Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/530

 24 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Thursday MADISON September 6 If they are to try impeachments, the Judges must have been triable by them before. Wherein then lay the danger- ous tendency of the innovations to establish an aristocracy in the Senate ? As to the appointment of officers, the weight of sentiment in the House, was opposed to the exercise of it by the President alone; though it was not the case with him- self- If the Senate would act as was suspected, in mis- leading the States into a fallacious disposition of their votes for a President, they would, if the appointment were with- drawn wholly from them, make such representations in their several States where they have influence, as would favor the object of their partiality. Mr. Williamson. {replying to Mr. Morris: observed that)s The aristocratic complexion proceeds from the change in the mode of appointing the President which makes him depend- ent on the Senate. Mr. Clymer s said that the aristocratic part to which he could never accede was that in the printed plan, which gave the Senate the power of appointing to Offices. Mr. Hamilton said that he had been restrained from enter- ing into the discussions by his dislike of the Scheme of Govt in General; but as he meant to support the plan to be recom- mended, as better than nothing, he wished in this place to offer a few remarks. He liked the new modification, on the whole, better than that in the printed Report in this the President was a Monster elected for seven years, and ineligible afterwards; having great powers, in appointments to office, & continually tempted by this constitutional disqualification to abuse them in order to subvert the Government-- Al- though he should be made re-eligible, Still if appointed by the Legislature, he would be tempted to make use of corrupt influ- ence to be continued in office- It seemed peculiarly desir- able therefore that Some other mode of election should be devised. Considering the different views of different States, & the different districts Northern Middle & Southern, he con- "Probably but not certainly a later insertion. n Crossed out *observed that the parts of the Report ought to be regarded as distinct".

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