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
Col: Hamilton withdrew the remainder of the motion to postpone art.
XXII, observing that his purpose was defeated by the vote just given.
M^r Williamson & M^r Gerry moved to re-instate the words "for the
approbation of Congress" in Art: XXII. which was disagreed to nem: con:
M^r Randolph took this opportunity to state his objections to the
System. They turned on the Senate's being made the Court of Impeachment
for trying the Executive--on the necessity of 3/4 instead of 2/3 of each
house to overrule the negative of the President--on the smallness of the
number of the Representative branch,--on the want of limitation to a
standing army--on the general clause concerning necessary and proper
laws--on the want of some particular restraint on navigation acts--on
the power to lay duties on exports--on the authority of the General
Legislature to interpose on the application of the _Executives_ of the
States--on the want of a more definite boundary between the General &
State Legislatures--and between the General and State Judiciaries--on
the unqualified power of the President to pardon treasons--on the want
of some limit to the power of the Legislature in regulating their own
compensations. With these difficulties in his mind, what course he asked
was he to pursue? Was he to promote the establishment of a plan which he
verily believed would end in Tyranny? He was unwilling he said to impede
the wishes and Judgment of the Convention, but he must keep himself
free, in case he should be honored with a seat in the Convention of his
State, to act according to the dictates of his judgment. The only mode
in which his embarrassments could be removed, was that of submitting the
plan to Cong^s to go from them to the State Legislatures, and from these
to State Conventions having power to adopt reject or amend; the process
to close with another General Convention with full power to adopt or
reject the alterations proposed by the State Conventions, and to
establish finally the Government. He accordingly proposed a Resolution
to this effect.
Doc^r Franklin 2^{ded} the motion.
Col: Mason urged & obtained that the motion should lie on the table for
a day or two to see what steps might be taken with regard to the parts
of the system objected to by M^r Randolph.
M^r Pinkney moved "that it be an instruction to the Committee for
revising the stile and arrangement of the articles agreed on, to prepare
an address to the people, to accompany the present Constitution, and to
be laid with the same before the U. States in Congress."
[67]The motion itself was referred to the Committee nem: con:
[67]M^r Randolph moved to refer to the Committee also a motion relating
to pardons in cases of Treason--which was agreed to nem: con:
[67] These motions are not entered in the printed
Journal.--Madison's Note.
Adjourned.
TUESDAY SEP^R 11. 1787. IN CONVENTION
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