1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Header Record

Title: Constitution and Constitutional Convention archive [decimalized]

This collection of Pierce Butler's papers from the Constitutional Convention of 1787 provides unique views of the various conflicts that permeated the Constitutional Convention, while bringing to life the process of creating the United States Constitution. The text of all Constitutional Convention manuscripts in the Pierce Butler papers is printed in James Hutson's article, "Pierce Butler's Records of the Federal Constitutional Convention," in Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress, 37:1 (Winter 1980): 64-73.

GLC00819

06 August 1787

Constitutional Convention, 1787

Document signed

Title: Constitution [printing of first draft] [Committee of Detail]

Report of the Committee of Detail, the first draft of the Constitution, signed by Pierce Butler with his annotations. The leaves are printed recto only. Uncut and unbound, sealed in Plexiglas string mat. "We the People of the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island...." Some words written in another hand. Dated at top "May [th]e 30th 1787" Printed by Dunlap and Claypoole.

GLC00819.01

12 September 1787

Constitutional Convention, 1787

Document

Title: Constitution [First printing of second draft] [Committee of Style]

Second draft of the Constitution, by the Committee of Style, printed on recto of each leaf and tied (leaves 1-2 only) with a ribbon, uncut and unbound. With the notes of Pierce Butler. Originally bound with blue ribbon. Document has creasemarks along margin where it would have been folded along bindings. Printed by Dunlap and Claypoole. Folded measurements are 42.7 x 26.3 cm.

GLC00819.02

May 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph note

Title: Convention papers

Butler's wrapper and titlepage for these papers.

GLC00819.03

1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Pierce Butler: Notebook from the Constitutional Convention]

Four pages of text with 12 blank pages and extensive doodles and calculations on the last page of the conjugate sheet. The notebook contains resolutions of May 30, and comments of Gerry, Wilson and Madison from June 6 to June 16. Continued by 819.09. The text (as well as the rest of the collection) is printed in James Hutson's article, "Pierce Butler's Records of the Federal Constitutional Convention," in Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress, 37:1 (Winter 1980): 64-73. Dated May 30, 1787 - 16 July 1787.

GLC00819.04

09 June 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: Quota of tax and delegates by States

Written on recto of first leaf only, a list beginning "Virginia," that indicates its population and ratio of delegates (for representation in Congress).

GLC00819.05

13 June 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Manuscript document

Title: [State of the resolutions submitted by... Mr. Randolph...]

Changes to the Virginia Plan as agreed to by "a committee of the Whole House." In Secretary to the Convention William Jackson's hand per CH. Date from Hutson.

GLC00819.06

15 June 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Manuscript document

Title: [New Jersey plan]: Resolved that the Articles of Confederation....

"Jersey" -docket on p.8. Full transcript of the New Jersey Plan in hand of Robert Lansing, Jr.. Charles Hamilton thought this document might be written in the hand of Spaight, but SK identified later as John Lansing, Jr.

GLC00819.07

15 June 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Manuscript document

Title: [New Jersey plan]: Resolved that the Articles of Confederation.... [partial]

In Butler's hand. A partial transcription of the New Jersey plan.

GLC00819.08

1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: Notebook: Comments of the Delegates

A long, narrow notebook, once probably a single folded sheet of paper, now two separate items. The notebook records comments by Lancey [Lansing], Patterson, Randolph, Hamilton, Wilson, Madison, Williams, Sherman and Ellsworth. The first item consists of a long narrow sheet containing two pages of writing. The second item is a sheet folded three times with debate notes on the first page, a number of blanks, and stray notes on the last page concerning Butler's personal business on the Walnut Street Wharf. Page 1 begins "Mr. Lancey [i.e., Lansing]," while the verso continues the text. Page 3 (…

GLC00819.09

18 June 1787

Lansing, John, 1754-1829

Manuscript document

Title: The Supreme Legislative power of the United States of America...

Hamilton's constitutional plan for two legislative bodies, as Assembly and Senate, and a permanently elected executive. In the hand of John Lansing, Jr.

GLC00819.10

June 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: Proposition... from Mr. Franklin [and] Proposition from Mr. Rutledge

Franklin/Rutledge proposals with population figures. Docketed: "Proposition from Doctor Franklin June 30, 87- with sundry reports & Calculations from two Committees." Franklin proposed an equal number of delegates for the second branch of government and fixing their salary (p. 1), while Rutledge proposed basing the number of "suffrages" upon each state's revenues (p. 2). Page 3 consists of calculation of representation for the states. Dated June 30 through July 10, 1787

GLC00819.11

20 August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: And to make all Laws, not repugnant to this Constitution....

Half sheet of paper signed "P. Butler." A brief fragment concerning Congress' power to legislate. Date from Hutson.

GLC00819.12

21 August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: All demands... against the United States

Quarter sheet of paper. Confirming the validity of debts incurred by the previous Congress which will devolve upon the new legislature. With addition in a different hand "The Legislature shall fulfill the Engagements and discharge the Debts of the United States."

GLC00819.13

21 August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: The Legislature shall fulfill the foreign engagements...

Quarter sheet, docketed on verso: "The Creditors." The word "foreign" inserted above in pencil. Date from Hutson.

GLC00819.14

25 August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: The regulation of Commerce or Revenue...

Half sheet regarding the federal government's regulation of ports. Blank on verso. Date from Hutson.

GLC00819.15

25 August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: But no regulation of Commerce or Revenue...

Quarter sheet related to #819.15. Denies the federal government the right to give favor to the ports of one state over another. Note that this contradicts #819.15. Date from Hutson.

GLC00819.16

28 August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph document

Title: [Wheresoever any person bound to service...]

Draft. States that "the legislatures of the several states shall make provision for the recovering of such persons." No mention is made by name of slaves, apprentices or servants. Pencil note on back concerning a meeting at "Clifton at the Blue Bell Wharf." Date from Hutson. Not in Butler's hand.

GLC00819.17

30 August 1787

Randolph, Edmund, 1753-1813

Manuscript

Title: Objections to the Constitution as far as it has advanced...

Lists eleven objections to the Constitution (the 12th has been struck). Docket reads "Objections to the Constitution / by Mr. Randal."

GLC00819.18

31 August 1787

Mason, George, Sr., 1725-1792

Manuscript document

Title: [Various proposals:] The Council of State...

Large folio sheet. Unidentified handwriting. Also re: import duties, revenues, limiting terms and appointments of elected officials including the President, limits on the executive pardon authority and a rejected clause concerning revenues.

GLC00819.19

30 August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: The Members of the Legislature shall be ineligible to any Office...

Quarter sheet concerning eligibility for offices. Date from Hutson

GLC00819.20

31 August - 04 September 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: Money Bills [and] Trade [with Pinckney anecdote]

Mentions the rejection of a clause rejecting the origination of money bills; also, additions concerning debts for the common defense, rejecting taxes of limited duration, trade, age and birth requirements for President. With a Charles Pinckney story on the verso of second leaf, entitled "to be acquainted with the Talents of the person Elected."

GLC00819.21

14 - 15 September 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: Free persons, those bound to servitude for a term of years...

Two fragments written on front and back of a quarter sheet of paper. The front has part of the 3/5's clause. On verso begins "Prov'd that no Monopoly be granted"

GLC00819.22

August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: Resolved... Territory of the States is too extensive to Consist of one Republic

Recommends dividing the states into three allied republics.

GLC00819.23

August 1787

Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Notes on debate]: Whether the States Vote Equally or not....

Half sheet of paper. Not dated in Hutson. Debate concerning the equality of votes of the states and the danger to small states posed by large ones.

GLC00819.24