Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/637

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 631 Saturday MADISON September Md. no. Va. no. N. C. no. S.C. no. Geo. no [Ayes- z; noes -- 8; divided -- i.] Mr. Govr Morris moved to annex a further proviso-- "that no State, without its consent shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate" This motion being dictated by the circulating murmurs of the small States was agreed to without debate, no one oppos- ing it, or on the question, saying no. 9 Col: Mason expressing his discontent at the power given to Congress by a bare majority to pass navigation acts, which he said would not only enhance the freight, a consequence he did not so much regard- but would enable a few rich merchants in Philada N. York & Boston, to monopolize the Staples of the Southern States & reduce their value perhaps 50 Per Ct- moved a further proviso "that no law in nature of a navigation act be passed before the year x8o8, without the consent of {} of each branch o� the Legislature l� this motion N.H. no. Mas-- no. Ct no. N w J. no-- Pa no. Del. no. Md ay. Va. ay. N. C abst S.C. no-- Geow ay. [Ayes--3; noes--7; absent-- x.] Mr Randolph animadverting on the indefinite and danger- ous power given by the Constitution to Congress, expressing the pain he felt at differing from the body of the Convention, on the close of the great & awful subject of their labours, and anxiously wishing for some accommodating expedient which would relieve him from his embarrassments, made a motion importing "that amendments to the plan might be offered by the State Conventions, which should be submitted to and finally decided on by another general Convention "n Should this proposition be disregarded, it would he said be impossible for him to put his name to the instrument. Whether he should oppose it affenvards he would not then decide but he would not deprive himself of the freedom to do so in his own State, if that course should be prescribed by his final judgment-- See Appendix A, CCC. ,0 See Appendix A, CLI. Upon this proposal, see above August 31 and September xo, and Appendix A, CXXXI, CLXIV, CCXXXV.