Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/411

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RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Friday MADISON August z4 On motion of Mr Govr Morris, "he may" was struck out, & "and" inserted before '?recommend" in the clause ed. sect-- 2d art: X. in order to make it the d?ty of the President to recommend, & thence prevent umbrage or cavil at his doing Mr. Sherman objected to the sentence ?and shall appoint officers in all cases not otherwise provided for by this Con- stitution". He admitted it to be proper that many officers in the Executive Department should be so appointed- but contended that man 7 ought not, as general officers in the Army in time of peace &c. Herein lay the corruption in G. Britain. If the Executive can model the army, he may set up an abso- lute Government; taking advantage of the close of a war and an army commanded by his creatures. James ed. was not obeyed by his officers because they had been appointed by his predecessors not by himself. He moved to insert "or by law" after the word "Constitution". On Motion of Mr Madison "officers" was struck out and "to offices" inserted? in order to obviate doubts that he might appoint officers without a previous creation of the offices by the Legislature. On the questlon for inserting "or b 7 law as moved b 7 Mr. Sherman N.H. no. Mas. no. Ct. a�. N.J. no. Pena. no. Del. no. Md. no. Va. no. N. C. absent. S.C. no. Geo. no. [Ayes- I; noes -- 9; absent -- I.] Mr. Dickinson moved to strike out the words '?and shall appoint to offices in all cases not otherwise provided for by this Constitution" and insert--"and shall appoint to all offices established by this Constitution, except in cases herein otherwise provided for, and to all offices which may here- after be created by law." Mr Randolph observed that the power of appointments was a formidable one both in the Executive & Legislative hands--and suggested whether the Legislature should not be left at liberty to refer appointments in some cases, to some State Authority. Mr. Dickensoh's motion, (it passed in the affirmative)