Wilson's Sketch
Commentary
William Ewald remarks that the two parts of this document were in fact written on separate pieces of paper and found in different parts of the Wilson Papers, for which reason Farrand's "Document V" is divided into two here. Ewald also suggests that these may have been Wilson's private notes, preparations for future discussions in the Committee, which he may have written even before the Committee met. This is also the first document that we know of that includes the phrase "We the People", which appears to have been the brainchild of James Wilson, and was subsequently to be adopted by the Committee as a whole.
Farrand presents the first part of Wilson's sketch in a tabulated format, making it difficult to read - he does not provide any reason for presenting it thus. The original is presented thus:
already confederated united and known (known) by the Stile of the United States of America” We The People of the States of New-Hampshire &C do (agree upon), ordain declare and establish the following (Frame of Government as the) Frame of Govt as the Constitution (of the “United States of America” according to which we and our Posterity shall be governed under the Name and Stile of the “United States of America”) of the said United States
1
in a general Assembly to consist of two separate and distinct Bodies of Men, the one to be called the House of Representatives, of the People of the United States the other the Senate of the United States. The legislative Power of the United States shall be vested in two (Branches a Senate and a House of Representatives;) each of which Bodies shall have a Negative on the other
2.
The Members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen biennially by the People of the United States in the following Manner.
Every Freeman of the Age of twenty one Years (having a freehold Estate within the United States) who has (having) resided in the United States for the Space of one whole Year immediately preceding the Day of Election, and has a Freehold Estate in at least fifty Acres of Land
The editors have therefore reconstructed the text in a more readable format: all of the original text is included.
Associated event
Wilson's Sketch, part I was created
on 04 August 1787
Wilson's Sketch
Research Assistants' Commentary (1787 Constitutional Convention)
Cite as: Grace Mallon, ‘Wilson's Sketch’ in Research Assistants' Commentary (1787 Constitutional Convention), Quill Project at Pembroke College (Oxford, 2016), item 33.