M^r Broome seconded him. M^r Ghorum. this would be unreasonable. The Senate will be detained longer from home, will be obliged to remove their families, and in time of war perhaps to sit constantly. Their allowance should certainly be higher. The members of the Senates in the States are allowed more, than those of the other house. M^r Dickenson withdrew his motion. It was moved & agreed to amend the section by adding--"to be ascertained by law." The section (Art. VI. Sect. 10) as amended, agreed to nem. con. Adj^d. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15. IN CONVENTION. Art: VI. Sect. 11. Agreed to nem. con. Art: VI. Sect 12. taken up. M^r Strong moved to amend the article so as to read--"Each House shall possess the right of originating all bills, except bills for raising money for the purposes of revenue, or for appropriating the same and for fixing the salaries of the officers of the Gov^t which shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as in other cases". Col. Mason, 2^{ds} the motion. He was extremely earnest to take this power from the Senate, who he said could already sell the whole Country by means of Treaties. M^r Ghorum urged the amendment as of great importance. The Senate will first acquire the habit of preparing money bills, and then the practice will grow into an exclusive right of preparing them. M^r Govern^r Morris opposed it as unnecessary and inconvenient. M^r Williamson, some think this restriction on the Senate essential to liberty, others think it of no importance. Why should not the former be indulged. He was for an efficient and stable Gov^t: but many would not strengthen the Senate if not restricted in the case of money bills. The friends of the Senate would therefore lose more than they would gain by refusing to gratify the other side. He moved to postpone the subject till the powers of the Senate should be gone over. M^r Rutlidge 2^{ds} the motion. M^r Mercer should hereafter be ag^{st} returning to a reconsideration of this section. He contended (alluding to M^r Mason's observations) that the Senate ought not to have the power of treaties. This power belonged to the Executive department; adding that Treaties would not be final so as to alter the laws of the land, till ratified by legislative authority. This was the case of Treaties in Great Britain; particularly the late Treaty of Co[~m]erce with France. Col. Mason, did not say that a Treaty would repeal a law; but that the Senate by means of treaty might alienate territory &c., without legislative sanction. The cessions of the British Islands in W. Indies by Treaty alone were an example. If Spain should possess herself of Georgia therefore the Senate might by treaty dismember the Union. He wished the motion to be decided now, that the friends of it might know how to conduct themselves. On the question for postponing Sect: 12. it passed in the affirmative.