National measures of Virginia

Jefferson enforces union

The committee of states.

Retirement of Robert Morris

Lee and Madison on a federal convention

France sees the tendency of the confederation to dissolution.

CHAPTER III.

THE WEST.

1784-1785.

Washington's tour to the West

His scheme of internal navigation. His report to Governor Harrison
Lafayette in the United States

Washington negotiates between Virginia and Maryland. He refuses gifts
Virginia appoints commissioners to treat with Maryland

The fifth congress and Richard Henry Lee as its president
Samuel Adams for a firm government

The politics of New York corrupted by its custom-house
Washington's western policy

He brings it before congress. William Grayson
Pickering against slavery in the West

King revives Jefferson's antislavery clause

125

126

. 127

CHAPTER IV.

THE REGULATION OF COMMERCE. THE FIFTH CONGRESS.

1784-1785.

Proposed reform of the confederacy by less than a unanimous vote

Tract by Noah Webster

Excessive importations of British goods. The consequent distress
Remedies proposed in New York

Pennsylvania proposes a protective system
Movements in Boston noted by Grayson

Boston demands more powers for congress and a protective tariff.

Bowdoin recommends a federal convention

Instructions to the Massachusetts delegates

Movements in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. In Pennsylvania

John Adams applauds a navigation act. James Monroe

His compromise proposal for a revenue.

. 138

139

. 139

. 140

The objections of Richard Henry Lee

Monroe wishes his measure delayed. Congress regrets Madison

The Massachusetts delegates disobey their instructions .

Their reasons. Bowdoin's reply

The effect

The American commissioners for treaties meet with a rebuff from England. 147

John Adams and King George

.

. 147

. 148

England will not treat except on the condition of a preference
Adams proposes retaliation. Interview of Adams with Pitt.
The United States agree with France for a perfect reciprocity
France reduces the duty on American fish-oil. Treaty with Prussia
Spain reserved. Noble spirit of South Carolina. Treaty with Morocco
A new constitution cannot spring from congress

Hawley and the inquisition into faith by the temporal power

Decline of the Anglican church in Virginia.

.

Does religion need compulsory support? Opinions of the Presbyterians

Of the Baptists. Patrick Henry proposes a legal support for Christianity. 156

Madison opposes. Opinion of Washington

Of the Baptists. Of the convention of the Presbyterian church

Jefferson's bill for religious freedom adopted. Other states follow

The statute in French and Italian.

The Protestant Episcopal church of the United States

The Methodists. Their missionaries in America

Their superintendents. Their liturgy

.

The superintendent defined to be a bishop. The Methodists and slavery

Rapid increase of the Methodists. Roman Catholics in the United States

Adjustment of claims to land by Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York

By South Carolina, Virginia. Enlargement of Pennsylvania

New York yields to temptation. Slavery and freedom never reconciled

CHAPTER VI.

154

. 155

. 155

. 156

. 156

. 157

. 158

. 158

. 159

. 159

. 160

. 161

. 162

. 163

164

. 165

. 165

166

STATE LAWS IMPAIRING THE OBLIGATION OF CONTRACTS PROVE THE NEED

OF AN OVERRULING UNION.

PAGE

The court and the legislature of Rhode Island in conflict

. 169

The laws of New York. Of New Jersey

. 170

Of Pennsylvania

. 171

Of Delaware. Of Maryland. Of Georgia. Of South Carolina

. 172

Situation and value of Mount Vernon. The house and grounds

. 177

Washington embarrassed for income. A gradual abolitionist

Plan for a federal convention

The lands, negroes, and produce.

His love of hunting. He arranges his papers

His perfect amiability. His exemplary life.

His religion. His hatred of war

His sympathy for the Irish and the Greeks

His enthusiasm at the beginning of the French revolution

He enjoins moderation on Lafayette. In politics an impartial American
The commissioners of Maryland and Virginia meet at Mount Vernon

The results. States divided on granting power over trade to congress
Opinion of Madison

Of Washington. Hesitation of Virginia

Maryland suggests a politico-commercial commission

The wisdom of Madison. Calling a convention at Annapolis

The sixth congress

More strength to the confederacy, or an end to the union

. 178

. 178

. 179

. 180

. 180

. 181

. 182

. 182

. 182

Strife between New Jersey and New York. Congress interposes

New Jersey leads the way to a general convention

. 187

His committee offer seven new articles of confederation

. 191

New York retains the collecting of the revenue

Pennsylvania recedes from the revenue plan of congress

Does not heed a delegation from congress

Congress expostulates with the governor of New York.

Clinton will not yield. Congress fails

CHAPTER VIII.

VIRGINIA INVITES DEPUTIES OF THE SEVERAL LEGISLATURES OF THE STATES

Only five states appear. Their extreme caution in their report

They fix the time and place of a federal convention

. 196

. 196

Massachusetts declines the suggestions from Annapolis

King prevents the recommendation of the measure by congress

Clinton condemns the commissioners from New York

King before the legislature of Massachusetts

Followed by Nathan Dane

. 196

Madison and Virginia. The assembly unanimous. Its declaratory preamble. 197

Virginia selects its delegates. Decision of New Jersey

Of Pennsylvania. North Carolina and Delaware

. 198

. 199

The conciliatory movement of King in congress. It succeeds

The decision of New York. The insurrection in Massachusetts

. 200

Principles that governed Madison

Its legislature accepts the invitation from Annapolis

So do South Carolina and Georgia. Connecticut. New Hampshire

Expectation of the British ministry

Madison prepares a complete plan of a constitution. Jefferson's advice

Conciliates Randolph, governor of Virginia

The preparation of Washington for the convention

III.-THE FEDERAL CONVENTION.

CHAPTER I.

THE CONSTITUTION IN OUTLINE.

14 May to 13 June 1787.

Events overruled by justice. General desire for a closer union

Character of the elections to the federal convention

Arrival of Washington. Opening of the federal convention

The Virginia members prepare a finished plan

Washington declares for a new constitution.

Position of Edmund Randolph

His station and character

Virginia unites under the lead of Madison

Shall the convention vote by states? Arrival of delegates

Their jarring opinions. Washington's appeal to them

The convention organized

Limited power of the delegates from Delaware

Position of Rhode Island. Character of the delegates

PAGE

211

211

Votes of individuals not to be recorded. Randolph opens the convention. 212

He proposes an outline of a constitution

Proposal of Virginia to found representation on free inhabitants.

Charles Pinckney presents a plan.

Debates in committee

Butler supports the Virginia plan.

Sherman not yet ready.

Government must act on individuals

Debate on equality of suffrage. Delaware interposes

The legislature to be of two branches.

One branch to be directly chosen by the people

Extent of the federal legislative powers

The right to negative any state law denied.

Coercion of states

The national executive. The mode of its election and its powers

Shall it be of one or more? Sherman for its subordination to the legislature 219

Shall there be unity in the executive? Shall it be chosen by the people?
Its period of service

How to be chosen. How to be removed

Speech of Dickinson for a vote by states in one branch of the legislature

Randolph proposes an executive of three members

Opinions on an executive council. The executive to be single

The veto power

Or by the people?

The judiciary

Appointment of judges

Shall the house of representatives be chosen by the states?

How both branches are to be chosen. Hamilton's opinion

225

How to choose the senate

Are the states in danger? The equality of the small states defended .

Franklin interposes as a peacemaker

Connecticut the umpire between the small states and the large ones

The large states prevail

The requirement of an oath .

Term of office and qualifications of representatives

Of senators. The work of the committee ended

CHAPTER II.

NEW JERSEY CLAIMS AN EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE STATES.

From the Fifteenth to the Nineteenth of June 1787.

. 227

. 229

. 229

230

The small states dissatisfied. The plan of Connecticut

New Jersey resists the large states

The plan of New Jersey

Debate on the extent of the powers of the convention

Paterson pleads for the equality of the states in one supreme council

Debate on the sovereignty of a single body