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Show 5S TilE FEDEHAL CONVENTION. to be elected by the people of the several States," was taken up. Mr. Sherman opposed election by tho people, and said it ought to be by the State legislatures; that the people were constant1y liable to be miHicd. lt{r. Gerry also oppo eLl clcelion by the people, saying that we had been ha.ving au execs~ of democracy heretofore. Pretended patriots would dupe a.nd decei vc the peoplethat they had douc it heretofore in Massachusetts. Mr. Ma<1ison consit1crccl the election of one branch by the people as cs. entiat to every plan of a. frc·c ROvcrnment. lie thonght that the great fa.bric to be raised would be more stable and durable, if it houl<l rest on tho solid fonndtttion of the people themselves, thn.n if it should sLand merely on the pillars of tbc legislatures. On the qncstion for election by the people, Ayes 6, N ocs 2, Connecticut and Delaware divided. [1'he reader will here observe thn t the votes of the Con· vcntion in all cases were taken by States.] It was then moved to elect the members of the second branch by the members of the first. This, after considera· ble discussion, was voted down. J?riday, June 1. The lion. William IIoustoun, from a em·gia, took his scat. The Committee of the Whole proceeded to the seventh resolution, "that a nn.tional executive be inRtituted, to be chosen by the national legislature for the term of years, to be ineligible thereafter, &c." Mr. Pinckney was for a vigorous executive, but was afraid it might run into a monarchy. Mr. Wilson was for a sing1c executive. Dr. Franklin wanted the question discussed, as it wns very important. Mr. Sherman thought the executive should be elected by Congress. TilE FEDI~HAL CONVENTION. Mr. Madisott opposed fixing the executive till his powers were first agreed upon. Penditlg the discussion the liouse adjourned. HatU'rday, June 2. William S. Johnson, from Con necticut, Daniel of St. 'rhomas J cni fer, from Mary land, nnd John Lansing, Jr., from N cw York, took their scats. 'fbc motion to elect the executive Ly the national legislature for the term of seven years was agreed to. lJJonday, June 4. It was agreed thrtt the executive should consi t of but one person, Now York, Delaware nnd Maryland voting No. It wus also agreed that the executive should have the right of veto. It was also ngrecd that o. national judiciary, to consist of one supreme tribunal and • • I one or more mfcnor, should be con~Litntcd. Tuesday, June 5. On the question of choosing the judiciary by tho national legi laturo, Dr. Ji1ranklin suggested the Scotch mode of letting the lawyers choose the judges, as they would always choose tho ablest of the profession in order to get his practice themselves. Mr. Madison was opposed to electing judges by the Jcgislnturc, or by any numerous body, and was incliucd to give it to the Senate. William Livingston, from N cw Jersey, took his soat. Wednesday, June 6. Mr. Pinckney moved 11 that the first brauch of the national legislature be elected by tho Slate legislatures, and not by the people." Mr. Mason spoke agaiust this motion. lie said that under the confederacy Congress represented the States, not the people; under the present plan of government Congress should represent the people, therefore should Le chosen by the people. .Mr. Dickiuson proposed that the two systems shon1d be blended. Let one branch come directly from tl10 people nnd tho other Le chosen by tho State logislatnres. Ou~ r•;, cl; .. ' .Ih' ~' r'.,I.) II 1 tl ~ |