Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/109

 RECOKDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION IO Tuesday MADISON July cease to be a man ? No he will be unwilling toquit his exaltation, the road to his object thro' the Constitution will be shut; he will be in possession of the sword, a civiI war will ensue, and the Commander of the victorious army on which ever side, will be the despot of America. This consideration ren- ders him particularly anxious that the Executive should be properly constituted. The vice here would not, as in some other parts of the system be curable~ It is (the) most diffi- cult of all rightly to balance the Executive. Make him too weak: The Legislature will usurp his powers: Make him too strong. He will usurp on the Legislature. He preferred a short period, a re-eligibility, but a different mode of election. A long period would prevent an adoption of the plan: it ought to do so. He shd. himself be afraid to trust it. He was not prepared to decide on Mr. Wilson's mode of election just hinted by him. He thought it deserved consideration. It would be better that chance sd. decide than intrigue. (On A question to postpone the consideration of the Reso- lution on the subject of the Executive) s N.H. no. Mas. no. Ct. ay. N.J. no. Pa. ay. Del. divd. Md. ay. Va. ay. N. C. no. S.C. no. Geo. no. [Ayes -- 4; noes -- 6; dmded- x.] Mr. Wilson (then moved o that the Executive be chosen every years by Electors to be taken by lot from the Natl Legislature who shall proceed immediately to the choice of the Executive (and not separate until it be made} "�. Carrs'. zds. the motion Mr Gerry. this is committing too much to chance. If the lot should fall on a sett of unworthy men, an unworthy Executive must be saddled on the Country. He thought it had been demonstrated that no possible mode of electing by the Legislature could be a good one. Mr. King -- The lot might fall on a majority from the same State which wd. ensure the election of a man from that State. s Madison orlglnal!>, confused Wilson's motion to postpone with his suggestion of choosing electors by lot. Later he struck this out and substituted from Journal the wording of the text. g See above, Journal, "Wilson's Motion .  Taken from Journal.

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