June 26, 1787: Terms of Service for Senators

Oliver Ellsworth by James Sharples Senior, from life, 1796-1797.  Independence National Historical Park.

"Our business is yet unfinished and it yet remains uncertain when I shall return home - I am sure I wish for the time for this city has no charms for me - I mix with company without enjoying it and am perfectly tired with flattery and forms. To be very fashionable we must be very trifling and make and receive a thousand professions which everybody knows there is not truth in - Give me a little domestick circle where affection is natural and friendship sincere and I do not care who takes the rest."

--Oliver Ellsworth, delegate from Connecticut, to his wife Abigail

Tuesday, June 26, 1787: The Convention Today

The Convention resumed its debate on the Senate's term of service.

Gorham (MA) seconded by Wilson, moved for a six-year term with l/3 to go out of office every three years. General Pinckney (SC) preferred four, lest members become tied too closely to the capital city. Read (DE) moved nine years since he couldn't get a life term; Broom (DE) seconded. Madison favored nine years with a high minimum age. Sherman (CT) thought six years sufficient to insure steadiness and wisdom in the system. Hamilton (NY) favored at least nine years. Mr. Gerry (MA) "wished we could be united in our ideas...All aim at the same end, but there are great differences as to the means." He favored four or five years.

Eventually, the convention agreed upon six year terms, and Senators to be ineligible for other Federal offices during their term.

Synopsis

• Approved (7 – 4) terms for 6 years in the upper house with biennial rotation

Delegates Today

• John Lansing (NY) wrote to Alexander Hamilton's father-in-law, Phillip Schuyler, noting "The business of the Convention is going on very slowly and it is still in such a stage as to render the Result very dubious."
• John Langdon (NH) turned 46 today.

Philadelphia Today

• The day was clear and pleasant.

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

Previous:
June 25, 1787: Election of Senators

Next:
June 27, 1787: Retain the Articles of Confederation?

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• Independence National Historical Park

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