Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v5.djvu/466

440 "To grant charters of corporation, m cases where the public good may require them, and the authority of a single state may be incompetent.

"To secure to literary authors their copyrights for a limited time.

"To establish a university.

"To encourage, by premiums and provisions, the advancement of useful knowledge and discoveries.

"To authorize the executive to procure, and hold, for the use of the United States, landed property, for the erection of forts, magazines, and other necessary buildings."

These propositions were referred to the committee of detail which had prepared the report, and, at the same time, the following, which were moved by Mr. PINCKNEY—in both cases unanimously:—

"To fix, and permanently establish, the seat of government of the United States, in which they shall possess the exclusive right of soil and jurisdiction.

"To establish seminaries for the promotion of literature, and the arts and sciences.

"To grant charters of incorporation.

"To grant patents for useful inventions.

"To secure to authors exclusive rights for a certain time.

"To establish public institutions, rewards, and immunities, for the promotion of agriculture, commerce, trades, and manufactures.

"That funds, which shall be appropriated for the payment of public creditors, shall not, during the time of such appropriation, be diverted or applied to any other purpose, and that the committee prepare a clause or clauses for restraining the legislature of the United States from establishing a perpetual revenue.

"To secure the payment of the public debt.

"To secure all creditors, under the new Constitution, from a violation of the public faith, when pledged by the authority of the legislature.

"To grant letters of marque and reprisal.

"To regulate stages on the post-roads."

Mr. MASON introduced the subject of regulating the militia. He thought such a power necessary to be given to the general government. He hoped there would be no standing army in time of peace, unless it might be for a few garrisons. The militia ought, therefore, to be the more effectually prepared for the public defence. Thirteen states will never concur in any one system, if the disciplining of the militia be left in their hands. If they will not give up the power over the whole, they probably will over a part, as a select militia. He moved, as an addition to the propositions just referred to the committee of detail, and to be referred in like manner, "a power to regulate the militia."

Mr. GERRY remarked, that some provision ought to be made in favor of public securities, and something inserted concerning letters of marque, which he thought not included in the power of war. He proposed that these subjects should also go to a committee.

Mr. RUTLEDGE moved to refer a clause, "that funds appropriated to public creditors should not be diverted to other purposes."

Mr. MASON was much attached to the principle, but was afraid such a fetter might be dangerous in time of war. He suggested the necessity of preventing the danger of perpetual revenue, which must, of necessity, subvert the liberty of any country. If it be objected to, on the principle of Mr. Rutledge's motion, that public credit may require perpetual provisions, that case might be excepted, it being declared that in other cases, no taxes should be laid for a longer term