Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/518

  I2 EECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION fP'ednesday MADISON September $ Col. Mason admitted that there were objections to an appointment by the Legislature as originally planned. lie had not yet made up his mind; but would state his objec- tions to the mode proposed by the Committee. L It puts the appointment in fact into the hands of the Senate, as it will rarely happen that a majority of the whole votes will fall on any one candidate: and as the Existing President will always be one of the 5 highest, his re-appointment wit1 of course depend on the Senate. 2. Considering the powers of the President & those of the Senate, if a coalition should be estab- lished between these two branches, they will be able to sub- vert the Constitution.- The great objection with him would be removed by depriving the Senate of the eventual election. He accordingly moved to strike out the words "if such num- ber be a majority of that of the electors" Mr. Williamson zded. the motion. I-Ie could not agree to the clause without some such modification. He preferred making the highest tho' not having a majority' of the votes, President, to a reference of the matter to the Senate. Refer- ring the appointment to the Senate lays a certain foundation for corruption & aristocracy. Mr. Govr Morris thought the point of less consequence than it was supposed on both sides. It is probable that a majority of the votes will fall on the same man, As each elec- tor is to give two votes, more than { will give a majority. Besides as one vote is to be given to a man out of the State, and as this vote will not be thrown away, � the votes will fall on characters eminent & generally known. Again if the Presi- dent shall have given satisfaction, the votes will turn on him of course, and a majority of them will reappoint him, with- out resort to the Senate: If he should be disliked, all dis- liking him, would take care to unite their votes so as to ensure his being supplanted. Col: Mason those who think there is no danger of there not being a majority for the same person in the first instance, ought to give up the point to those who think otherwise. Mr Sherman reminded the opponents of the new mode proposed that if the Small States had the. advarltagc i_l the

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