June 11, 1787: Representation in the Legislature

Elbridge Gerry by James Bogle, after John Vanderlyn, 1861.  Independence National Historical Park

"…unless a system of government is adopted by Compact, Force I expect will plant the Standard…"

--Elbridge Gerry to James Monroe, June 11, 1787

Monday, June 11, 1787: The Convention Today

The Committee of the Whole reconsidered the rule of suffrage in the legislature.

Roger Sherman (CT) moved that it be proportional in the first house, and by state with one vote per state in the Senate. John Rutledge (SC) and Pierce Butler (SC) wanted representation based on how much money each state contributed.

After extensive and heated debate, the Committee decided that representation should not be as it was under the Articles [one vote for each state], but rather that it should be based on free population plus 3/5 of "all others," and, finally, that it should be the same in both houses. Sherman's motion that each state have an equal vote in the Senate was defeated.

James Madison's (VA) position that both houses of the legislature be apportioned by population continued to carry the most weight for the moment.

Delegates Today

• Dr. Johnson (CT) dined at Mr. Morris' (PA), either bought a watch or had one repaired for two shillings and six pence, and paid expenses of eight shillings.
• General Washington dined, drank tea and spent the evening in his own room.
• William Blount (NC), still in New York City, wrote to one Joseph Clay to enclose an account of the sale of a hogshead of deer skins.
• The Reverend James Madison wrote from Virginia to thank his cousin James for a copy of John Adams' Defence of the Constitutions. The Reverend then attacked Adams' political theories, many of which cousin James was working to get included in the proposed new government.
• David Brearley (NJ), observed his 42nd birthday.

Philadelphia Today

• The day was very pleasant; clear and warm.
• One T.H. Croker, temporarily in Philadelphia, wrote Dr. Franklin about a "horizontal windmill" Croker had invented and a number of other scientific subjects.