions herein after made, at the rate of one for thousand. All money bills of every kind shall originate in the house of delegates, and shall not be altered by the senate. The house of delegates shall exclusively possess the power of impeachment, and shall choose its own officers; and vacancies therein shall be supplied by the executive authority of the state in the representation from which they shall happen.

ARTICLE IV.

The senate shall be elected and chosen by the house of delegates; which house, immediately after their meeting, shall choose by ballot

senators from

among the citizens and residents of New Hampshire, from among those of Massachusetts,

from

among those of Rhode Island, from among those of Connecticut, from among those of New York,

from among those of New Jersey,

those of Pennsylvania,

Delaware,

from among

from among those of

from among those of Maryland,

from among those of Virginia, from among those

of North Carolina,

Carolina, and

from among those of South from among those of Georgia. The senators chosen from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, shall form one class; those from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, one class; and those from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, one class. The house of delegates shall number these classes one, two, and three; and fix the times of their service by lot. The first class shall serve for years; the second for

1

years; and the third for years. As their times of service expire, the house of delegates shall fill them up by elections for years; and they shall fill all vacancies that arise from death, or resignation, for the time of service remaining of the members so dying or resigning. Each senator shall be years of age at least; shall have been a citizen of the United States four years before his election; and shall be a resident of the state he is chosen from. The senate shall choose its own officers.

ARTICLE V.

Each state shall prescribe the time and manner of holding elections by the people for the house of delegates; and the house of delegates shall be the judges