Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/291

 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 285 Tuesday MADISON ugust 4 be composed of wealth & abilities, and the people will be governed by a Junto. The Executive ought to have a Coun- cil, being members of both Houses. Without such an influ- ence, the war will be between the aristocracy & the people. He wished it to be between the Aristocracy & the Executive. Nothing else can protect the people agst. those speculating Legislatures which are now plundering them throughout the U. States. Mr. Gerry read a Resolution of the Legislature of Massts. passed before the Act of Congs. recommending the Conven- tion, in which her deputies were instructed not to depart from the rotation established in the 5th. art: of Confederation, nor to agree in any case to give to the members of Congs. a capacity to hold offices under the Government. This he said was repealed in consequence of the Act of Congs. with which the State thought it proper to comply in an unqualified manner. The Sense of the State however was still the same. He could not think with Mr. Pinkhey that the disqualification was degrading. Confidence is the road to tyranny. As to Minis- ters & Ambassadors few of them were necessary. It is the opinion of a great many that they ought to be discontinued, on our part; that none may be sent among us, & that source of influence be shut up. If the Senate were to appoint Ambas- sadors as seemed to be intended, they will multiply embas- sies for their own sakes. He was not so fond of those productions as to wish to establish nurseries for them. they are once appointed, the House of Reps. will be obliged to provide salaries for them, whether they approve of the meas- ures or not. If men will not serve in the Legislature without a prospect of such offices, our situation is deplorable indeed. If our best Citizens are actuated by such mercenar 7 views, we had better chuse a single despot at once. It will be more easy to satisfy the rapacity of one than of many. Accord- ing to the idea of one Gentleman (Mr. Mercer) our Govern- ment it seems is to be a Govt. of plunder. In that case it certainly would be prudent to have but one rather than many to be employed in it. We cannot be too circumspect in the formation of this System. It will be examined on all sides

�