Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/533

 KECORD$ OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION  Thursday MADISON September 6 prevent for a long time any choice of a President On the question moved by Mr M-- & Mr. P. N.H. a�: Mas. abst Ct. no. N.J. no. Pa. no. Del. no. Md. ay. Va. ay. N--C. ay. S--C. ay. Geo. ay [Ayes--6; noes -- 4; absent -- i.] Mr. Williamson suggested as better than an eventual choice by the Senate, that this choice should be made by the Legislature, voting by States and not per capita. Mr. Sherman suggested the House of Reps. as preferable to "the Legislature", and moved, accordingly, To strike out the words "The Senate shall immediately choose &c." and insert "The House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President, the members from each State having one vote." Col: Mason liked the latter mode best as lessening the aristocratic influence of the Senate. On the motion of Mr. Sherman N.H. ay. Mas. ay-- Ct. ay-- N.J. ay. Pa ay. Del. no. Md. ay. Va ay. N-- C. ay-- S-- C. ay. Geo. ay, [Ayes-- xo; noes -- x.] Mr. Govr Morris suggested the idea of providing that in all cases, the President in office, should not be one of the five Candidates; but be only re-eligible in case a majority of the electors should vote for him-- (This was another expedient for rendering the President independent of the Legislative body for his continuance in office) Mr. Madison remarked that as a majority of members wd. make a quorum in the H--of Reps. it would follow from the amendment of Mr Sherman giving the election to a majority of States, that the President might be elected by two States only, Virga. & Pena. which have x8 members, if these States alone should be present On a motion that the eventual election of Presidt. in case of an equality of the votes of the electors be referred to the House of Reps. N.H. ay. Mas. ay. N.J. no. Pa. ay. Del. no. Md. no. Va. ay. N-- C. ay. S.C. ay-- Geo-- ay, [Ayes -- 8; noes -- 3.] Mr. King moved to add to the amendment of Mr. Sherman

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