Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/298

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292 KECOKD$ OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Tuesday MADISON .,tugust ?r 4 5 dollars per day be the sum, any further emoluments to be added by the States. Mr. Carrol had been much surprised at seeing this clause in the Report. The dependence of both houses on the State Legislatures is compleat; especially as the members of the former are eligible to State offices. The States can now say: if you do not comply with our wishes, we will starve you: if you do we will reward you. The new Govt. in this form was nothing more than a second edition of Congress in two volumes, instead of one, and perhaps with very few amendments- Mr Dickenson took it for granted that all were convinced of the necessity of making the Genl. Govt. independent of the prejudices, passions, and improper views of the State Legis- latares. The contrary of This was effected by the section as it stands. On the other hand, there were objections agst taking a permanent standard as Wheat which had been sug- gested on a former occasion, as well as against leaving the matter to the pleasure of the Natl. Legislature. He proposed that an Act should be passed every I2 years by the Natl. Legislre settling the quantum of their wages. If the Genl. Govt. should be left dependent on the State Legislatures, it would be happy for us if we had never met in this Room. Mr. Elseworth was not unwilling himself to trust the Legis- lature with authority to regulate their own Wages, but well knew that an unlimited discretion for that purpose would produce strong, tho' perhaps not insuperable objections. He thought changes in the value of money, provided for by his motion in the words, "or the present value thereof." Mr. L. Martin. As the Senate is to represent the States, the members of it ought to be paid by the States- Mr. Carrol. The Senate was to represent & manage the affairs of the whole, and not to be the advocates of State interests. They ought then not to be dependent on nor paid by the States. On the question for paying the Members of the Legisla- ture out of the Natl Treasury, + N. I-I. ay. Mas. no. Ct. ay. N.J. ay. Pa. ay. Del. ay. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S.C. no. Geo. ay. [Ayes -- 9; noes --2.]