Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/458

 45:Z IECOKI)$ OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Wednesday MADISON Augart 9 other). The power of foreign nations to obstruct our retaliat- ing measures  on them by a corrupt influence would also be less if a majority shd be made competent than if - of each House shd. be required to legislative acts in this case. An abuse of the power would be qualified with all these good effects. But he thought an abuse was rendered improbable by the pro- vision of 2 branches- by the independence of the Senate, by the negative  of the Executive, by the interest of Connecti- cut & N. Jersey which were agricultural, not commercial States; by the interior interest which was also agricultural in the most commercial States-- by the accession of Western States which wd. be altogether agricultural. He added that the Southern States wofild derive an essential advantage in the general securit 7 afforded by' the increase of our maritime strength. He stated the vulnerable situation of them all, and of Virginia in particular. The increase of the Coasting trade, and of seamen, would also be favorable to the S. States, by increasing, the consumption o� their produce. If the Wealth of the Eastern should in a still greater proportion be augmented, that wealth wd. contribute the more to the public wants, and be otherwise a national benefit? Mr. Rutlidge was agst. the motion of his colleague. It did not follow from a grant of the power to regulate trade that it would be abused. At the worst a navigation act could bear hard a little while only on the S. States. As we are laying the foundation for a great empire, we ought to take a perma- nent view of the subject and not look at the present moment only. He reminded the House of the necessity of securing the West India trade to this country. That was the great object, and a navigation Act was necessary for obtaining it. Mr. Randolph said that there were features so odious in the Constitution as it now stands, that he doubted whether he should be able to agree to it. A rejection of the motion would cornpleat the deformity of the system. He took notice of the argument in favor of giving the power over trade to a s Crossed out "and with successful retaliation on the injurious restrictions of foreign powers ".  Crossed out "contmul ". 0 See Appendix A, CCCXC.

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