The Virginia Delegation Strikes Again!

May 29th, 1787, Morning, 7:15: I have just arrived in Philadelphia several days ago, finally after 270 miles of bumpy road. The weather here is miserable and merciless in terms of the heat. But I am excited! Fellow delegate James Madison has already been here long enough to become properly acquainted with the city. The General is here too, and I had met with Dr. Franklin just two days ago. His intelligence is most extraordinary! As aforementioned, I was planning to stay at Mary House’s boarding house. Pennsylvania delegate Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Madison, Mr. McClurg, and Mr. Read are also occupying rooms there. Read and Dickinson have been forced to share a room due to room availability, which was at a premium. The house is most crowded, and Ms. House is quite nasty. I believe she despises me.

I’ve given some thought to this convention. We fought to free ourselves from a monarchy. We fought to become a nation based on the principles of equality. We fought to become a democratic republic. And yet, somehow, I feel that, in the end, there will be one executive and the war effort will have gone to waste. In my moments of thought, I considered the Articles of Confederation. We fought to become a nation based on the principles of equality. We fought to become a democratic republic. And yet, somehow, I feel that, in the end, there will be one executive and the war effort will have gone to waste. In my moments of thought, I considered the Articles of Confederation. They are without a national judiciary system, something which troubles me as a legal professional. Overall, they are inadequate. General Washington seems to have agreed with me. When we spoke together yesterday, he told me that he thinks the federation “little more than a shadow without substance.” Mr. Madison had called a meeting of the Virginia delegation just before the entire body of delegates convenes. For a time which seemed like forever, we came up with an extraordinary plan. Our proposal that we like to call the “Virginia Plan”. I have been assigned the duty of presenting this plan today, although it is still four days before the official start of the convention. Mr. Madison isn't one for speaking, and prefers that I, as someone with oratorical experience in court, present it.

This plan reflects Virginia’s point of view; since we are large in population and geography, we are in favor of proportional representation. Though, I personally don’t know if this will go well with the smaller states…

Anyway, several features include:

1. A bicameral legislature; in simpler terms, there will be two houses: a lower house and an upper house. I should mention that this lower house will be elected by the people and the upper house will be elected by the lower house.

2. House membership which will be determined proportionally; population will once again play a key factor.

3. The legislation, should it be resolved as so, will be powerful. Thus, this will help prevent any monarchical designs within the future government, should there be one. It will give sovereignty to the people, which will further promote our efforts to be a democratic republic.

4. As I had mentioned before, the Articles of Confederation lacked a national judiciary system. This new plan includes such a judiciary system, with members serving life terms.

5. The executive of this government and some members of the national judiciary will have the power of the veto, should they want to do so to legislation. The power of the veto also extends to state legislation.

6. An executive will be in office long enough to see and ensure that the will of the legislation be carried out. This executive will be chosen by the legislation.

As a Virginian and a lawyer, these resolutions conform to my interests: the nonexistent national judiciary system was one the inadequacies I had seen in the Articles of Confederation. We from Virginia support proportional representation, and this plan suits my hopes for our future government. And that is exactly why I am sponsoring it. My only doubt is that the smaller states such as Delaware and Rhode Island will not agree to such resolution.

Ah, well, the clock has struck 7:30. We shall be meeting in several minutes. Now, where is my hat?