M^r Wilson considered this as the key-stone wanted to compleat the wide arch of Government we are raising. The power of self-defence had been urged as necessary for the State Governments. It was equally necessary for the General Government. The firmness of Judges is not of itself sufficient. Something further is requisite. It will be better to prevent the passage of an improper law, than to declare it void when passed. M^r Rutlidge. If nothing else, this alone would damn and ought to damn the Constitution. Will any State ever agree to be bound hand & foot in this manner. It is worse than making mere corporations of them whose bye laws would not be subject to this shackle. M^r Elseworth observed that the power contended for w^d require either that all laws of the State Legislatures should previously to their taking effect be transmitted to the Gen^l Legislature, or be repealable by the Latter; or that the State Executives should be appointed by the Gen^l Government, and have a controul over the State laws. If the last was meditated let it be declared. M^r Pinkney declared that he thought the State Executives ought to be so appointed with such a controul, & that it would be so provided if another Convention should take place. M^r Govern^r Morris did not see the utility or practicability of the proposition of M^r Pinkney, but wished it to be referred to the consideration of a Committee. M^r Langdon was in favor of the proposition. He considered it as resolvable into the question whether the extent of the National Constitution was to be judged of by the Gen^l or the State Governments. On the question for commitment, it passed in the negative. N. H. ay. Mass^{ts} no. Con^t no. N. J. no. P^a ay. Del. ay. M^d ay. V^a ay. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no. M^r Pinkney then withdrew his proposition. The 1^{st} sect. of Art: VII being so amended as to read "The Legislature _shall_ fulfil the engagements and discharge the debts of the U. S. & shall have the power to lay & collect taxes duties imposts & excises," was agreed to. M^r Butler expressed his dissatisfaction lest it should compel payment as well to the Blood-suckers who had speculated on the distresses of others, as to those who had fought & bled for their country. He would be ready he said to-morrow to vote for a discrimination between those classes of people, and gave notice that he should move for a reconsideration. Art IX Sect. 1. being resumed, to wit "The Senate of the U. S. shall have power to make treaties, and to appoint Ambassadors, and Judges of the Supreme Court." M^r Madison observed that the Senate represented the States alone, and that for this as well as other obvious reasons it was proper that the President should be an agent in Treaties.