John Langdon, delegate from New Hampshire James Sharples Sr., 1796-1810
Independence National Historical Park
Oaths, Numbers in the Senate, and a Committee
"Mr. John Langdon and Mr. Nicholas Gilman from N. Hampshire took their seats."
-James Madison in his Notes on the Convention
After
Considerable debate, with Williamson (NC), Gerry (MA), Wilson (PA), and Gorham
(MA) involved, the Convention agreed to require oaths from State and Federal
officers to support the government. Madison recorded Gerry's reasoning:
"Hitherto the officers of the two Governments had considered them as
distinct from, not as parts of, the General System and had in all case of
interference given a preference to the State Government. The proposed oaths
will cure that error."
Gouverneur
Morris and King moved that the Senate consists of [blank] members from each
state, who should vote as individuals. G. Morris moved to fill the blank with
3. Gorham preferred two, otherwise with Kentucky, Vermont, Maine and Franklin
[Tennessee], the Senate would become too big. Williamson added that too many
Senators would burden the distant states.
As Madison
noted, Gerry moved that the proceedings of the Convention be referred to a
committee "to prepare and report a Constitution conformable thereto."
General Pinckney announced his opposition to any Committee report which did not
give security against emancipation of slaves and taxes on exports. Committees
of 10 and 7 were defeated, a committee of 5 was agreed upon. The delegates
would be selected the next day.
