Embed Jump To
Download Jump To Label (click on the image to download)
Or Embed Jump To Inside Your Webpage
<a href="https://www.quillproject.net/fetch/i667"><img src="https://www.quillproject.net/getJumpToImage/i667" alt="Quill - Jump To Icon (i667)" style="width: 110px; height: 59px;"></a>
"The most prevalent idea...is a total change of the federal system."
Online Library of Liberty transcription (from Farrand): Philadelphia, May 21, 1787. I arrived in this city on Thursday evening last, but found so few of the deputies here from the several States that I am unable to form any certain opinion on the subject of our mission. The most prevalent idea I think at present is a total change of the federal system, and instituting a great national council or parliament upon the principles of equal, proportionate representation, consisting of two branches of the legislature invested with full legislative powers upon the objects of the Union; and to make the State legislatures subordinate to the national by giving to the latter a negative upon all such laws as they judge contrary to the principles and interest of the Union; to establish also a national executive, and a judiciary system with cognizance of all such matters as depend upon the law of nations, and such other objects as the local courts of justice may be inadequate to. . . . I have received your favor by Major Jackson; nothing that I have heard has yet been mentioned upon this subject among the deputies now here; though I understand there are several candidates, which I am surprised at, as the office will be of so short duration, and merely honorary, or possibly introductory to something more substantial.
14-25 May, 1787
(To go a specific resource item, please click on its link.)
- 14 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 15 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 15 May, 1787: Madison's Letter to Thomas Jefferson
- 16 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 17 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 18 May, 1787: Benjamin Franklin to Richard Price
- 18 May, 1787: Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Jordan
- 18 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 19 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 19 May, 1787: Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser
- 20 May, 1787: George Mason to his son , George Mason Jr.
- 20 May, 1787: George Washington to Arthur Lee
- 21 May, 1787: George Mason to Arthur Lee
- 21 May, 1787: George Read to John Dickinson
- 21 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 22 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 23 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 24 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- 24 May, 1787: Rufus King to Jeremiah Wadsworth
- 24 May, 1787: William Grayson to James Madison
- 25 May, 1787: George Washington's Diary Entry
- James Madison: Notes on Debates in the Federal Convention, 1787
- Link to Ben Franklin papers, Library of Congress
- Link to Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser, Library of Congress
- Link to Wadsworth papers
Description
"The most prevalent idea...is a total change of the federal system."
Online Library of Liberty transcription (from Farrand): Philadelphia, May 21, 1787. I arrived in this city on Thursday evening last, but found so few of the deputies here from the several States that I am unable to form any certain opinion on the subject of our mission. The most prevalent idea I think at present is a total change of the federal system, and instituting a great national council or parliament upon the principles of equal, proportionate representation, consisting of two branches of the legislature invested with full legislative powers upon the objects of the Union; and to make the State legislatures subordinate to the national by giving to the latter a negative upon all such laws as they judge contrary to the principles and interest of the Union; to establish also a national executive, and a judiciary system with cognizance of all such matters as depend upon the law of nations, and such other objects as the local courts of justice may be inadequate to. . . . I have received your favor by Major Jackson; nothing that I have heard has yet been mentioned upon this subject among the deputies now here; though I understand there are several candidates, which I am surprised at, as the office will be of so short duration, and merely honorary, or possibly introductory to something more substantial.
Associations (0)
None
Commentaries (0)
None
Copyright information
None