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THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

VOL. II.

"As the British Constitution is the most subtile organism which has proceeded from progressive history, so the American Constitution is the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man."-William E. Gladstone.

OF THE

FORMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

OF THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

BY

GEORGE BANCROFT.

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. II.

FOURTH EDITION.

NEW YORK:

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,

1, 3, AND 5 BOND STREET.

1884.

Mu

428557

COPYRIGHT BY

GEORGE BANCROFT,

1882.

CONTENTS.

Events overruled by justice, 3-General desire for a closer union, 3-

Character of the elections to the federal convention, 3-Journey to Philadel-

phia, 4-Arrival of Washington, 4-Opening of the federal convention, 4

-The Virginia members prepare a finished plan, 5 — Washington declares for

a new constitution, 5-Position of Edmund Randolph, 5— His station and

character, 6— Virginia unites under the lead of Madison, 7— Shall the con-

vention vote by states, 7-Arrival of delegates, 7-Their jarring opinions,

- Washington's appeal to them, 8-The convention organized, 8—Limited

power of the delegates from Delaware, 8-Position of Rhode Island, 8-

Character of the delegates, 9-Votes of individuals not to be recorded, 10—

Randolph opens the convention, 10-He proposes an outline of a constitution,

11-Proposal of Virginia to found representation on free inhabitants, 13—

Charles Pinckney presents a plan, 14-Debates in committee, 14-Butler

supports the Virginia plan, 14— Government must act on individuals, 15—

Sherman not yet ready, 15-Debate on equality of suffrage, 15- Delaware

interposes, 15-The legislature to be of two branches, 16-One branch to be

directly chosen by the people, 17-Extent of the federal legislative powers, 17

-The right to negative any state law denied, 18-Coercion of states, 19-

The national executive, 19-The mode of its election and its powers, 20-

Shall it be of one or more, 20-Sherman for its subordination to the legisla

ture, 21-Shall there be unity in the executive, 21-Shall it be chosen by the

people, 21-Its period of service, 22- How to be chosen, 22- How to be

removed, 23-Speech of Dickinson for a vote by states in one branch of the

legislature, 23 - Randolph proposes an executive of three members, 24-

Opinions on an executive council, 24-The executive to be single, 25- The

veto power, 25 - The judiciary, 26-Shall the house of representatives be

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