The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 2Madison, James
History
The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 2
Madison, James
Constitutional law -- United States; Constitutions -- United States; United States. Constitution
But in all events he would contend
that the purse-strings should be in the hands of the Representatives of
the people.
M^r Wilson was himself directly opposed to the equality of votes granted
to the Senate by its present Constitution. At the same time he wished
not to multiply the vices of the system. He did not mean to enlarge on a
subject which had been so much canvassed, but would remark that as an
insuperable objection ag^{st} the proposed restriction of money bills to
the H. of Rep^s that it would be a source of perpetual contentions where
there was no mediator to decide them. The Presid^t here could not like
the Executive Magistrate in England interpose by a prorogation, or
dissolution. This restriction had been found pregnant with altercation
in every State where the Constitution had established it. The House of
Rep^s will insert other things in money bills, and by making them
conditions of each other, destroy the deliberate liberty of the Senate.
He stated the case of a Preamble to a money bill sent up by the House of
Commons in the reign of Queen Anne, to the H. of Lords, in which the
conduct of the displaced Ministry, who were to be impeached before the
Lords, was condemned; the Co[~m]ons thus extorting a premature judgm^t
without any hearing of the Parties to be tried, and the H. of Lords
being thus reduced to the poor & disgraceful expedient of opposing to
the authority of a law, a protest on their Journals ag^{st} its being
drawn into precedent. If there was anything like Poynings law in the
present case, it was in the attempt to vest the exclusive right of
originating in the H. of Rep^s and so far he was ag^{st} it. He should
be equally so if the right were to be exclusively vested in the Senate.
With regard to the purse strings, it was to be observed that the purse
was to have two strings, one of which was in the hands of the H. of
Rep^s the other in those of the Senate. Both houses must concur in
untying, and of what importance could it be which untied first, which
last. He could not conceive it to be any objection to the Senate's
preparing the bills, that they would have leisure for that purpose and
would be in the habits of business. War, Commerce, & Revenue were the
great objects of the Gen^l Government. All of them are connected with
money. The restriction in favor of the H. of Represent^s would exclude
the Senate from originating any important bills whatever--
M^r Gerry considered this as a part of the plan that would be much
scrutinized. Taxation & representation are strongly associated in the
minds of the people, and they will not agree that any but their
immediate representatives shall meddle with their purses. In short the
acceptance of the plan will inevitably fail, if the Senate be not
restrained from originating money bills.
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