Teachings of Patriots and Statesmen

Page 33

B,csolntions offered by Bclward Randolph to the Con-vention, May 29, 1787. . " 1. Resolved, That tho Articles of the Confcdcral10n ouo-ht to be so corrected and enlarged as to accomplish th; objects propo ed by their institution; nun.lcly, com­mon defcn c, security of liuerLy, and general welfare. " 2. Re ·olved, Therefore, that the right of snfl'rn.~rc, in the mtlional legislature ought to be proportioned lo Lhc quoins of contriuntion, or to tho number of fr.co it.ll~al>iL­anls, as the one or tho other may seem best, 1n dtUcrcut cases. "3. Resolved, 'rlmt the national legislature ought to con-sist of two branches. "1. Be olvcd, '!'hat the members of the first branch of tho national legislature ought to be elected by tho people of the several States every for the term of to be of the age of years, at least; to recei vc liberul sti ponds, by which they may be com pen­sated for the devotion of their titHe to the public service; to be ineligible to any ofllco c~taulished by a pn.rticul!tr State; or under tho authority of the United States, (except those peculiarly belonging to tho fnn ctions of tho first branch,) during tho term of service and for tho space of after its xpirn.tion; to be incapable of re-election for the space of after the expiration of their term of service ; and to be su bjccL to recall. "5. Re. olved, that the members of the second branch of tho national legislature ought to be elected by those of the fir t, out of a proper number of persons nowino.tcd by the individun.llegisln.tures; to be of the age of years, at least; to hold their omces for n. term snfficicnt to insure their independency ; to rccci vo liueral sti pcncls, by which they may be compensated for the devotion of thciL' timo to the pul.llie service; and to lJe ineligible to any office established uy a particular State, or under tho nutho· TilE FEDEUAT.~ CONVEN'l'ION. 0 55 riiy of the United Stat s, (except those particularly be­longing to the functions of tho second branch,) during tho term of service; and for tho space of nfter tho ex­piration thereof. "6. llesolvccl, rr1tnt each brunch ought to possess tho right of originating nets; that the national leg i ~:dalu ro ought to be empowered to enjoy the lcgi !alive right vested in Congress by the Cou f'edcrn lion ; and moreover, to legis­late in all cases to which the separate States nrc incompe­tent, ot· in which the harmony of Lite United Stales may lJe intenupted by the exorcise of iudiviclun.l legislation; to negative u.lllaws pa scu by the several States, contravening, in tho opinion of the natioual lcgi::;laturc, the articles of union, or any treaty subsisting under tho authority of the Union; and to call forth tl10 force of the Union against any member of the U uion failing to fulfill its duty under the articles thereof. "7. Resolved, Tbut o. national executive be instituted, to be chosen by tho national legislature for tbo term of years, to receive punctually, at stated times, a fixed com­pensation for the services reudcrcd, in which no increase or diminution shall be made, so us to affect tho magistracy existing at the time of the increase or diminution ; to bo ineligible a scconu time; and that, beside a general autho­rity to execute the national laws, it onght to enjoy tho executive rights vested in Con o-rcss by tho Coufcdcralion. "8. Resolved, That the executive and a convenient num­ber of tho national judiciary onght to compose a council of revision, with authority to cxamiuc every act of tho national lcgislu.turc before it shall operate, and every act of a parti­cular legif:llaturc, before a ncgati vo thereon shall be final ; and that tho dissent of tho said council shall amount to a reject ion, u11less the act of the national lrgislaturo be again pussell, or that of a particular Jcgislnluro be again negatived by of the members of cuch branch.