The writings of James Madison, :: :: University of Virginia Library

The writings of James Madison,

comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed.

1787. May 6–25.	Prepares the "Virginia plan" in conjunction with the Virginia delegates.
May 14.	Attends the first gathering of the delegates.
May 30.	Moves postponement of question of representation by free population.
	Moves that congressional representation be proportioned to the importance and size of the States.
	Makes his first speech on this subject.
May 31.	Advocates representation in one house by popular election.
	Opposes uniting several States into one district for representation in Senate.
	Doubts practicability of enumerating powers of national legislature.
	Suggests the impossibility of using force to coerce individual States.
June 1.	Moves that the powers of the Executive be enumerated.
June 2.	Objects to giving Congress power to remove the President upon demand of a majority of the State legislatures.
June 4.	Favors giving power to more than a majority of the national legislature to overrule an Executive negative of a law.
June 5.	Opposes election of judges by both branches of Congress.
June 5.	Advocates submission of constitution to conventions of the people.
	Favors inferior judicial tribunals.
June 6.	Speaks for popular representation in the House.
	Seconds motion to include a portion of the Judiciary with the Executive in revisionary power over laws.
June 7.	Speaks for proportional representation in both houses of Congress.
June 8.	Seconds motion to give Congress power to negative State laws.
	Suggests temporary operation of urgent laws.
June 12.	Seconds motion to make term of Representatives three years.
	Thinks the people will follow the convention.
	Favors a term of seven years for Senators.
June 13.	Moves defining powers of Judiciary.
	Objects to appointment of judges by whole legislature.
	Thinks both houses should have right to originate money bills.
	Advocates a national government and opposes the "Jersey plan."
June 21.	Speaks in favor of national supremacy.
	Opposes annual or biennial elections of Representatives.
June 22.	Favors fixing payment of salaries by a standard.
June 23.	Proposes to debar Senators from offices created or enhanced during their term.
	Speaks for the proposition.
June 25.	Wishes to take up question of right of suffrage.
June 26.	Speaks for a long term for Senators.
	Opposes their payment by the States.
June 28.	Speaks for proportional representation.
June 29.	Insists that too much stress is laid on State sovereignty.
June 30.	Contends against equal State representation in the Senate.
	Speaks again on subject, but would preserve State rights.
July 2.	Opposes submission of the question to a special committee.
July 5.	Opposes compromise report of committee.
July 6.	Thinks part of report need not be postponed.
July 7.	Thinks question of representation ought to be settled before other questions.
July 9.	Suggests free inhabitants as basis of representation in one house, and all inhabitants as basis in the other house.
July 10.	Moves increase of Representatives.
July 11.	Favors representation based on population.
July 14.	Urges proportional representation as necessary to protect the smaller States.
July 17.	Advocates national power of negative over State laws.
	Thinks the branches of government should be kept separate.
	Thinks monarchy likely to follow instability.
	Thinks there should be provision for interregnum between adoption and operation of constitution.
	Moves national guarantee of States against domestic violence.
July 18.	Seconds motion forbidding a State to form any but a republican government.

University of Virginia Library

CHRONOLOGY OF JAMES MADISON. 1787.

CHRONOLOGY OF JAMES MADISON.
1787.