Federal Convention – 1787

The delegates to the Federal Convention convened on May 25, 1787 to “revise the federal system of government.”

After unanimously electing George Washington, Esquire, as President of the Convention and establishing house Rules, it fell to Edmund Randolph of Virginia to “open the great subject of their mission.”  Randolph then observed:

          “…that, in revising the federal system we ought to inquire, first, into the properties which such a government ought to possess; secondly, the defects of the Confederation; thirdly, the danger of our situation; and fourthly, the remedy.”

He then proceeded to offer fifteen resolutions to remedy all the inequities and struggles with the Articles of Confederation – the basis of which he said must be the republican principle.

His seventh resolution proposed a National Executive to be chosen by the National Legislature and his title should be “His Excellency.”  Over the ensuing days there was debate on whether the National Executive should be a single person or consist of more than one.  Concern varied from patterning our selves after the British government monarchy, to establishing the Executive in more than one person in order to support it’s independece from the National Legislature.  On July 17, 1787 it was decided to be one person.

The next debates on the Executive were about how to elect the Executive.  The proposed resultion indicated being chosen by the National Legislature.  The primary objectives to this were:

1. it would lessen the independence of the Executive
2. it would give birth to intrigue and corruption between the Executive and Legislature previous to the election
3. partiality in the Executve afterwards to the friends who promoted him

Various options were proposed:

1. To be appointed by the State Executives
2. To be elected by the people at large

Gouvernoeur Morris of New York stated he believed if the people should elect, they will never fail to prefer some man of distinguished character, or services; some man of continental reputation.  Mr. Sherman of Connecticuit thought that the sense of the nation would be better expressed by the Legislatures than by the people at large.  “The latter will never be sufficiently informed of characters, and besides will never give a majority of votes to any one man.”

A third option for choosing the National Executive was proposed by Mr. Ellsworth of Connecticuit that allowed the Executive “to be chosen by Electors, appointed by the Legislatures of the States…”

The principle objection of an election of the Executive by the people at large was the disadvantage under which it would place the smaller States.  Eventually, the new Constitution would allow for election of the President by Electors appointed by each State in number to equal the total number of Senators and Representatives each State is entitled to in Congress.  This would then provide for a fair representation of the population of each State and not give an unfair advantage to the more populous States and disadvantage to the small States.

(c) Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute 2008

Not for reproduction without permission from author.

Time Heals Old Wounds and Unites Former Enemies

The USS Winston Churchill, a guided missle destroyer, was on routine patrol.  The day began like most days at sea, but this day, September 11th was about to change that.

As word flashed across the military communications network of the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, high-security watches were started, and all port visits were cancelled.  After days of being on high alert, in the middle of the ocean, the Winston Churchill is hailed by the German Navy destroyer, Lutjens, requesting permission to pass close on the port side.

As the Lutjens approached, it was announced to the Winston Churchill crew she was flying not the German, but the American flag.  As she came alongside, the American flag was flying at half-mast and her crew was topside standing at silent, rigid attention in dress uniforms in honor and respect for the loss suffered by the Americans.

On her side, a sign read ‘We Stand By You.’  And on the bridge of the Winston Churchill – not a dry eye.

(c) 2008 Patriotic Expressions and Patriotic Minute

Not for reproduction without permission from author.