History of the Origin, Formation, and Adoption of the Constitution of the United States, Vol. 2: With Notices of Its Principle FramersCurtis, George Ticknor
History
History of the Origin, Formation, and Adoption of the Constitution of the United States, Vol. 2: With Notices of Its Principle Framers
Curtis, George Ticknor
Constitutional history -- United States
[176] There was a majority of only one State in favor of this
principle. Elliot, V. 506.
[177] This provision received a unanimous vote. Ibid.
[178] For the history of what have been called place-bills, see
Hallam's Const. Hist., III. 255, 256, 351. Macaulay, IV. 336-338, 339,
341, 342, 479, 480, 528.
[179] Mr. Justice Story has suggested, that, "if it would not have
been safe to trust the heads of departments, as representatives, to
the choice of the people, as their constituents, it would have been at
least some gain to have allowed them a seat, like territorial
delegates, in the House of Representatives, where they might freely
debate without a title to vote." (Commentaries on the Constitution, I.
§ 869.) An officer of an executive department, thus admitted to a seat
in Congress, must have been placed there merely in virtue of his
office, by a special provision. He could have represented no real
constituency, and must therefore have had an anomalous position. A
territorial delegate is admitted as the representative of a
dependency, somewhat colonial in its nature, whose inhabitants are not
on an equal footing with the constituencies of the States. He has
therefore no vote. When speaking for the interests of those whom he
represents, he is in somewhat the same attitude as counsel admitted to
be heard at the bar of the House. Whether the head of an executive
department could with dignity and convenience be placed in a similar
position, admits at least of grave doubt.
[180] Art. I. § 4 of the Constitution.
[181] Art. VI. § 1 of the first draft.
[182] Madison, Elliot, V. 401, 402. Journal, Elliot, I. 309.
[183] Elliot, V. 402.
[184] Elliot, V. 247.
[185] Art. VI. § 10 of the first draft. Elliot, V. 378.
[186] Massachusetts and South Carolina in the negative.
[187] See the discussion on Art. VI. § 10 of the first draft. Elliot,
V. 425-427.
[188] Pennsylvania and Virginia.
[189] See Elliot, V. 507, 528, 529.
[190] As to the other provisions of the Constitution on this subject,
see the Index, _verb._ Impeachment.
[191] Elliot, V. 405, 406. Art. I. § 5 of the Constitution.
[192] Elliot, V. 406. Constitution, Art. I. §§ 5, 6.
[193] Elliot, V. 407. Constitution, Art. I. § 5.
[194] Elliot, V. 407. Constitution, Art. I. § 5.
[195] Elliot, V. 507, 520. Constitution, Art. I. § 3.
[196] Ibid.
[197] Art. I. § 2.
[198] Constitution, Art. I. § 7.
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