Wednesday MADISON July 25 the people of each State chuse its best Citizen. The people will know the most eminent characters of their own States, and the people of different States will feel an emulation in selecting those of which they will have the greatest reason to be proud - Out of the thirteen names thus selected, an Executive Magistrate may be chosen either by the Natl Legislature, or by Electors appointed by it. On a Question which was moved for postponing Mr. Pinkney's motion, in order to make way for some such proposition as had been hinted by Mr. Williamson & others. (it passed in the negative.) N. H. no. Mas. no. Ct. ay. N. J. ay. Pa. ay. Del. no. Md. ay. Va ay. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no. [Ayes-5; noes - - 6.] On Mr. Pinkney's motion that no person shall serve in the Executive more than 6 years in 12. years, (it passed in the negative.) N. H. ay. Mas. ay. Ct. no. N. J. no. Pa. no. Del. no. Md. no. Va. no. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay [Ayes-5; noes — - 6.] (On a motion that the members of the Committee be furnished with copies of the proceedings it was so determined; S. Carolina alone being in the negative It was then moved 13 that the members of the House might take copies of the Resolions which had been agreed to; which passed in the negative. N. H. no Mas. no. Conay. N. J. ay. Pa. no -- Del. ay. Maryd. no. V-ay. N-C. ay. S. C. no-Geo. no-) 14 [Ayes 5; noes - 6.] Mr. Gerry & Mr Butler moved to refer the (resolution) relating to the Executive ((except the clause making it consist of a single person)) to the Committee of detail 15 Mr. Wilson hoped that so important a branch of the System wd. not be committed untill a general principle shd. be fixed by a vote of the House. Mr Langdon was for the Committment. - Adjd.16 13 This motion was made by Luther Martin, see Appendix A, CLVIII (27). 14 Taken from Journal. 18 Revised from Journal. 16 See further Appendix A, LXVIII, LXIX. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1787. JOURNAL Thursday July 26. 1787. It was moved and seconded to amend the third clause of the resolution respecting the national executive so as to read as follows, namely "for the term of seven years to be ineligible a second "time" which passed in the affirmative [Ayes-7; noes-3.] On the question to agree to the whole resolution respecting the supreme Executive namely. Resolved That a national Executive be instituted to consist of a Single Person to be chosen by the national Legislature for the term of seven years to be ineligible a second time with power to carry into execution the national Laws to appoint to Offices in cases not otherwise provided for. to be removable on impeachment and conviction of malpractice or neglect of duty. to receive a fixed compensation for the devotion of his time to public service to be paid out of the public Treasury. it passed in the affirmative. [Ayes-6; noes-3; divided - 1.] It was moved and seconded to agree to the following Resolution namely. Resolved That it be an instruction to the Committee to whom were referred the proceedings of the Convention for the establishment of a national government, to receive a clause or clauses, requiring certain qualifications of landed prop Thursday JOURNAL July 26 erty and citizenship in the United States for the Executive, the Judiciary, and the Members of both branches of the Legislature of the United States; and for disqualifying all such persons as are indebted to, or have unsettled accounts with the United States from being Members of either Branch of the national Legislature. It was moved and seconded to strike out the word "landed" it passed in the affirmative [Ayes Io; noes 1.] On the question to agree to the clause respecting the qualification as amended it passed in the affirmative [Ayes 8; noes 3.] It was moved and seconded to add the words "and Pensioners. of the Government of the United States" to the clause of disqualification which passed in the negative. [Ayes-3; noes - 7; divided-1.] It was moved and seconded to strike out the following words, namely "or have unsettled accounts with" which passed in the affirmative. [Ayes-9; noes2.] On the question to agree to the clause of disqualification as amended it passed in the negative [Ayes-2; noes - 9.] It was moved and seconded to agree to the following resolution namely Resolved that it be an instruction to the Committee to whom were referred the proceedings of the Convention for the establishment of a national Government, to receive a clause or clauses for preventing the seat of the national Government being in the same City or Town with the seat of the Government of any State, longer than until the necessary public Buildings can be erected. It was moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the last resolution. It was moved and seconded to refer such proceedings of the Convention, as have been agreed on since Monday last, to the Committee of detail which passed unanimously in ye affirmative Questions Ayes Noes | Divided aye no no aye aye aye aye aye for the term of seven 7 3 years" "to be ineligible a aye no no no dd aye aye aye To agree to the whole 6 3 1 resolution respecting the supreme Executive aye aye aye no aye aye aye aye To strike out the word 10 1 "landed" in the qualification aye no no aye aye aye aye aye To agree to the clause 83 of qualification no no no aye no dd no aye To agree to the amend- 371 ment for disqualification ernment and Pensioners. no aye aye aye aye aye aye no To strike out the words 9 2 or have unsettled accounts with no no no no no aye no aye To agree to the clause 29 aye aye aye aye aye aye aye aye To adjourn till monday End of seventh loose sheet] MADISON Thursday July. 2(6) in Convention Col. Mason. In every Stage of the Question relative to the Executive, the difficulty of the subject and the diversity of the opinions concerning it have appeared. Nor have any of the modes of constituting that department been satisfac 1 Vote 231, Detail of Ayes and Noes. Thursday MADISON July 26 tory. 1. It has been proposed that the election should be made by the people at large; that is that an act which ought to be performed by those who know most of Eminent characters, & qualifications, should be performed by those who know least. 2 that the election should be made by the Legislatures of the States. 3. by the Executives of the States. Agst these modes also strong objections have been urged. 4. It has been proposed that the election should be made by Electors chosen by the people for that purpose. This was at first agreed to: But on further consideration has been rejected. 5. Since which, the mode of Mr Williamson, requiring each freeholder to vote for several candidates has been proposed. This seemed like many other propositions, to carry a plausible face, but on closer inspection is liable to fatal objections. A popular election (in any form), as Mr. Gerry has observed, would throw the appointment into the hands of the Cincinnati, a Society for the members of which he had a great respect; but which he never wished to have a preponderating influence in the Govt. 6. Another expedient was proposed by Mr. Dickenson, which is liable to so palpable & material an inconvenience that he had little (doubt) of its being by this time rejected by himself. It would exclude every man who happened not to be popular within his own State; tho' the causes of his local unpopularity might be of such a nature as to recommend him to the States at large. 7. Among other expedients, a lottery has been introduced. But as the tickets do not appear to be in much demand, it will probably, not be carried on, and nothing therefore need be said on that subject. After reviewing all these various modes, he was led to conclude that an election by the Natl Legislature as originally proposed, was the best. If it was liable to objections, it was liable to fewer than any other. He conceived at the same time that a second election ought to be absolutely prohibited. Having for his primary object, for the pole star of his political conduct, the preservation of the rights of the people, he held it as an essential point, as the very palladium of Civil liberty, that the great officers of State, and particularly the Executive should at fixed periods return |