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
"3. Confining the right of electing one Branch of the
Legislature to freeholders, and admitting all others to a
common right with holders of property in electing the other
Branch. This w^d give a defensive power to holders of
property, and to the class also without property when
becoming a majority of electors, without depriving them in
the meantime of a participation in the Public Councils. If
the holders of property would thus have a two-fold share of
representation, they w^d have at the same time a two-fold
stake in it, the rights of property as well as of persons,
the two-fold object of political Institutions. And if no
exact & safe equilibrium can be introduced, it is more
reasonable that a preponderating weight sh^d be allowed to
the greater interest than to the lesser. Experience alone
can decide how far the practice in this case would
correspond with the Theory. Such a distribution of the right
of suffrage was tried in N. York and has been abandoned
whether from experienced evils, or party calculations, may
possibly be a question. It is still on trial in N. Carolina,
with what practical indications is not known. It is certain
that the trial, to be satisfactory ought to be continued for
no inconsiderable period; untill in fact the non-freeholders
should be the majority.
"4. Should experience or public opinion require an equal &
universal suffrage for each branch of the Gov^t such as
prevails generally in the U. S., a resource favorable to the
rights of the landed & other property, when its possessors
become the minority, may be found in an enlargement of the
Election Districts for one branch of the Legislature, and an
extension of its period of service. Large districts are
manifestly favorable to the election of persons of general
respectability, and of probable attachment to the rights of
property, over competitors depending on the personal
solicitation practicable on a contracted theatre. And altho'
an ambitious candidate, of personal distinction, might
occasionally recommend himself to popular choice by
espousing a popular though unjust object, it might rarely
happen to many districts at the same time. The tendency of a
longer period of service would be, to render the Body more
stable in its policy, and more capable of stemming popular
currents taking a wrong direction, till reason & justice
could regain their ascendancy.
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