Notes on Debates by Gunning Bedford (May 29, 1787)

TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1787 JOHN LANSING: NOTES ON DEBATES Met pursuant to Adjournm't. ' The additional Rules agreed to. His Excellency Governor Randolph, a Member from Virginia,' in a long and elaborate Speech shewed the Defects in the System of the present fœderal Government as totally inadequate to the Peace, Safety and Security of the Confederation and the absolute Necessity of a more energetic Government. He closed his3 Remarks with a Set of Resolutions 4 which he proposed to the Convention for their Adoption and as leading Principles whereon to form a new Government—he candidly confessed that they were not intended for a fœderal Government—he meant a strong, consolidated Union in which the Idea of States should be nearly annihilated—(Copy of these Resolutions is marked a.)5 He then moved that they should be taken up in a' Committee of the whole House. Mr. C. Pinkney, a Member from South Caroline added that he had reduced his Ideas of a new Government to a System which he read and confessed that it was grounded on Principles similar to those in the Resolutions.' The House then resolved that they would 9 next Day form themselves into a Committee of the whole to take into Consideration the State of the Union. Adjourned to next Day