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 Read moved to insert after "capitation" the words, "or other direct
tax." He was afraid that some liberty might otherwise be taken to saddle
the States, with a readjustment by this rule, of past requisitions of
Cong^s--and that his amendment by giving another cast to the meaning
would take away the pretext. M^r Williamson 2^{ded} the motion which was
agreed to. On motion of Col: Mason "or enumeration" inserted after, as
explanatory of "Census" Con. & S. C. only, no.[99]
[99] The words "Con. & S. C. only no" are in the handwriting of
John C. Payne, Madison's brother-in-law.
At the end of the clause "no tax or duty shall be laid on articles
exported from any State" was added the following amendment conformably
to a vote on the [31] of [August] viz--no preference shall be given by
any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State over
those of another: nor shall vessels bound to or from one State, be
obliged to enter, clear or pay duties in another.
Col. Mason moved a clause requiring "that an Account of the public
expenditures should be annually published" M^r Gerry 2^{ded} the motion,
M^r Gov^r Morris urged that this w^d be impossible in many cases.
M^r King remarked, that the term expenditures went to every minute
shilling. This would be impracticable. Cong^s might indeed make a
monthly publication, but it would be in such general statements as would
afford no satisfactory information.
M^r Madison proposed to strike out "annually" from the motion & insert
"from time to time," which would enjoin the duty of frequent
publications and leave enough to the discretion of the Legislature.
Require too much and the difficulty will beget a habit of doing nothing.
The articles of Confederation require halfyearly publications on this
subject. A punctual compliance being often impossible, the practice has
ceased altogether.
M^r Wilson 2^{ded}. & supported the motion. Many operations of finance
cannot be properly published at certain times.
M^r Pinkney was in favor of the motion.
M^r Fitzimmons. It is absolutely impossible to publish expenditures in
the full extent of the term.
M^r Sherman thought "from time to time" the best rule to be given.
"Annual" was struck out--& those words--inserted nem: con:
The motion of Col: Mason so amended was then agreed to nem: con: and
added after--"appropriations by law" as follows--"And a regular
statement and account of the receipts & expenditures of all public money
shall be published from time to time."
The first clause of Art. 1 Sect. 10--was altered so as to read--"no
State shall enter into any Treaty alliance or confederation; grant
letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make
any thing but gold & silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any
bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of
contracts, or grant any title of nobility."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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