Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/94

 9 �CORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Monday MADISON Jl 23 last article of it authorizing alterations must consequently be so as well as the others, and everything done in pursuance of the article must have the same high authority with the article. -- Great confusion he was confident would result from a recur- rence to the people. They would never agree on any thing. He could not see any ground to suppose that the people will do what their rulers will not. The rulers will either conform to, or influence the sense of the people. Mr. Ghorum was agst. referring the plan to the Legis- latures. I. Men chosen by the people for the particular pur- pose, will discuss the subject more candidly than members of the Legislature who are to lose the power which is to be given up to the Genl. Govt. z. Some of the Legislatures are com- posed of several branches. It will consequently be more difficult in these cases to get the plan through the Legislatures than thro' a Convention. 3. in the States many of the ablest men are excluded from the Legislatures, but may be elected into a Convention. Among these may be ranked many of the Clergy who are generally friends to good Government. Their services were found to be valuable in the formation & .estab- lishment of the Constitution of Massachts. 4. the Legisla- tures will be interrupted with a variety of little business. by artfully pressing which, designing men will find means to delay from year to year, if not to frustrate altogether the national system. 5- If the last art: of the Confederation is to be pursued the unanimous concurrence of the States will be necessary. But will any one say. that all the States are to suffer themselves to be ruined, if Rho. Island should persist in her opposition to general measures. Some other States might also tread in her steps. The present advantage which N. York seems to be so much attached to, of taxing her neighbouts {by the regulation of her trade), makes it very probable, that she will be of the number. It would therefore deserve serious consideration whether provision ought not to be made for giving effect to the System without waiting for the unanimous concurrence of the States. Mr. Elseworth. If there be any Legislatures who should find themselves incompetent to the ratification, he should be

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