The Mystery of the Pinckney DraughtNott, Charles C.
History
The Mystery of the Pinckney Draught
Nott, Charles C.
Constitutional history -- United States; Pinckney, Charles, 1757-1824
"Again, in several instances where the paper corresponds
with the Constitution, it is at variance with the ideas of
Mr. Pinckney, as decidedly expressed in his propositions,
and in his arguments, the former in the Journal of the
Convention, the latter in the report of its debates: Thus
in Art: VIII. of the paper, provision is made for removing
the President by impeachment; when it appears that in the
Convention, July 20, he was opposed to any impeachability
of the Executive Magistrate: In Art: III., it is required
that all money-bills shall originate in the first Branch of
the Legislature; which he strenuously opposed Aug: 8, and
again, Aug: 11. In Art: V., members of each House are made
ineligible to, as well as incapable of holding, any office
under the Union, etc., as was the case at one Stage of the
Constitution; a disqualification highly disapproved and
opposed by him Aug: 14.
"A still more conclusive evidence of errour in the paper is
seen in Art: III., which provides, as the Constitution
does, that the first Branch of the Legislature shall be
chosen by the people of the several States; whilst it
appears, that on the 6th of June, according to previous
notice, too, a few days only, after the Draft was laid
before the Convention, its Author opposed that mode of
choice, urging & proposing, in place of it, an election by
the Legislatures of the several States.
"The remarks here made, tho' not material in themselves,
were due to the authenticity and accuracy aimed at, in this
Record of the proceedings of a Publick Body, so much an
object, sometimes, of curious research, as at all times, of
profound interest."
* * * * *
"As an Editorial note to the paper in the hand writing of
Mr. M. beginning 'The length, &c.'"
"*Striking discrepancies will be found on a comparison of
his plan, as furnished to Mr. Adams, and the view given of
that which was laid before the Convention, in a pamphlet
published by Francis Childs at New York shortly after the
close of the Convention. The title of the pamphlet is
'Observations on the plan of Government submitted to the
Federal Convention on the 28th of May, 1787, by Charles
Pinckney, &c.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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