Further action on this report was deferred to June 14th at the request of Mr. Patterson, who then offered a plan called that of New Jersey, formed by the deputations of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware, preserving the articles of the confederation, one Legislature, the equal vote of each State, but revising, correcting, and enlarging the conferred powers so as to render them “adequate to the exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union.” In the resolutions the Executive, if any State or any body of men in the State should oppose the execution of the acts or treaties of the government, was to call forth the power of the States to enforce and compel an obedience.[23] The ratification was to be by the Legislatures of the States; that of the Virginia plan was to be by the people. The objection that the delegates to the convention were exceeding their authority, which was only to amend the articles of the confederation, was again brought up; the discussion whether the government should be national or a confederacy was again renewed. It was pointed out as a fatal objection by Madison, Hamilton (who then spoke for the first time), and others, that under a confederacy the coercing of a State to pay its quota or compelling it to obey would in fact be a civil war, where the militia of other States would have to march against the delinquent power. Hamilton said he neither liked the Virginia nor the New Jersey plan; he praised the constitutional monarchy of Great Britain as the most perfect government. He was particularly opposed to Patterson’s plan, “being fully convinced that no amendment of the confederation leaving the States in possession of their sovereignty could possibly answer the purpose.”[24] He stated the plan he should prefer: a general government, with an executive and a senate for life or good behavior, the general government to have the appointment of the governors of each State, who should have a veto over the State laws.[25] He wished the States abolished as States, but admitted the necessity of their having subordinate jurisdiction.[26] He was aware that others did not approve of his plan, nor would they, he thought, of that of Virginia, but they might finally come to it. He thought universal suffrage a bad principle of government. He apparently did not know how strongly the democratic feeling existed amongst the people of this country; nor perhaps appreciate the strength of a government that has at its back the will and brute power of the majority of fighting men, as shown in our civil war. He made that unfortunate speech, afterwards used against him, that the people were getting tired of an excess of _democracy_, “and what is even the Virginia plan _but pork still, with a little change of the sauce_.”[27] [23] 5 Elliot, 192, sixth resolve. [24] 5 Elliot, 199. [25] See his plan, 5 Elliot, 205. [26] 5 Elliot, 212. [27] Elliot, 423; also 5 Elliot, p. 206 note.