The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 1

by United States. Constitutional Convention; James Madison

lose sight of the States they represent. Under these circumstances the distant States w^d labour under great disadvantages.[109]

[ [109] According to Yates, Madison followed Pinckney:

"Mr. Madison. We are proceeding in the same manner that was done when the Confederation was first formed. Its original draft was excellent, but in its progress and completion it became so insufficient as to give rise to the present Convention. By the vote already taken, will not the temper of the state legislatures transfuse itself into the Senate? Do we create a free government?"—Yates, Secret Proceedings, etc., 168.

M^r Sherman moved to strike out "7 years" in order to take questions on the several propositions.

On the question to strike out "seven"

Mass^ts ay. Con^t ay. N. Y. ay. N. J. ay. P^a no. Del. no. M^d div^d. V^a no. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.

On the question to insert "6 years", which failed 5 St^s being ay. 5 no, & 1 divided

Mass^ts no. Con^t ay. N. Y. no. N. J. no. P^a ay. Del. ay. M^d div^d. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. no. Geo. no.

On a motion to adjourn, the votes were 5 for 5 ag^st it & 1 divided,—Con. N. J. P^a Del. V^a ay. Mass^ts N. Y. N. C. S. C. Geo: no. Mary^d divided.

On the question for "5 years" it was lost.