Mr Govr Morris. It is said that in case of an election by the people the populous States will combine & elect whom they please. Just the reverse. The people of such States cannot combine. If there be any combination it must be among their representatives in the Legislature. It is said the people will be led by a few designing men. This might happen in a small district. It can never happen throughout the continent. In the election of a Govr of N. York, it sometimes is the case in particular spots, that the activity & intrigues of little partizans are successful, but the general voice of the State is never influenced by such artifices. It is said the multitude will be uninformed. It is true they would be uninformed of what passed in the Legislative Conclave, if the election were to be made there; but they will not be uninformed of those great & illustrious characters which have merited their esteem & confidence. If the Executive be chosen by the Natl Legislature, he will not be independent on it; and if not independent, usurpation & tyranny on the part of the Legislature will be the consequence. This was the case in England in the last Century. It has been the case in Holland, where their Senates have engrossed all power. It has been the case every where. He was surprised that an election by the people at large should ever have been likened to the polish election of the first Magistrate. An election by the Legislature will bear a real likeness to the election by the Diet of Poland. The great must be the electors in both cases, and the corruption & cabal wch are known to characterize the one would soon find their way into the other. Appointments made by numerous bodies, are always worse than those made by single responsible individuals, or by the people at large.
Col. Mason. It is curious to remark the different language held at different times. At one moment we are told that the Legislature is entitled to thorough confidence, and to indefinite power. At another, that it will be governed by intrigue & corruption, and cannot be trusted at all. But not to dwell on this inconsistency he would observe that a Government which is to last ought at least to be practicable. Would this be the case if the proposed election should be left to the people at large. He conceived it would be as unnatural to refer the choice of a proper character for Chief Magistrate to the people, as it would, to refer a trial of colours to a blind man. The extent of the Country renders it impossible that the people can have the requisite capacity to judge of the respective pretensions of the Candidates.
Mr Wilson, could not see the contrariety stated (by Col. Mason.) The Legislre might deserve confidence in some respects, and distrust in others. In acts which were to affect them & yr Constituents precisely alike confidence was due. In others jealousy was warranted. The appointment to great offices, where the Legislre might feel many motives, not common to the public confidence was surely misplaced. This branch of business it was notorious, was the most corruptly managed of any that had been committed to legislative bodies.
Mr Williamson, conceived that there was the same difference between an election in this case, by the people and by the legislature, as between an appt by lot, and by choice. There are at present distinguished characters, who are known perhaps to almost every man. This will not always be the case. The people will be sure to vote for some man in their own State, and the largest State will be sure to succeed. This will not be Virga however. Her slaves will have no suffrage. As the Salary of the Executive will be fixed, and he will not be eligible a 2d time, there will not be such a dependence on the Legislature as has been imagined.
Question on an election by the people instead of the Legislature, which passed in the negative.
Mas. no. Cont no. N. J. no. Pa ay. Del. no. Md no. Va no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no.
Mr L. Martin moved that the Executive be chosen by Electors appointed by the several Legislatures of the individual States.
Mr Broome 2ds. On the Question, it passed in the negative.
Mas. no. Cont no. N. J. no. Pa no. Del. ay. Md ay. Va no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no.
On the question on the words, "to be chosen by the Nationl Legislature" it passed unanimously in the affirmative