Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/591

 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION $8 Iednesday MADISON September MADISON Wednesday Sepr 12. x787 In Convention Docr. Johnson from the Committee of stile &c-- reported a digest of the plan, of which printed copies were ordered to be furnished to the members-- He also reported a letter to accompany the plan to, Congress. (here insert a transcript (of the former from the annexed sheet as printed * and of the latter from the draft as finally agreed to)4 Mr. WxL.SON moved to reconsider the clause requiring three fourths of each House to overrule the negative of the President, in order to strike out a and insert }. He had he remarked himself proposed i instead of }, but he had since been convinced that the latter proportion was the best. The former puts too much in the power of the President. Mr. S-N was of the same opinion; adding that the States would not like to see so small a minority and the Presi- dent, prevailing over the general voice. In making laws re- gard should be had to the sense of the people. who are to be bound by them, and it was more probable that a single man should mistake or betray this sense than the Legislature Mr Govr Moas. Considering the difference between the two proportions numerically, it amounts in one House to two members only; and in the other to not more than five, accord- ing to the numbers of which the Legislature is at first to be composed -- It is the interest moreover of the distant States to prefer':} as they will be oftenest absent and need the inter- posing check of the President. The excess rather than the deficiency of laws was to be dreaded. The example of N. York shows that a s is not sufficient to answer the purpose. Mr. H.uXr,TON added his testimony to the fact that {} in N. York had been ineffectual either where a popular object, or a legislative faction operated; of which he mentioned some instances. �(This is a literal copy of the printed Report.  The Copy in the printed Journal contains some of the alterations subsequently made in the House.) There is no such transcript among the Madison Papers, A copy of the printed .repo _iS iven below."

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