May 30, 1787: Committee of the Whole

"It is an affair of high and agitated expectation throughout the Continent, but what will be the issue of it no man can yet foresee."

--Connecticut delegate William Samuel Johnson in a letter his son William, May 30, 1787

Wednesday, May 30, 1787: The Convention Today

The Convention today (and for the next fifteen days) met as a Committee of the Whole to review, debate and, in the end, modify the Virginia and Pinckney plans. The delegates elected Nathaniel Gorham (MA) to chair the Committee of the Whole. Gorham replaced George Washington in the chair during this period. The Committee of the Whole included all the delegates, and had the flexibility to debate options and change course before taking any final votes.

The Committee agreed "that a national government ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive and Judiciary," although New York was divided and

Connecticut voted no.

Discussion then turned to how many votes each state should have in Congress. After a

number of motions got nowhere, Madison moved "that the equality of sufferage (that is, one for each state) established by the Articles of Confederation ought not to prevail ..."

George Read (DE) moved to postpone; the Delaware deputies were instructed not to approve such a change and, were it approved, might have to leave the Convention. Several members said that the Delaware delegates could stay in the Convention even if the motion was approved, but eventually the Committee agreed to Read's motion to postpone.

Synopsis

• The Convention met as Committee of the Whole
• Agreed (6 – 1 – 1) that a national government consisting of a supreme legislature, judiciary, and executive should be formed (Connecticut voting against, New York divided)
• Discussed representation - should it be based on population or on a state's financial contribution

Delegates Today

• Roger Sherman, of Connecticut, appeared and took his seat.
• Dr. Franklin wrote his sister, Jane Mecom, to describe his new houses.
• William R. Davie (NC) wrote to James Iredell, future Supreme Court Justice, for Iredell's opinion on whether executive and judicial powers should be added at the Federal level.

Philadelphia Today

• The day was cool, with a hard, steady rain.

Part of a series of articles titled
The Constitutional Convention: A Day by Day Account for May 1787.

Previous:
May 29, 1787: Virginia and Pinckney Plans Submitted

Next:
May 31, 1787: Debate on the Legislature

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• Independence National Historical Park

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