Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 1.djvu/321

 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 2QI Monday MADISON june 18 among ourselves as will defend the community agst. these effects in any dangerous degree? Having made these observa·· tions he would read to the Committee a sketch of a plan which he shd. prefer to either of those under consideration. He was aware that it went beyond the ideas of most members. But will such a plan be adopted out of doors? In return (he would ask) will the people adopt the other plan? At present they will adopt neither. But (he) sees the Union dissolving or already dissolved —— he sees evils operating in the States which must soon cure the people of their fondness for democracies -·~—· he sees that a great progress has been already made 8: is still going on in the public mind. He thinks therefore that the people will in time be unshackled from their prejudices; and whenever that happens, they will themselves not be satisfied at stopping where the plan of Mr. R. wd. place them, but be ready to go as far at least as he proposes. He did not mean to offer the paper he had sketched as a proposition to the Committee. It was meant only to give a more correct view of his ideas, and to suggest the amendments which he should probably propose to the plan of Mr. R. in the proper stages of its future dis-· cussion. He reads his sketch in the words following: " to wit I "The Supreme Legislative power of the United States of America to be vested in two diiierent bodies of men; the one to be called the Assembly, the other the Senate who together shall form the Legislature of the United States with power to pass all laws whatsoever subject to the Negative hereafter mentioned. II The Assembly to consist of persons elected by the people to serve for three years. III. The Senate to consist of persons elected to serve during good behaviour; their election to be made by electors chosen for that purpose by the people: in order to this the States to be divided into election districts. On the death, removal or resignation of any Senator his place to be filled out of the district from which he came. 7 Several different texts of this document are in existence. For a discussion of these and of Hamiltozfs more detailed plan given to Madison at the close of the C0n· vention, see Appendix F. See also further references in note 9, below.