Part of a series of articles titled The Constitutional Convention: A Day by Day Account for July 1 to 15, 1787.
Previous: July 6, 1787: Haggling over a Compromise
Article
July 7, 1787: Agitation and Discontentment
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union
"Particular States ought to be injured for the sake of a majority of the people, in case their conduct should deserve it."
--Gouvernour Morris (PA), as per Madison's (VA) notes
Saturday, July 7, 1787: The Convention Today
A letter was read from the Library Company of Philadelphia offering the use of their books. At the time located on the second floor of Carpenters' Hall, this was the largest library in America making it a valuable resource. The rest of the day's business was much more contentious.
The clause of the Connecticut Compromise providing each state an equal vote in the second branch (now known as the Senate) was brought up. Gerry (MA) accepted it, despite his personal preference, arguing that a less-than-ideal government that was accepted by all the states would be better than an ideal government which would "operate on discontented States." Sherman (CT) thought the compromise would give the government more vigor since, in his view, the small state governments were more energetic and closer to the people than the large ones. Wilson (PA) was unmoved in his opposition, arguing that the compromise favoring the small states might pass within the Convention, but would be rejected by the American people.
Gerry wanted to move on to enumerate and define the powers given to the new government, but Madison disagreed, arguing that it was impossible to decide what powers to give Congress when there was still uncertainty about how states would be represented.
Paterson (NJ) said an equal vote in the Senate was essential to the small states; he was against the Connecticut Compromise as already conceding too much power to the large states.
G. Morris (PA) was against the report beacuse of the improper makeup of the second branch. It had been said by Gerry that the new government would be partly national (protecting the interests of individual Americans) and partly federal (protecting the interests of the states), but G. Morris now said it lacked the vision and power to promote "the dignity and splendor of the American Empire." In his view, the states were relics of colonial times. He cited multiple instances (Germany pre-unification, the ancient Greek states, the Netherlands) where confederated government failed because local interests prevailed.
Sherman and Ellsworth (CT) moved to postpone a vote on the compromise until the Committee to fix the initial representation in the first branch reported. It passed, 6 yes, 5 no (NY, VA, NC, SC, and GA).
A letter was read from the Library Company of Philadelphia offering the use of their books. At the time located on the second floor of Carpenters' Hall, this was the largest library in America making it a valuable resource. The rest of the day's business was much more contentious.
The clause of the Connecticut Compromise providing each state an equal vote in the second branch (now known as the Senate) was brought up. Gerry (MA) accepted it, despite his personal preference, arguing that a less-than-ideal government that was accepted by all the states would be better than an ideal government which would "operate on discontented States." Sherman (CT) thought the compromise would give the government more vigor since, in his view, the small state governments were more energetic and closer to the people than the large ones. Wilson (PA) was unmoved in his opposition, arguing that the compromise favoring the small states might pass within the Convention, but would be rejected by the American people.
Gerry wanted to move on to enumerate and define the powers given to the new government, but Madison disagreed, arguing that it was impossible to decide what powers to give Congress when there was still uncertainty about how states would be represented.
Paterson (NJ) said an equal vote in the Senate was essential to the small states; he was against the Connecticut Compromise as already conceding too much power to the large states.
G. Morris (PA) was against the report beacuse of the improper makeup of the second branch. It had been said by Gerry that the new government would be partly national (protecting the interests of individual Americans) and partly federal (protecting the interests of the states), but G. Morris now said it lacked the vision and power to promote "the dignity and splendor of the American Empire." In his view, the states were relics of colonial times. He cited multiple instances (Germany pre-unification, the ancient Greek states, the Netherlands) where confederated government failed because local interests prevailed.
Sherman and Ellsworth (CT) moved to postpone a vote on the compromise until the Committee to fix the initial representation in the first branch reported. It passed, 6 yes, 5 no (NY, VA, NC, SC, and GA).
Synopsis
- The Convention gained access to the largest library in America.
- Delegates continued to argue over the virtues of the representation compromise and decided, by a narrow margin, to postpone make a final decision.
Delegates Today
- Johnson (CT) dined at Benjamin Chew's and had expenses of seven shillings and six pence.
- Washington (VA) ate at Springsbury with his dining club and drank tea at Mr. Meredith's.
- Franklin (PA) paid Sebastian Sybert seven pounds and fifteen shillings, for hauling sand, loam, dirt, boards, and lumber between May 14 and July 5. Apparently, Sybert hauled the material to Franklin Court to be used for landscaping.
- Governor Caswell wrote from Newington, North Carolina to John Gray Blount forwarding warrants for 120 pounds each for Spaight (NC) and Williamson (NC), which Blount was to remit to them.
Philadelphia Today
- The day was fair and very warm, with a median temperature of 75.5 F.
Last updated: August 17, 2023