CC Day 2: Officers Elected

Introduction

In February 1787, the Confederation Congress authorized a convention of state delegations “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation…” When delegates gathered in Philadelphia several months later, few anticipated that the meeting would last 88 days. As delegates discussed the post-war challenges facing the young nation, it quickly became apparent that simply revising the Articles of Confederation would not adequately address these challenges. Over the course of the proceedings, 55 delegates from twelve states (all except Rhode Island) contended with questions about the structure and authority of the national government while balancing their respective state interests. Through a series of debates that revealed important agreements and disagreements, and produced a handful of crucial compromises, the Convention ultimately created an unprecedented framework for “republican” government. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention was set to begin on May 14, 1787, but only four delegates from Pennsylvania and four from Virginia had arrived. Lacking the necessary quorum, the delegates adjourned until a sufficient number of states were in attendance. With a quorum finally established on May 25th, the Convention’s official proceedings began. Delegates elected George Washington of Virginia as president and William Jackson of Pennsylvania as secretary. A Committee of Rules was appointed to draft procedures for the Convention. One of their first actions was to establish a set of rules, including the notable “secrecy rule” which encouraged open, “unbiased discussion” and a free exchange of ideas. The rules were adopted without debate and were consistently observed throughout the Convention. -Michelle Alderfer

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When the following members appeared:

From

Massachusetts: RUFUS KING.

New York: ROBERT YATES AND ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

New Jersey: DAVID BREARLY, WILLIAM CHURCHILL HOUSTON, AND WILLIAM PATTERSON.

Pennsylvania: ROBERT MORRIS, THOMAS FITZSIMONS, JAMES WILSON, AND GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.

Delaware: GEORGE READ, RICHARD BASSET, AND JACOB BROOM.

Virginia: GEORGE WASHINGTON, EDMUND RANDOLPH, JOHN BLAIR, JAMES MADISON, GEORGE MASON, GEORGE WYTHE, AND JAMES McCLURG.

North Carolina: ALEXANDER MARTIN, WILLIAM RICHARDSON DAVIE, RICHARD DOBBS SPAIGHT, AND HUGH WILLIAMSON.

South Carolina: JOHN RUTLEDGE, CHARLES COTESWORTH PINCKNEY, CHARLES PINCKNEY, AND PIERCE BUTLER.

Georgia: WILLIAM FEW.

Mr. ROBERT MORRIS informed the members assembled, that, by the instruction and in behalf of the deputation of Pennsylvania, he proposed GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esquire, late Commander-in-Chief, for President of the Convention.¹Mr. JOHN RUTLEDGE seconded the motion, expressing his confidence that the choice would be unanimous; and observing, that the presence of General WASHINGTON forbade any observations on the occasion which might otherwise be proper. General WASHINGTON was accordingly unanimously elected by ballot, and conducted to the Chair by Mr. R. MORRIS and Mr. RUTLEDGE; from which, in a very emphatic manner, he thanked the Convention for the honor they had conferred on him; reminded them of the novelty of the scene of business in which he was to act, lamented his want of better qualifications, and claimed the indulgence of the House towards the involuntary errors which his inexperience might occasion. Mr. WILSON moved that a Secretary be appointed, and nominated Mr. Temple Franklin. Colonel HAMILTON Major Jackson. On the ballot Major Jackson had five votes, and Mr. Franklin two votes. On reading the credentials of the Deputies, it was noticed that those from Delaware were prohibited from changing the Article in the Confederation establishing an equality of votes among the States. The appointment of a Committee, on the motion of Mr. C. PINCKNEY, consisting of Messrs.WYTHE, HAMILTON, and C. PINCKNEY, to prepare standing rules and orders, was the only remaining step taken on this day.

Source

James Madison. Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787. ed. Gordon Lloyd (Ashbrook Press: 2014). https://teachingamericanhistory.org/product/debates-in-the-federal-convention-of-1787/.

Footnotes

The nomination came with particular grace from Pennsylvania, as Doctor Franklin alone could have been thought of as a competitor. The Doctor was himself to have made the nomination of General Washington, but the state of the weather and of his health confined him to his house.

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