Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/297

 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 29I Tuesday MADISON .4ugst x4 be some difficulty in fixing the sum; but it would be unjust to oblige the distant States to bear the expence of their members in travelling to and from the Seat of Govt. Mr (Madison.) If the H. of Reps. is to be chosen biennially --and the Senate to be constantly dependent on the Legisla- tures which are chosen annually, he could not see any chance for that stability in the Genl Govt. the want of which was a principal evil in the State Govts. His fear was that the or- ganization of the Govt supposing the Senate to be really Jude- pen&. for six years, would not effect our purpose. It was nothing more than a combination of the peculiarities of two of the State Govts. which separately had been found insuffic- ient. The Senate was formed on the model of that of Maryld. The Revisionary check, on that of N. York. What the effect of A union of these provisions might be, could not be foreseen. The enlargement of the sphere of the Government was indeed a circumstance which he thought would be favorable as he had on several occasions undertaken to show. He was how- ever for fixing at least two extremes not to be exceeded by the Natl. Legislre. in the payment of themselves. Mr. Gerry. There are difficulties on both sides. The observation of Mr. Butler has weight in it. On the other side, the State Legislatures may turn out the Senators by reducing their salaries. Such things have been practised. Col. Mason. It has not yet been noticed that the clause as it now stands makes the House of Represents. also depend- ent on the State Legislatures; so that both Houses will be made the instruments of the politics of the States whatever they may be. Mr. Broom could see no danger in trusting the Genl. Legis- lature with the payment of themselves. The State Legislatures had this power, and no complaint had been made of it- Mr. Sherman was not afraid that the Legislature would make their own wages too high; but too low, so that men ever so fit could not serve unless they were at the same time rich. He thought the best plan would be to fix a moderate allowance to be paid out of the Natl. Treasy. and let the States make such additions as they might judge fit. He moved that

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