Part of a series of articles titled The Constitutional Convention: A Day by Day Account for June 1787.
Article
June 12, 1787: State Ratifying Conventions
Richard Dobbs Spaight attributed to Ellen Sharples, ca. 1800-1810. Independence National Historical Park
"…The time it will require for the Convention to finish the business they have before them being entirely uncertain the deputies are of opinion that a further advance of two months' Salary will be necessary…"
--Richard Dobbs Spaight to Governor Caswell, June 12, 1787
Tuesday, June 12, 1787: The Convention Today
The Convention, meeting in Committee of the Whole, had a busy day. Yesterday it had
solved the problem of presentation in Congress - both houses to be elected on the basis of their population. Today it approved having the conventions to ratify the Constitution elected by the people; agreed on three-year terms for members of the house; agreed to pay legislators a fixed salary [until Franklin objected, the salary had been described as "fixed and liberal,"] from the Federal Treasury; agreed that Senators should be at least thirty, and so forth.
The ratification of the proposed constitution by state conventions elected by the voters solved several problems with getting the constitution in place. Giving the voters a direct say in the process improved its democratic character. Avoiding the state legislatures lessened resistance from entrenched officials in the state governments, and it would take only one vote in each state rather than the votes of the two houses in (most) state legislatures.
Delegates Today
The Convention, meeting in Committee of the Whole, had a busy day. Yesterday it had
solved the problem of presentation in Congress - both houses to be elected on the basis of their population. Today it approved having the conventions to ratify the Constitution elected by the people; agreed on three-year terms for members of the house; agreed to pay legislators a fixed salary [until Franklin objected, the salary had been described as "fixed and liberal,"] from the Federal Treasury; agreed that Senators should be at least thirty, and so forth.
The ratification of the proposed constitution by state conventions elected by the voters solved several problems with getting the constitution in place. Giving the voters a direct say in the process improved its democratic character. Avoiding the state legislatures lessened resistance from entrenched officials in the state governments, and it would take only one vote in each state rather than the votes of the two houses in (most) state legislatures.
Delegates Today
- Dr. Johnson (CT) dined at home, bought four shillings and six pence worth of snuff, and paid expenses of seven shillings and six pence.
- General Washington (VA) dined with the Morris' and attended a benefit concert for Alexander Reinagle at City Tavern, which included pieces by Bach, Sarte, Andre, Fiorillo, Piccini, Capron, Brown and Reinagle himself.
- The City Street Commissioners met, all six present. At first they drew several orders to pay for time, lath, plank, carting and masons' work on the Fourth Street sewer. The commissioners then considered "the best method of disposing of the Gravell now hauling out of Fourth Street, where the Sewer is intended..."
Last updated: July 19, 2019