Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/106

 IO2 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTIOl TueMay MADISON July 4 Mr. Gerry. That the Executive shd. be independent of the Legislature is a clear point. The longer the duration of his appointment the more will his dependence be diminished- It will be better then for him to continue o, xS, or even 2o m years and be ineligible afterwards. Mr. King was for making him re-eligible. This is too great an advantage to be given up for the small effect it will have on his dependence, if impeachments are to lie. He considered these as rendering the tenure during pleasure. Mr. L. Martin, suspending his motion as to the ineligi- bility, moved "that the appointmt. of the Executive shall continue for Eleven years. Mr Gerry suggested fifteen years. Mr. King twenty years. This is the medium life of princes.* Mr. Davie Eight years Mr. Wilson. The difficulties & perplexities into which the House is thrown proceed from the election by the Legislature which he was sorry had been reinstated. The inconveniency of this mode was such that he would agree to almost any length of time in order to get rid of the dependence which must result from it. He was persuaded that the longest term would not be equivalent to a proper mode of election, unless indeed it should be during good behaviour. It seemed to be supposed that at a certain advance of life, a continuance in office would cease to be agreeable to to the officer, as well as desireable to the public. Experience had shewn in a varlet� of instances that both a capacity & inclination for public service existed--in very advanced stages. He mentioned the instance of a Doge of Venice who was elected after he was 80 years of age. The popes have generally been elected at very advanced periods, and yet in no case had a more steady' or a better concerted policy been pursued than in the Court of Rome. If the Executive should come into office at 35- years of age, which he presumes may happen & his continu- ance should be fixt at x 5 years. at the age of 5 �. in the very prime of life, and with all the aid of experience, he must be order to defeat the object of them.)
 * (This might possibly be meant as a caricature of the previous motions in

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