Wednesday May 30.
Roger Sherman (from Connecticut) took his seat.
The House went into Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union. Mr Gorham was elected to the Chair by Ballot.
The propositions of Mr Randolph which had been referred to the Com̃ittee being taken up. He moved on the suggestion of Mr G. Morris, that the first of his propositions to wit "Resolved that the articles of Confederation ought to be so corrected & enlarged, as to accomplish the objects proposed by their institution; namely, common defence, security of liberty, and general welfare,—should be postponed, in order to consider the 3 following:
1. that a union of the States merely federal will not accomplish the objects proposed by the articles of Confederation, namely common defence, security of liberty, & genl welfare.
2. that no treaty or treaties among the whole or part of the States, as individual Sovereignties, would be sufficient.
3. that a national Government ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive & Judiciary.
The motion for postponing was seconded by Mr Govr Morris and unanimously agreed to.
Some verbal criticisms were raised agst the first proposition, and it was agreed on motion of Mr Butler seconded by Mr Randolph, to pass on to the third, which underwent a discussion, less however on its general merits than on the force and extent of the particular terms national & supreme.
Mr Charles Pinkney wished to know of Mr Randolph, whether he meant to abolish the State Governts altogether. Mr R. replied that he meant by these general propositions merely to introduce the particular ones which explained the outlines of the system he had in view.