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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 --2TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1788.
[Note 2: 2 Charles Thomson begins the entry.]
Congress assembled, present as yesterday.
3A motion4 was made by Mr [Abraham] Clark, seconded by Mr [Theodore] Sedgwick in the words following, viz.
[Note 3: 3 Roger Alden takes up the entry.]
[Note 4: 4 Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 23, p. 109, in the writing of Benjamin Bankson. Debated September 2, 1788. See July 8, August 26, September 3, 4 and 13. 1788.]
Whereas the Convention Assembled in Philadelphia pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 21st of Feby 1787, did on the 17th . day of September in the same year report to the United States in Congress Assembled a constitution or form of Government for the people of the United States,
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whereupon Congress on the 28th . 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 fried in the office of the Secretary thereof, therefore Resolved, that the first Wednesday in Jany 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 to vote for a President and that the first Wednesday in March next be the time1 and the seat of the federal Government at that time, the place for commencing proceedings under the said constitution,
[Note 1: 1 From this point to the end of the resolve the original is in the writing of Mr. Abraham Clark, and the phrase "and the seat......the place" is crossed off, thus bringing the reading of the motion into conformity with the motion of Mr. Pierpont Edwards below.]
2On the question to agree to this resolution the yeas and nays being required by Mr [Theodore] Sedgwick,
[Note 2: 2 Charles Thomson resumes the entry.]
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So the question was lost
A motion was then made by Mr [Pierpont] Edwards seconded by Mr [Theodore] Sedgwick in the words following
Whereas the convention assembled in Philada pursuant to the resolution of Congress of the 21st of feby . 1787 did on the 17 day of Sept in the same year report to the United States in Congress assembled a constitution or form of government for the people of the United States Whereupon Congress on the 28th day of the same septr . 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 thereof, 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
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the first wednesday in february next be the day for the electors to assemble in their respective states to vote for a president and that the first Wednesday in March next be the time for commencing proceedings under the said constitution.
A motion was made by Mr [William] Irvine seconded by Mr [William] Bingham to amend the motion before the house by inserting after the word "time" the following words viz "and that Lancaster be the place" and on the question to agree to this amendment the yeas and nays being required by Mr [William] Bingham,
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So it passed in the question was lost.1
[Note 1: 1 September 2, 1788. According to indorsement and the Committee Book, Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 190, p. 205, the following committee was appointed:
Mr. Abraham Clark, Mr. Hugh Williamson and Mr. James Madison on the memorial of John Ettwein, president of the Brethren's Society for Propagating the Gospel among the Heathen, dated August 29 and read September 2, 1788, respecting lands reserved for the Moravian Indians. Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 41, III, pp. 143--145. Report rendered and acted on September 3, 1788.]
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