Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v1.djvu/174

154 referred, and had directed him to move that they may have leave to sit again.

"Resolved, That this house will to-morrow again resolve itself into a committee of the whole house, to consider of the state of the American Union."

And then the house adjourned till to-morrow, at 10 o'clock, A. M.

, June 1, 1787.

The Hon. William Houstoun, Esq., a deputy of the state of Georgia, attended and took his seat.

The following credential was produced and read. [See Georgia Credentials.]

The order of the day being read, the house resolved itself into a committee of the whole house, to consider of the state of the American Union. Mr. President in the chair.

In the Committee of the whole House.

Mr. Gorham in the chair.

It was moved and seconded to proceed to the consideration of the 7th resolution submitted by Mr. Randolph, namely,—

"Resolved, That a national executive be instituted, to be chosen by the national legislature, for the term of years; to receive punctually, at stated times, a fixed compensation for the services rendered, in which no increase or diminution shall be made, so as to affect the magistracy existing at the time of such increase or diminution; and to be ineligible a second time; and that, besides a general authority to execute the national laws, it ought to enjoy the executive rights vested in Congress by the Confederation."

On motion of Mr. Wilson, seconded by Mr. C. Pinckney, to amend the 1st clause of the resolution, by adding, after the word "instituted," the words "to consist of a single person," so as to read,— "Resolved, That a national executive, to consist of a single person, be instituted,"— it was moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the amendment.

And on the question to postpone, it passed in the affirmative.

It was then moved and seconded to agree to the 1st clause of the resolution, namely,—

"Resolved, That a national executive be instituted."

And on the question to agree to the said clause, it passed in the affirmative.