Yeas Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, S. Carolina—4. Nays. N. Y. Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina—4.
[ [38] "Mr Read is a Lawyer and a Judge;—his legal abilities are said to be very great, but his powers of Oratory are fatiguing and tiresome to the last degree;—his voice is feeble and his articulation so bad that few can have patience to attend to him. He is a very good Man, and bears an amiable character with those who know him. Mr. Read is about 50, of a low stature, and a weak constitution."—Pierce's Notes, Id., iii., 330.
On the question as moved by Mr Butler, on the third proposition it was resolved in Committee of whole that a national governt ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative Executive & Judiciary,—Massts being ay.—Connect.—no. N. York divided (Col. Hamilton ay. Mr Yates no.) Pena ay. Delaware ay. Virga ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay.
The following Resolution, being the 2d of those proposed by Mr Randolph was taken up, viz.—"that the rights of suffrage in the National Legislature ought to be proportioned to the quotas of contribution, or to the number of free inhabitants, as the one or the other rule may seem best in different cases."
Mr Madison[39] observing that the words, "or to the number of free inhabitants," might occasion debates which would divert the Committee from the general question whether the principle of representation should be changed, moved that they might be struck out.
[ [39] "Mr. Madison is a character who has long been in public life; and what is very remarkable every Person seems to acknowledge his greatness. He blends together the profound politician, with the Scholar. In the management of every great question he evidently took the lead in the Convention, and tho' he cannot be called an Orator, he is a most agreeable, eloquent, and convincing Speaker. From a spirit of industry and application which he possesses in a most eminent degree, he always comes forward the best informed Man of any point in debate. The affairs of the United States, he perhaps, has the most correct knowledge of, of any Man in the Union. He has been twice a Member of Congress, and was always thought one of the ablest Members that ever sat in that Council. Mr. Maddison is about 37 years of age, a Gentleman of great modesty,—with a remarkable sweet temper. He is easy and unreserved among his acquaintance, and has a most agreeable style of conversation."—Pierce's Notes, Am. Hist. Rev., iii., 331.
Mr King observed that the quotas of contribution which would alone remain as the measure of representation, would not answer, because waving every other view of the matter, the revenue might hereafter be so collected by the General Govt that the sums respectively drawn from the States would not appear, and would besides be continually varying.
Mr Madison admitted the propriety of the observation, and that some better rule ought to be found.
Col. Hamilton moved to alter the resolution so as to read "that the rights of suffrage in the national Legislature ought to be proportioned to the number of free inhabitiants." Mr Spaight 2ded the motion.
It was then moved that the Resolution be postponed, which was agreed to.