federal government which he had prepared, to be agreed upon between the free and independent States of America:—
PLAN OF A FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.[1]
"We, the people of the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, do ordain, declare, and establish, the following constitution, for the government of ourselves and posterity.
"Article I.—The style of this government shall be, The United States of America, and the government shall consist of supreme legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
"Art II.— The legislative power shall be vested in a Congress, to consist of two separate Houses; one to be called the House of Delegates; and the other the Senate, who shall meet on the ——— day of ——— in every year.
"Art III.— The members of the House of Delegates shall be chosen every ——— year by the people of the several states; and the qualification of the electors shall be the same as those of the electors in the several states for their legislatures. Each member shall have been a citizen of the United States for ——— years; and shall be of ——— years of age, and a resident in the state he is chosen for. Until a census of the people shall be taken, in the manner hereinafter mentioned, the House of Delegates shall consist of ——————, to be chosen from the different states in the following proportions: for New Hampshire, ———; for Massachusetts, ———; for Rhode Island, ———; for Connecticut, ———; for New York, ———; for New Jersey, ———; for Pennsylvania, ———; for Delaware, ———; for Maryland, ———; for Virginia, ———; for North Carolina, ———; for South Carolina, ———; for Georgia, ———; and the legislature shall hereinafter regulate the number of delegates by the number of inhabitants, according to the provisions hereinafter made, at the rate of one for every ——— thousand. All money bills of every kind shall originate in the House of Delegates, and shall not be altered by the Senate. The House of Delegates shall exclusively possess the power of impeachment, and shall choose its own officers; and vacancies therein shall be supplied by the executive authority of the state in the representation from which they shall happen.
"Art IV.— The Senate shall be elected and chosen by the House of Delegates; which House, immediately after their meeting, shall choose by ballot ——— senators from among the citizens and residents of New Hampshire; ——— from among those of Massachusetts; ——— from among those of Rhode Island; ——— from among those of Connecticut; ——— from among those of New York; ——— from among those of New Jersey; ——— from among those of Pennsylvania; ——— from among those of Delaware; ——— from among those of Maryland; ——— from among those of Virginia; ——— from among those of North Carolina; ——— from among those of South Carolina; and ——— from among those of Georgia. The senators chosen from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, shall form one class; those from New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, one class; and those from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, one class. The House of Delegates shall number these classes, one, two, and three; and fix the times of their service by lot. The first class shall serve for years; the second for ——— years; and the third for ——— years. As their times of service expire, the House of Delegates shall fill them up by elections for ——— years; and they shall fill all vacancies that arise from death or resignation, for the time of service remaining of the members so dying or resigning. Each senator shall be ——— years of age at least; and shall have been a citizen of the United States for four years before his election; and shall be a resident of the state he is chosen from. The Senate shall choose its own officers.
"Art V.—Each state shall prescribe the time and manner of holding elections by the people for the House of Delegates; and the House of Delegates shall be the judges of the elections, returns, and qualifications of their members.
- ↑ See Appendix, No. 2, for notes on Mr. Pinckney's plan.
vol. v.17
