A Senate of the States: June 7th – June 11th, 1787

Article V Blog ^ | October 16th 2017 | Rodney Dodsworth

[Jacquerie]

On June 7th, John Dickinson (DE) motioned "that the members of the second branch ought to be chosen by the individual Legislatures." The separate question of proportional or federal (equal) representation in the senate carried over into July, and nearly wrecked the convention.

Senatorial election by the states solved two unacceptable aspects of the Virginia Plan. First, the Lower House elected the VA Plan’s Upper House. Nearly all the convention delegates had served in their respective state houses or congress, and were aware of the out-of-doors deal making and corruption certain to occur under the VA Plan. An Upper House dependent on the lower could hardly exercise independence. Second, as Roger Sherman of Connecticut observed, with some agency in the senate, the states “would thus become interested in supporting the national government, and that a due harmony between the two Governments would be maintained.” He admitted that the two should have separate and distinct jurisdictions, but that they ought to have a mutual interest in supporting each other.

But, as logical as this mode appears to us today, other delegates learned different lessons from America’s brief period of independence and peace. James Wilson (PA) scoffed at the notion of too much democracy. He preferred the people elect the House, Senate, and President. Rather than fear majoritarian abuses, he reasoned that popular elections served the purpose of smoothing dissensions in government. George Read (DE) proposed a limited state agency in a senate that resembled the English monarch’s influence over Parliament. He motioned "that the senate should be appointed by the Executive Magistrate out of a proper number of persons to be nominated by the individual legislatures." His proposition was not seconded nor supported. Charles Pinckney (SC) sought a truly independent, aristocratic senate, and suggested life-long appointments by the states.

[exnavy]

I propose a constitutional amendment that simply states, all laws, state local and federal, all constitutional ammendments made after 1787 be totally repealled every 10 years on the census. All we need is the founders constitution.

[PGalt]

Thanks. BUMP!

[Jacquerie]

I appreciate. Every time.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

All we need is the founders constitution.

No go. People would be buying and drinking intoxicating liquors. ;-)

Seriously - all quibbles about the plusses and minuses of having a Bill of Rights aside - there are serious reasons for amendments such as the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 22nd, and 27th (not to say that I would go out of my way to repeal all of the others, but . . .).