RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION I99 Tuesday MADISON A?g?t 7 Col. Mason thought the objections against fixing the time insuperable; but that an annual meeting ought to be required as essential to the preservation of the Constitution. The extent of the Country will supply business. And if it should not, the Legislature, besides legislative, is to have inquisitorial powers, which can not safely be long kept in a State of sus- pension. Mr. Sherman was decided for fixing the time, as well as for frequent meetings of the Legislative body. Disputes and difficulties will arise between the two Houses, & between both & the States, if the time be changeable- frequent meetings of Parliament were required at the Revolution in England as an essential safeguard of liberty. So also are annual meetings in most of the American charters and constitutions. There will be business eno' to require it. The Western Country, and the great extent and varying state of our affairs in gen- eral will supply objects. Mr. Randolph n was agst. fixing any day'irrevocably; but as there was no provision made any where in the Constitution for regulating the periods of meeting, and some precise time must be fixed, untill the Legislature shall make provision, he could not agree to strike out the words altogether. Instead of which he moved (to add the words following--"unless a different day shall be appointed by law."> ? Mr. (Madison) 2ded. the motion, & on the question N.H. no. Mas. a 7. Ct. no. Pa. ay. Del. ay. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S.C. ay. Geo. ay. [Ayes- 8; noes- 2.] Mr. Govr. Morris moved to strike out Deer. & insert May. It might frequently happen that our measures ought to be influenced by those in Europe, which were generally planned during the Winter and of which intelligence would arrive in the Spring. Mr. (Madison> 2ded. the motion. he preferred May to Deer. because the latter would require the travelling to & from the Seat of Govt. in the most' inconvenient seasons of the year. Crossed out: "Mr. Pinckney was opposed to". m Revised from Journal.
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