Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/116

 I I2 KECOKDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION F,d.sda3 MADISON Jul3 25 be qualified with a proviso that no person be eligible for more than 6 years in any twelve years. He thought this would have all the advantage & at the same time avoid in some degree the inconveniency, of an absolute ineligibilit 7 a time. Col. Mason approved the idea. It had the sanction of experience in the instance of Congs. and some of the Execu- tives of the States. It rendered the Executive as effectually independent, as an ineligibility after his first electlon and opened the way at the same time for the advantage of his future services. He preferred on the whole the election by the Natl. Legislature: Tho' Candor obliged him to admit, that there was great danger of foreign influence, as had been sug- gested. This was the most serious objection with him that had been urged. Mr Butler. The two great evils to be avoided are cabal at home, & influence from' abroad. It will be difficult to avoid either if the Election be made by the Natl Legislature. On the other hand, the Govt. should not be made so complex & unwieldy as to disgust the States. This would be the case, if the election shd. be referred to the people. He liked best an election by Electors chosen by the Legislatures of the States. He was agst. a re-eligibility at all events. He was also agst. a ratio of votes in the States. An equality should prevail in this case. The reasons for departing from it do not hold in the case of the Executive as in that of the Legislature. Mr. Gerry approved of Mr Pinkney's motion as lessening the evil. Mr Govr. Morris was agst. a rotation in every case. It formed a political School, in wch. we were always governed by the scholars, and not by the Masters- The evils to be guarded agst in this case are. . the undue influence of the Legislature. 2. instability of Councils. 3. misconduct in office. To guard agst. the first, we run into the second evil. we adopt a rotation which produces instability of Councils. To avoid Sylla we fall into Charibdis. A change of men is ever followed by a change of measures We see this fully exemplified in the vicissitudes among ourselves, particularly in

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