Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/206

 200 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Tuesday MADISON Auguit 7 Mr. Wilson. The Winter is the most convenient season for business. Mr. Elseworth. The summer will interfere too much with private business, that of almost all the probable members of the Legislature being more or less connected with agriculture. Mr Randolph. The time is of no great moment now, as the Legislature can vary it. On looking into the Constitu- tions of the States, he found that the times o{ their elections with which the elections of the Natl. Representatives would no doubt be made to co-inclde, would suit better with Decr than May. And it was advisable to render our innovations as little incommodious as possible. On question for "May" instead of "Decr." N- H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. Pa. no. Del. no. Md. no. Va. no. N. C. no. S.C. ay. Geo. ay. [Ayes- z; noes- 8.] Mr. Read moved to insert  ' to the Negative to be hereafter provided". His object was to give an absolute negative to the Executive --I-Ie considered this as so essential to the Constitution, to the preservation of liberty, & to the public welfar% that his duty compelled him to make the motion. Mr. Govr. Morris 2ded. him. And on the question N.H. no. Mas. no. Ct. no. Pa. no. Del. ay. Md. no. Va. no. N. C. no. S.C. no. Geo. no. [Ayes- ; noes- 9.] Mr. Rutlidge. Altho' it is agreed on all hands that an annual meeting of the Legislature should be made necessary, yet that point seems not to be freed from doubt as the clause stands. On this suggestion. "Once at least in every yeaL" were inserted, nem. con. Art. III with the foregoing alterations was agd. to nero. con. <and is as follows "The Legislative power shall be vested in a Congress to consist of 2 separate & distinct bodies of men; a House of Reps. & a Senate. The Legislature shall meet at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the xst. monday in Decr. unless a different day shall be appointed by law".)a Revised from Journal.

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