Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/507

 P. ECOP. DS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION 50I Tuesday MADISON September 4 Mr. Butler thought the mode not free from objections, but much more so than an election by the Legislature, where as in elective monarchies, cabal faction & violence would be sure to prevail. Mr. Pinkney stated as objections to the mode I. that it threw the whole appointment in. fact into the hands of the Senate. z--The Electors will be strangers to the several candidates and of course unable to decide on their compara- tive merits. 3. It makes the Executive reeligible which will endanger the public liberty. 4. It makes the same body of men which will in fact elect the President his Judges in case of an impeachment. Mr. Williamson had great doubts whether the advantage of reeligibility would balance the objection to such a depend- ence of the President on the Senate for his reappointment. He thought at least the Senate ought to be restrained to the two highest on the list Mr. Govr. Morris said the principal advantage aimed at was that of taking away the opportunity for cabal. The Presi- dent may be made if thought necessary ineligible on this as well as on any other mode of election. Other inconveniences may be no less redressed on this plan than any other. Mr. Baldwin thought the plan not so objectionable when well considered, as at first view. The increasing intercourse among the people of the States, would render important characters less & less unknown; and the Senate would con- sequently be less & less likely to have the eventual appoint- ment thrown into their hands. Mr. Wilson. This subject has greatly divided the House, and will also divide people out of doors. It is in truth the most difficult of all on which we have had to decide. He had never made up an opinion on it entirely to his own satisfac- tion. He thought the plan on the whole a valuable improve- ment on the former. It gets rid of one great evil, that of cabal & corruption; & Continental Characters will multiply as we more & more coalesce, so as to enable the electors in every part of the Union to know & judge of them. It clears the way also for a discussion of the question of re-eligibility on its own

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