Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v5.djvu/468

442 A grand committee was appointed, consisting of Mr. Langdon, Mr. King, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Clymer, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. M'Henry, Mr. Mason, Mr. Williamson, Mr. C. C. Pinckney, and Mr. Baldwin.

Mr. RUTLEDGE remarked on the length of the session, the probable impatience of the public, and the extreme anxiety of many members of the Convention to bring the business to an end; concluding with a motion, that the Convention meet henceforward precisely at ten o'clock, A.M.; and that, precisely at four o'clock, P.M., the president adjourn the House without motion for the purpose; and that no motion to adjourn sooner be allowed.

On this question,—

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, ay, 9; Pennsylvania, Maryland, no, 2.

Mr. ELLSWORTH observed, that a council had not yet been provided for the President. He conceived there ought to be one. His proposition was, that it should be composed of the president of the Senate, the chief justice, and the ministers as they might be established for the departments of foreign and domestic affairs, war, finance, and marine; who should advise but not conclude the President.

Mr. PINCKNEY wished the proposition to lie over, as notice had been given for a like purpose by Mr. Gouverneur Morris, who was not then on the floor. His own idea was, that the President should be authorized to call for advice, or not, as he might choose. Give him an able council, and it will thwart him; a weak one, and he will shelter himself under their sanction.

Mr. GERRY was against letting the heads of the departments, particularly of finance, have any thing to do in business connected with legislation. He mentioned the chief justice, also, as particularly exceptionable. These men will also be so taken up with other matters, as to neglect their own proper duties.

Mr. DICKINSON urged, that the great appointments should be made by the legislature, in which case they might properly be consulted by the executive, but not if made by the executive himself.$217$

This subject, by general consent, lay over, and the House proceeded to the clause, "to raise armies."

Mr. GORHAM moved to add, "and support," after "raise." Agreed to, ''nem. con.; and then the clause was agreed to, nem. con.'', as amended.

Mr. GERRY took notice that there was no check here against standing armies in time of peace. The existing Congress is so constructed, that it cannot of itself maintain an army. This would not be the case under the new system. The people were jealous on this head, and great opposition to the plan would spring from such an omission. He suspected that preparations of force were now making against it [He seemed to allude to the activity of the governor of New York, at this crisis, in disciplining the militia of that state.] He thought an army dangerous in time of peace, and could never