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236 Years ago, the American Colonist began armed resistance to the British crown, in two small towns west of Boston, Massachusetts, well over a year before the Declaration of Independence was even debated.
By April 1775, tensions between the British and Colonist in New England, Massachusetts in particular had reached the boiling point. On April 14, 1775 British General Thomas Gage received orders to disarm the rebels, and arrest the main Colonial Leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. General Gage proceeded with plans to march on Concord, Massachusetts west of Boston where a cache of arms was believed to be stored.
On April 18, 1775 Gage sent about 20 troops into the countryside west of Boston to intercept anybody on Horseback who may be able to pass word of the impending British Forces movement to Concord. Having received word of General Gage’s order, by April 8, 1775 most of the Colonial Leaders had already left Boston, with two prominent exceptions being Paul Revere and Joseph Warren. British troops had been noticed scoping out the roads and country side by Concord, but not a larger cache site in Worcester further South West, and the townspeople of Concord decided to distribute the weapons to other near by towns.
After a Sunday of, following debate on the Executive on June 2, 1787, the Convention resumes its debates with the Executive on June 4, 1787. June 2, resolved very little on the Executive, and little of what was agreed to will actually remain through the final draft, mainly the ability to impeach the President, while a seven year term would eventually be changed.
Singular or Plural Executive Decided
Charles Pinckney (South Carolina) resumes discussion on whether the Executive should be singular or plural, by moving,
“Shall the Blank for the Number of the Executive be filled with a single person”.
This motion is seconded by James Wilson (Pennsylvania) and noted it was opposed by Edmund Randolph (Virginia), since no arguments to this point in the convention had convinced him a singular was best. James Wilson observed the objections were not leveled so much at the measure itself, as much as at its unpopularity. On examination he could see no evidence of the apathy of the people, on the contrary was persuaded it did not exist. All know a single magistrate is not a king. One fact had great weight; ALL Thirteen States had a single magistrate. The idea of three heads has taken place in none, and Wilson saw tranquility in one head which would not be obnoxious to the people, they were used to the single executive. Three may divide, two may not agree resulting in Anarchy and confusion1, and he foresaw uncontrolled and continued and violent animosities, which would interrupt the Administration, but diffuse their poison through the other branches of Government, through the States and the People. Roger Sherman (Connecticut) felt the matter is of great importance and ought be well considered be determined. He noted a single magistrate in each state. He also noted each State Magistrate had a council and favored one.
This is the Notes of the Convention of 1787 (The Federal Convention) for June 4, 1787. The notes included are those that specifically address this day, and do not include notes of others who may address the topics of the day. You can download and read those, and the entire collection of Notes recorded at the Constitution Convention in the Links and Downloads section. These contain the entire series of Notes on the Convention from James Madison, Rufus Kings, James McHenry, William Pierce, William Patterson, Alexander Hamilton and Robert Yates, in addition with the Journal from the Convention can be read by following this link, Federal Journal of the Convention of 1787.
