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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journals of the Continental Congress --WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1787.
Congress assembled as before.
The report of a grand comee.1 consisting of Mr [Nathan] Dane Mr [James Mitchel] Varnum Mr S[tephen] M[ix] Mitchell Mr [Melancton] Smith Mr [Lambert] Cadwallader Mr [William] Irwine Mr N[athaniel] Mitchell Mr [Uriah] Forrest Mr [William] Grayson Mr [William] Blount Mr [John] Bull and Mr [William] Few, to whom was referred a letter of 14 Septr 1786 from J Dickinson written at the request of Commissioners from the States of Virginia Delaware Pensylvania New Jersey and New York assembled at the City of Annapolis together with a copy of the report of the said Commissioners to the legislatures of the States by whom they were appointed, being called for as an Order of the Day was called up and which is in the words following viz contained in the following resolution viz,
[Note 1: 1 This committee was appointed February 12 and reported February 19, 1787.]
"Congress having had under consideration the letter2 of John Dickinson esqr. chairman of the Commissioners who assembled at Annapolis during the last year also the proceedings of the said commissioners and entirely coinciding with them as to the inefficiency of the federal government and the necessity of devising such farther provisions as shall
[Note 2: 2 Journals, vol. XXXI, pp. 678--680.]
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render the same adequate to the exigencies of the Union do strongly recommend to the different legislatures to send forward delegates to meet the proposed convention on the second Monday in May next at the city of Philadelphia."
The delegates for the state of New York thereupon laid before Congress Instructions1 which they had received from their constituents and in pursuance of the said instructions moved to postpone the farther consideration of the report in order to take up the following proposition2 to wit
[Note 1: 1 The attested copy of the concurrent resolution of the New York Legislature, respecting the calling of a convention, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 67, II, p. 555.]
[Note 2: 2 This motion, in the writing of Mr. Egbert Benson, is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, p. 323. The wording of the motion is the same as that of the Instructions of the New York Legislature.]
"That it be recommended to the States composing the Union that a convention of representatives from the said states respectively be held atonfor the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union between the United States of America and reporting to the United States in Congress assembled and to the States respectively such alterations and amendments of the said Articles of Confederation as the representatives met in such convention shall judge proper and necessary to render them adequate to the preservation and support of the Union."
On the question to postpone for the purpose above mentioned the yeas and nays being required by the delegates for New York.
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So the question was lost.
A motion1 was then made by the delegates for Massachusetts to postpone the farther consideration of the report in order to take into consideration a motion which they read in their place, this being agreed to, the motion of the delegates for Massachusetts was taken up and being amended was agreed to as follows:
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, pp. 329--330, in the writing of Mr. Nathan Dane, with an amendment on the reverse by Mr. Rufus King.]
Whereas there is provision in the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union for making alterations therein by the Assent of a Congress of the United States and of the legislatures of the several States; And whereas experience hath evinced that there are defects in the present Confederation, as a mean to remedy which several of the states and particularly the state of New York by express instructions to their delegates in Congress have suggested a Convention for the
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purposes expressed in the following resolution and such Convention appearing to be the most probable mean of establishing in these states a firm national government.1
[Note 1: 1 This paragraph in the original motion is as follows:--
"Whereas by the federal Constitution of the United States provision is made for making alterations in it by the Consent of a Congress of the United States and the legislatures of all the States; and whereas by trial and experience defects are found to exist in it, to remedy which, and render it adequate to the exigencies of the union and the permanent preservation thereof many of the States have [ing] suggested the measure and the State of N.Y. have suggested instructed her Delegates accordingly the measure of a Convn. of the States for these purposes and from these and other Circumstances such Convention appears to be the most probable mean of establishing in these States a firm national Government." A copy of this paragraph as it appears in the Journal, in the writing of Thomson is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 36, III, p. 327.]
Resolved that in the opinion of Congress it is expedient that on the second Monday in May next a Convention of delegates who shall have been appointed by the several States be held at Philadelphia2 for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation and reporting to Congress and the several legislatures such alterations and provisions therein as shall when agreed to in Congress and confirmed by the States render the federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies of Government3 and the preservation of the Union.
[Note 2: 2 "Philadelphia" is not in the original motion.]
[Note 3: 3 "Confederacy" in the original.]
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