Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/505

 IECORI)$ OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 499 Tuesday MADISON Septeraber 4 of the U-- S-- whose appointments are not otherwise herein provided for. But no Treaty x shall be made without the consent of two thirds of the members present.' (8) After the words "into the service of the U S." in sect. z. art: is. add 'and may require the opinion in writing of the principal Officer in each of the Executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices.' The latter part of Sect. z. Art: IS. to read as follows. (9) 'He shall be removed from his office on impeachment by the House of Representatives, and conviction by the Senate, for Treason, or bribery and in case of his removal as aforesaid, death, absence, resignation or inability to dis- charge the powers or duties of his office, the vice-president shall exercise those powers and duties until another Presi- dent be chosen, or until the inabilit 7 of the President be removed.' The (ISt.) clause of the Report was agreed to nem. con. The (2) clause was also agreed to nero: con: The (3) clause was postponed in order to decide previously on the mode of electing the President-- The (4) clause was accordingly taken up. Mr. Gorham disapproved of making the next highest after the President, the vice-President, without referring the de- cision to the Senate in case the next highest should have less than a majority of votes. as the regulation stands a very obscure man with very few votes may arrive at that appoint- ment Mr Sherman said the object of this clause of the report of the Committee was to get rid of the ineligibillty, which was attached to the mode of election by the Legislature, & to render the Executive independent of the Legislature. As the choice of the President was to be made out of the five highest, obscure characters were sufficiently guarded against in that case: And he had no objection to requiring the vice- President to be chosen in like manner, where the choice was not decided by a majority in the first instance aa Breadey copy ha8 iatedlned "except treaties of peace" to be inserted after 'Treaty".

�