Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/461

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RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 455 Wednesday MADISON .,'l?gust a9 of art XVII "but to such admission the consent of two thirds "of the members present shall be necessary." Before any question was taken on this motion, Mr Govr. Morris moved the following proposition as a substitute for the XVII art: "New States may be admitted by the Legislature into this Union: but no new State shall be erected within the limits of any of the present States, with- out the consent of the Legislature of such State, as well as of the Genl. Legislature "?4 The first part to Union inclusive was agreed to nem: con: Mr. L--Martin opposed the latter part-- Nothing he said would so alarm the limited States as to make the consent of the large States claiming the Western lands, necessary to the establishment of new States within their limits. It is proposed to guarantee the States. Shall Vermont be reduced by force in favor of the States claiming it? Frankland & the Western country of Virginia were in a like situation. On Mr Govr. Morris's Motion to substitute &c (it was agreed to)- N.H. no. Mas. ay. Ct. no. N.J. no. Pa. ay. Del. no. Md no. Va. ay. N. C. ay. S.C. ay. Geo. ay. [Ayes--6; noes --54 Art: XVII -- before the House, as amended. Mr. Sherman was against it. He thought it unnecessary. The Union cannot dismember a State without its consent. Mr Langdon thought there was great weight in the argu- ment of Mr. Luther Martin, and that the proposition sub- stituted (by Mr. Govr. Morris) would excite a dangerous opposition to the plan. Mr. Govr Morris thought on the contrary that the small States would be pleased with the regulation, as it holds up the idea of dismembering the large States. Mr. Butler. If new States were to be erected without the consent of the dismembered States, nothing but confu- sion would ensue. Whenever taxes should press on the people, demagogues would set up their schemes of new States. Upon the significance of the wording of this article, see Appendix A, CCCIV.