106 ]RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Tuesday MADISON July 2 4 We ought to be governed by reason, not by chance. As no body seemed to be satisfied, he wished the matter to be postponed Mr. Wilson did not move this as the best mode. His opinion remained unshaken thatwe ought to resort to the people for the election. He seconded the postponement. Mr. Govr. Morris observed that the chances were almost infinite agst. a majority of electors from the same State. (On a question whether the last motion was in order, it was determined in the affirmative; 7. ays. 4 noes.> On the question of postponerot. it was agreed to nero. con. Mr Carrot took occasion to observe that he considered the clause declaring that direct taxation on the States should be in proportion to representation, previous to the obtaining an actual census, as very objectionable, and that he reserved to himself the right of opposing it, if the Report of the Committee of detail should leave it in the plan. Mr. Govr. Morris hoped the Committee would strike out the whole of the clause proportioning direct taxation to repre- sentation. He had only meant it as a* bridge to assist us over a certain gulph; having passed the gulph the bridge may be removed. He thought the principle laid down with so much strictness, liable to strong objections On a ballot for a Committee to report a Constitution con- formable to the Resolutions passed b 7 the Convention, the members chosen were Mr. Rutlidge, Mr Randolph, Mr. Ghorum, Mr. Elseworth, Mr. Wilson -- <On motion to discharge the Come. of the whole from the propositions submitted to the Convention by Mr. C. Pinkney as the basis of a constitution, and to refer them to the Com- mittee of detail just appointed. it was agd. to hem. con. A like motion then made & agreed to nero: con: with re- spect to the propositions of Mr Patterson Adjourned.>
- The object was to lessen the eagerness on one side, & the opposition on the
other, to the share of Representation claimed by the S. {Sothem} States on account of the Negroes. n Taken frorn 2%urnal. n See Appendix A, CCXCIII.
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