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The writings of James Madison,

comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHRONOLOGY OF JAMES MADISON. 1787.

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CHRONOLOGY OF JAMES MADISON.
1787.

                         

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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. 


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