Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v1.djvu/221

1787.] Yeas: Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, 5. Nays: Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, 5.

It was moved and seconded to agree to the following clause of the resolution, namely: "And the legislature shall alter or augment the representation accordingly;" which passed unanimously in the affirmative.

On the question to agree to the resolution as amended, it passed unanimously in the negative.

And then the house adjourned till to-morrow, at 11 o'clock, A.M.

, July 12, 1787.

It was moved and seconded to add the following clause to the last resolution agreed to by the house, respecting the representation in the first branch of the legislature of the United States, namely:—

"Provided always, That direct taxation ought to be proportioned according to representation;" which passed unanimously in the affirmative.

It was moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the 1st clause in the report from the first grand committee; which passed in the affirmative.

It was moved and seconded to add the following: amendment to the last clause adopted by the house, namely,— "and that the rule of contribution, by direct taxation, for the support of the government of the United States, shall be the number of white inhabitants, and three fifths of every other description in the several states, until some other rule, that shall more accurately ascertain the wealth of the several states, can be devised and adopted by the legislature."

The last amendment being withdrawn, it was moved and seconded to substitute the following, namely,— "and, in order to ascertain the alteration in the representation which may be required, from time to time, by the changes in the relative circum- stances of the states,—

"Resolved, That a census be taken within two years from the first meeting of the legislature of the United States, and once within the term of every years afterwards, of all the inhabitants of the United States, in the manner, and according to the ratio, recommended by Congress in their resolution of, and that the legislature of the United States shall arrange the representation accordingly."

It was moved and seconded so to alter the last clause adopted by the house, that, together with the amendment proposed, the whole should read as follows, namely:— "Provided always, That representation ought to be proportioned according 26