RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Friday MADISON September 7 this case harmless; and that no peace ought to be made with- out the concurrence of the President, who was the general Guardian of the National interests. Mr. Butler was strenuous for the motion, as a necessary security against ambitious & corrupt Presidents. He men- tioned the late perfidious policy of the Statholder in Holland; and the artifices of the Duke of Marlbro' to prolong the war of which he had the management. Mr. Gerry. was of opinion that in treaties of peace a greater rather than less proportion of votes was necessary, than in other treaties. In Treaties of peace the dearest interests will be at stake, as the fisheries, territories &c. In treaties of peace also there is more danger to the extremities of the Con- tinent, of being sacrificed, than on any other occasions. Mr. Williamson thought that Treaties of peace should be guarded at least by requiring the same concurrence as in other Treaties. On the motion of Mr. Madison & Mr. Butler N.H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. N.J. no. Pa. no. Del-- no. Md. ay m Va no--N. C. no. S.C. ay. Geo. ay. [Ayes--3; noes -- 8.] On the part of the clause concerning treaties amended by the exception as to Treaties of peace. N. I-I. ay. Mas. ay. Ct. ay. N..L no. Pa. no. Del. ay. Md. ay. Va. ay. N-- C. ay. S-- C. ay-- Geo. no. [Ayes--8; noes -- 3.] "and may require the opinion in writing of the principal officer in each of the Executive Departments, upon any sub- ject relating to the duties of their respective offices." being before the House Col: Mason* said that in rejecting a Council to the Presi- dent we were about to try an experiment on which the most despotic Governments had never ventured-- The Grand Signor himself had his Divan. He moved to postpone the
- (In the printed Journal-- Mr- Madison is erroneously substituted for Coh
Mason--)" See above, note 5, and Appendix A, CCCXX. XVII.
�
