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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, AUGUST 6, 1788.
Congress assembled present the thirteen states.
The order of the day1 being called for and the act as amended for putting the Constitution into Operation being read as follows:
[Note 1: 1 See July 8, August 5, 7 and September 13, 1788.]
Whereas the convention assembled in Philadelphia pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 21 feby 1787 did on the 17 of Sept in the same year report to the United States in Congress assembled a constitution for the people of the United States whereupon Congress on the 28 of the same September did resolve unanimously "that the said report with the resolutions and letter accompanying the same be transmitted to the several legislatures in order to be submitted to a convention of delegates chosen in each state by the people thereof in conformity to the resolves of the convention made and provided in that case" and whereas the constitution so reported by the convention and by Congress transmitted to the several legislatures has been ratified in the manner therein declared to be sufficient for the establishment of the same and such ratifications duly authenticated have been received by Congress and are filed in the office of the secretary therefore,
Resolved that the first Wednesday in January next be the day for appointing electors in the several states which before the said day shall have ratified the said constitution, that the first wednesday in feby . next be the day for the electors to assemble in their respective states and vote for a president and that the first Wednesday in March next be the time and the town of Baltimore in the state of Maryland the place for commencing proceedings under the said constitution.
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A motion1 was made by Mr [Thomas Tudor] Tucker seconded by Mr [Henry] Lee further to amend the act by striking out the words "and the town of Baltimore in the state of Maryland" and in leu thereof inserting as follows, And2 Whereas a central situation would be most eligible for the sitting of the Legislature of the United States, if such could be found in a condition to furnish in due time the accommodations necessary for facilitating public business, and at the same time free of weighty objections which might render it improper or unlikely to be the seat of Government either permanently or until a permanent seat can be agreed on; and whereas the most effectual means of obtaining finally the establishment of the federal government in a convenient central situation is to leave the subject to the deliberate consideration of the future Congress, uninfluenced by undue attachment to any of the places which may stand in competition for preference on so interesting a question, and unembarrassed by want of time and means to fix on and prepare the most proper place for this purpose; and whereas the removal of the public Offices must be attended with much expence, danger and Inconvenience, which ought not to be incurred but with a well founded expectation of advantages that may fully counterbalance the same; and whereas no such advantages can be expected from a removal to any place now in a condition to receive the federal legislature; and whereas in addition to the beforementioned reasons unnecessary changes of the seat of Government would be indicative of instability in the national councils and therefore highly injurious to the interests as well as derogatory to the dignity of the United States, therefore, Resolved that the
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, pp. 343--344, in the writing of Mr. Thomas Tudor Tucker. At the end of the motion, on pp. 344--345, Charles Thomson wrote a draft of the Journal entry of this day, without Mr. Williamson's motion and the votes which are indicated as nos. 1--4.]
[Note 2: 2 Roger Alden takes up the entry.]
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city of New York in the State of New York be the place for commencing proceedings under the said Constitution.
A motion1 was then made by Mr [Hugh] Williamson seconded by Mr [James R.] Reid to postpone the motion before the house in order to take up the following.
[Note 1: 1 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, pp. 339--341, in the writing of Mr. Hugh Williamson. The motion suffered numerous changes in phraseology in its preparation, indicated on the original which reads as follows:
"Whereas it is proper that the Seat of the new Congress and of the national Government should be placed as near as possible to the Center of the Union [as may consist with present accommodation] in Order that it's Influence and benefits may be equally felt by the great Body of Citizens throughout the US, that Members of Congress and other Persons may approach it with equal Convenience from the opposite Extremes and that no Species of partial accomodation may seem to have been [Favour may seem to appear have been] extended to one Extreme rather than to the other; and whereas the present Residence of Congress is far removed from the Center of the Union whether Population or Distance are considered since the new Congress should [is to] consist of 8 Senators from States to the Eastward of New York and 16 from States to the Southward and [since there are to be only] of 17 members only in the House of Representatives from the Eastern States though there are to be 42 members from southern Shares; and since the Distance to the Seat of Government in the extreme Southern Eastern State is at least three Times hardly [equal to] one third of the Distance to the seat of Government in the most southerly State. And whereas it is to be desired that Proceedings under the new Government may the new Congress may be convened in the same Spirit of Indulgence Concession and mutual Accommodation which has hitherto appeared in all Proceeding which [Deliberations] respect[ing] the new Government and that Proceedings under the said Government may commence under the Impressions of mutual Confidence without that general Irritation and loss of Time which must attend the Removal from an Improper Situation and without those painful Apprehensions which must be excited by the early [and strong] Appearance of secret Influence or local Considerations,Therefore resolved
That Philadelphia [the Town of Lancaster in the State of Penyslvania] be the Place in which the new Congress shall meet.
excited by the early Appearance
in attention to the general Interest of the Union or
excited by an Act [a measure] that may seem to have originated in an undue
Regard to local considerations
apprehensions which will naturally arise from a Measure that may seem to have originated in an undue Regard to local Considerations.
Therefore resolved that the Seat of the new Congress ought to be in some Place to the Southward of New York".]
Whereas it is proper that the seat of the new Congress and of the national Government should be placed as near the
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centre of the Union as may consist with present accommodation in order that its influence and benefits may be equally felt by the great body of citizens throughout the United States, that members of Congress and other persons may approach it with equal convenience from the opposite extremes, and that no species of partial favour may seem to have been extended to one extreme, rather than to the other; and whereas the present residence of Congress is far removed from the center of the Union, whether population or distance are considered, since the new Congress is to consist of eight Senators from States to the eastward of New York, and sixteen from States to the southward, and since there are to be only 17 members in the house of representatives from the eastern States, though there are to be 42 members from southern States; and since the distance to the seat of government in the extreme eastern state is hardly equal to one third of the distance to the seat of Government in the most southerly state, and whereas it is to be desired that the new Congress may be convened in the same spirit of mutual accommodation which has hitherto appeared in all deliberations respecting the new government, and that proceedings under the said Government may commence under the impressions of mutual confidence, without that general irritation and loss of time which must attend the removal from an improper situation, and without those painful apprehensions which will naturally arise from a measure that may seem to have originated in an undue regard to local considerations. Therefore Resolved that the seat of the new Congress ought to be in some place to the southward of New York.
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And on the question to postpone for the purpose above-mentioned, the Yeas and Nays being required by Mr [Hugh] Williamson:
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So it passed in the Negative.
A motion was then made by Mr [Edward] Carrington seconded by Mr [William] Bingham to amend the amendment by striking out the words "New York in the state of New
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York", and in lieu thereof, inserting "Philadelphia" and on the question to agree to the amendment to the amendment the Yeas and Nays being required by Mr [James R.] Reid:
{table}
So it passed in the Negative.
A division was then called for and on the question to agree to the resolving clause the Yeas and Nays being required by Mr [Henry] Lee.
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{table}
So it was resolved in the Affirmative.
On the question to agree to the preamble, the Yeas and Nays being required by Mr [William] Irvine.
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{table}
So it was resolved in the Affirmative.1
[Note 1: 1 August 6, 1788. According to the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 201, was referred to the Board of Treasury:
Extracts of the letters from Mr. Jefferson, dated May 4 and 23, 1788, respecting funds in Europe and a copy of the compte rendu, pages 75, 70 and 81. See August 1, 1788.]
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