Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/230

 Z2Z iECORI)S OF TIlE FEDE1RL CONVENTION Wednesday MADISON August 8 Mr. Pinkney moved to strike out Sect. 5, As giving no peculiar advantage to the House of Representatives, and as clogging the Govt. If the Senate can be trusted with the many great powers proposed, it surely may be trusted with that of originating money bills. Mr. Glxorum. was agst. allowing the Senate to originate; but (only} to amend. Mr. Govr. Morris. It is particularly proper that the Senate shd. have the right of originating money bills. They will sit constantly. will consist of a smaller number. and will be able to prepare such bills with due correctness; and so as to prevent delay of business in the other House. Col. Mason was unwilling to travel over this ground again. To strike out the section, was to unhinge the compromise of which it made a part. The duration of the Senate made it improper. He does not object to that duration. On the Contrary he approved of it. But joined with the smallness of the number, it was an argument (against) adding this to the other great powers vested in that body. His idea of an Aristocracy was that it was the governt. of the few over the many. An aristocratic body, like the screw in mechanics, workig. its way by slow degrees, and holding fast whatever it gains, should ever be suspected of an encroaching tendency --The purse strings should never be put into its hands. Mr Mercer, considered the exclusive power of originating Money bills as so great an advantage, that it rendered the equality of votes in the Senate ideal & of no consequence. Mr. Butler was for adhering to the principle which had been settled. Mr. Wilson was opposed to it on its merits, with out re- gard to the compromise Mr. Elseworth did not think the clause of any consequence, but as it was thought of consequence by some members from the larger States, he was willing it should stand. Mr. (Madison) was for striking it out: considering it as of no advantage to the large States as lettering the Govt. and as a source of injurious altercations between the two Houses. On the question for striking out "Sect. 5- art. IV"

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