Pierce Butler’s Notes from the Constitutional Convention, 1787

Background

Pierce Butler was a South Carolina delegate to the Constitutional Convention. His notebook contains resolutions from May 30 and comments made by Elbridge Gerry, James Wilson, and James Madison between June 6 and June 16, interspersed with doodles and scribbles. According to historian James H. Hutson, Butler’s brief notes are frequently disjointed because of his habit of arguing with speakers.

Transcript

Pierce Butler’s Notes from the Constitutional Convention, May 30–June 16, 1787

May y^e 30.^th 1787 –

Resolved therefore that a National Government ought to be Established Consisting of a Supreme Legislative judiciary & Executive *Resolved that the Representation in the National Legislature be not according to the property system *Not agreed to –

June 4^t 5^th. – – –

Sir we –

June y^e 7.^th1787

Mr. Guery . . . No matter That the Value of the Landed property depends on the Encouragement given to Trade – Ergo it must not be shackled – – – The State Governments M^r Willson says will be rivals of the National surely they will be more jealous of them if they have no hand in Creating them . . .

M^r J Rutledge

Ancient Republicks fell by their own turbulancy.

M^r Madison

No line can be drawn between the State Governments and the General Government

Wilson

Let us forgett Local and narrow distinctions. partial Evil must submitt to General good

Madison

A power in the different States to ratify State Laws, what power is this to be? an individual! a C[illegible]! a Satrapass! a Bey or Bashaw This Assembly must end in Anarchy We must consider ourselves as One whole that may apply if Our resources were common & equal

Guery

Are we to Enter into a Compact with Slaves--No! Are the Men of Massachusetts to put their hands in Our purses – No! are the Men of Massachusetts to put their hands in Our purses – No! The Gentleman makes a Calculation of the possibility of four out voting 6. Are not the four bound by the same law Well if you take the Blacks out of the question in One way surely they ought in another this the Country will not pay in proportion to its welth the Gentleman say 3 10.^th pray is not that a Compact. The Gentleman says no acct. on Blacks pray of what acct. are the Number of White Inhabitants of Massachusetts to the Southern States if they cant be brought there in to defend it

June y^e 14.th

To postpone by Mr. Patterson

15.^th of June 16

Randolph

The Militia are Incompetent to the purposes of defence It would be very difficult to persuade the Militia of One State to March into Another –

 

Source: Pierce Butler’s Notebook from the Constitutional Convention, 30 May 1787–16 July 1787, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00819.04.

Excerpt

Pierce Butler’s Notes from the Constitutional Convention, May 30&ndashJune 16, 1787

May y^e 30.^th 1787 –

Resolved therefore that a National Government ought to be Established Consisting of a Supreme Legislative judiciary & Executive

*Resolved that the Representation in the National Legislature be not according to the property system

     *Not agreed to –

June 4^t 5^th. – – –

Sir we –

June y^e 7.^th1787

Mr. Guery . . . No matter

That the Value of the Landed property depends on the Encouragement given to Trade – Ergo it must not be shackled – – – The State Governments M^r Willson says will be rivals of the National surely they will be more jealous of them if they have no hand in Creating them . . .

M^r J Rutledge

Ancient Republicks fell by their own turbulancy.

M^r Madison

No line can be drawn between the State Governments and the General Government

Wilson

Let us forgett Local and narrow distinctions. partial Evil must submitt to General good

Madison

A power in the different States to ratify State Laws, what power is this to be? an individual! a C[illegible]! a Satrapass! a Bey or Bashaw This Assembly must end in Anarchy We must consider ourselves as One whole that may apply if Our resources were common & equal

Guery

Are we to Enter into a Compact with Slaves--No! Are the Men of Massachusetts to put their hands in Our purses – No! are the Men of Massachusetts to put their hands in Our purses – No! The Gentleman makes a Calculation of the possibility of four out voting 6. Are not the four bound by the same law Well if you take the Blacks out of the question in One way surely they ought in another this the Country will not pay in proportion to its welth the Gentleman say 3 10.^th pray is not that a Compact. The Gentleman says no acct. on Blacks pray of what acct. are the Number of White Inhabitants of Massachusetts to the Southern States if they cant be brought there in to defend it

June y^e 14.th

To postpone by Mr. Patterson

15.^th of June

Randolph

The Militia are Incompetent to the purposes of defence It would be very difficult to persuade the Militia of One State to March into Another –

 

Source: Pierce Butler’s Notebook from the Constitutional Convention, 30 May 1787–16 July 1787, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, GLC00819.04.

 

Satrapass - governor of a province in ancient Persia

Bey - governor of a district or province in northern Africa

Bashaw - a man of high rank or office in northern Africa