Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/113

 KECOKDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 10 9 Wednesday MADISON July 25 purpose.") �this means a deserving Magistrate may be reelected without making him dependent on the Legislature. Mr. Gerry repeated his remark that an election at all by the Natl. Legislature was radically and incurably wrong; and moved 7 that the Executive be appointed by the Governours & Presidents of the States, with advice of their Councils, and when there are no Councils by Electors chosen by the Legislatures. The executives to vote in the following propor- tions: Mr. (Madison.) There are objections agst. every mode that has been, or perhaps can be proposed. The election must be made either by some existing authority under the Natfl. or State Constitutions --or by some special authority derived from the people--or by the people themselves.--The two Existing authorities under the Natl. Constitution wd be the Legislative & Judiciary. The latter he presumed was out of the question. The former was in his Judgment liable to in- superable objections. Besides the general influence of that mode on the independence of the Executive, I. the election of the Chief Magistrate would agitate & divide the legislature so much that the public interest would materially suffer by it. Public bodies are always apt to be thrown into conten- tions, but into more violent ones by such occasions than by any others. 2. the candidate would intrigue with the Legis- lature, would derive his appointment from the predominant faction, and be apt to render his administration subservient to its views. 3-The Ministers of foreign powers would have and make use of, the opportunity to to mix their intrigues influence with the Election. Limited as the powers of the Executive are, it will be an object of great moment with the great rival powers of Europe who have American possessions, to have at the head of our Governmt. a man attached to their respective politics & interests. No pains, nor perhaps expence, will be spared, to gain from the Legislature an appointmt., favorable to their wishes. Germany & Poland are witnesses of this danger. In the former, the election of the Head of the Revised from Journal. 7 Crossed out "renewed his motion ".

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