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
The Report made yesterday as to the appointment of the Executive being
then taken up. M^r Pinkney renewed his opposition to the mode, arguing
1. that the electors will not have sufficient knowledge of the fittest
men, & will be swayed by an attachment to the eminent men of their
respective States. Hence 2^{dly} the dispersion of the votes would leave
the appointment with the Senate, and as the President's reappointment
will thus depend on the Senate he will be the mere creature of that
body. 3. He will combine with the Senate ag^{st} the House of
Representatives. 4. This change in the mode of election was meant to get
rid of the ineligibility of the President a second time, whereby he will
become fixed for life under the auspices of the Senate.
M^r Gerry did not object to this plan of constituting the Executive in
itself, but should be governed in his final vote by the powers that may
be given to the President.
M^r Rutlidge was much opposed to the plan reported by the Committee. It
would throw the whole power into the Senate. He was also against a
re-eligibility. He moved to postpone the Report under consideration &
take up the original plan of appointment by the Legislature, to wit. "He
shall be elected by joint ballot by the Legislature to which election a
majority of the votes of the members present shall be required: He shall
hold his office during the term of seven years; but shall not be elected
a second time."
On this motion to postpone
N. H. div^d. Mas. no. C^t no. N. J. no. P^a no. Del. no. M^d no.
V^a no. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. no.
Col. Mason admitted that there were objections to an appointment by the
Legislature as originally planned. He had not yet made up his mind, but
would state his objections to the mode proposed by the Committee. 1. It
puts the appointment in fact into the hands of the Senate; as it will
rarely happen that a majority of the whole votes will fall on any one
candidate: and as the existing President will always be one of the 5
highest, his reappointment will of course depend on the Senate. 2.
Considering the powers of the President & those of the Senate, if a
coalition should be established between these two branches, they will be
able to subvert the Constitution--The great objection with him would be
removed by depriving the Senate of the eventual election. He accordingly
moved to strike out the words "if such number be a majority of that of
the electors."
M^r Williamson 2^{ded} the motion. He could not agree to the clause
without some such modification. He preferred making the highest tho' not
having a majority of the votes, President, to a reference of the matter
to the Senate. Referring the appointment to the Senate lays a certain
foundation for corruption & aristocracy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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