The problem of the First Two Propositions
Commentary
We originally presented this motion as postponing the first two propositions for later debate, thus leaving them in the list of proposals to be considered by the committee of detail for the entirety of its sessions. However, Randolph's three propositions were never mentioned again, and do not seem to have influenced debate. There seems to have been a mood to pass at least one of them, but then to get on to the detail of the business rather than wasting time with these more general principles.
In addition, presenting these motions as the text gets longer and more complicated does pose a problem for the Quill platform, and it is less confusing for users if they are dropped at this point
Butler's motion to postpone discussion of the first two propositions was decided
on 30 May 1787
The problem of the First Two Propositions
Research Assistants' Commentary (1787 Constitutional Convention)
Cite as: Dr Nicholas Cole, ‘The problem of the First Two Propositions’ in Research Assistants' Commentary (1787 Constitutional Convention), Quill Project at Pembroke College (Oxford, 2016), item 90.