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
M^r Gov^r Morris. The vice President then will be the first heir
apparent that ever loved his father. If there should be no vice
president, the President of the Senate would be temporary successor,
which would amount to the same thing.
M^r Sherman saw no danger in the case. If the vice-President were not to
be President of the Senate, he would be without employment, and some
member by being made President must be deprived of his vote, unless when
an equal division of votes might happen in the Senate, which would be
but seldom.
M^r Randolph concurred in the opposition to the clause.
M^r Williamson, observed that such an officer as vice-President was not
wanted. He was introduced only for the sake of a valuable mode of
election which required two to be chosen at the same time.
Col: Mason, thought the office of vice-President an encroachment on the
rights of the Senate; and that it mixed too much the Legislative &
Executive, which as well as the Judiciary departments, ought to be kept
as separate as possible. He took occasion to express his dislike of any
reference whatever of the power to make appointments, to either branch
of the Legislature. On the other hand he was averse to vest so dangerous
a power in the President alone. As a method for avoiding both, he
suggested that a privy Council of six members to the president should be
established; to be chosen for six years by the Senate, two out of the
Eastern two out of the middle, and two out of the Southern quarters of
the Union, & to go out in rotation two every second year; the
concurrence of the Senate to be required only in the appointment of
Ambassadors, and in making treaties, which are more of a legislative
nature. This would prevent the constant sitting of the Senate which he
thought dangerous, as well as keep the departments separate & distinct.
It would also save the expence of constant sessions of the Senate. He
had he said always considered the Senate as too unwieldy & expensive for
appointing officers, especially the smallest, such as tide waiters &c.
He had not reduced his idea to writing, but it could be easily done if
it should be found acceptable.
On the question shall the vice President be ex officio President of the
Senate?
N. H. ay. Mas. ay. C^t ay. N. J. no. P^a ay. Del. ay. Mar. no.
V^a ay. N. C. abs^t. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
The other parts of the same Section (3) were then agreed to.
The Section 4.--to wit. "The President by & with the advice and consent
of the Senate shall have power to make Treaties &c."
M^r Wilson moved to add after the word "Senate" the words, "and House of
Representatives." As treaties he said are to have the operation of
laws, they ought to have the sanction of laws also. The circumstance of
secrecy in the business of treaties formed the only objection; but this
he thought, so far as it was inconsistent with obtaining the Legislative
sanction, was outweighed by the necessity of the latter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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