Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/408

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

403 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Frida3 MADISON Mr. Ghorum said it was wrong to be considering, at every turn whom the Senate would represent. The public good was the true object to be kept in view-- Great delay and confusion would ensue if the two Houses shd vote separately, each having a negative on the choice of the other. Mr. Dayton. It might be well for those not to consider how the Senate was constituted, whose interest it Was to keep it out of sight.- If the amendment should be agreed to, a joint ballot would in fact give the appointment to one House. He could never agree to the clause with such an amendment. There could be no (doubt) s of the two Houses separately concurring in the same person for President. The importance & necessity of the case would ensure (a concurrence). Mr. Carrol moved to strike out, "by the Legislature" and in- sert "by the people" -- Mr Wilson zded. him & on the question N.H. no. Massts. no. Cont. no. N.J. no. Pa. ay. Del. ay. Md no. Va. no N. C. no. S.C. no. Geo. no. [Ayes- z; noes -- 9.] Mr Brearly was opposed to the motion for inserting the word "joint". The argument that the small States should not put their hands into the pockets of the large ones did not apply in this ease. Mr. Wilson urged the reasonableness of giving the larger States a larger share of the appointment, and the danger of delay from a disagreement of the two Houses. He remarked also that the Senate had peculiar powers balancing the advan- tage given by a joint balot in this case to the other branch of the Legislature. Mr. Langdon. This general officer ought to be elected by the joint & general voice. In N. Hampshire the mode of separate votes by the two Houses was productive of great difficulties. The Negative of the Senate would hurt the feel- ings of the man elected by the votes of the other branch. He was for inserting "joint" tho' unfavorable to N. Hamp- shire as a small State. Mr. Wilson remarked that as the President of the Senate s Crossed out "danger".