Art: IX being next for consideration,
Mr Govr Morris argued agst the appointment of officers by the Senate. He considered the body as too numerous for the purpose; as subject to cabal; and as devoid of responsibility. If Judges were to be tried by the Senate according to a late report of a Committee it was particularly wrong to let the Senate have the filling of vacancies which its own decrees were to create.
Mr Wilson was of the same opinion & for like reasons.
The art. IX. being waved, and Art. VII. Sect. 1. resumed,
Mr Govr Morris moved to strike the following words out of the 18 clause "enforce treaties" as being superfluous, since treaties were to be "laws"–which was agreed to nem: contrad:
Mr Govr Morris moved to alter 1st part. of 18. clause Sect. 1. art VII so as to read "to provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions"–which was agreed to nem: contrad:
On the question then to agree to the 18 clause of Sect. 1. Art: 7. as amended it passed in the affirmative nem: contrad.
Mr C. Pinkney moved to add as an additional power to be vested in the Legislature of the U. S. "To negative all laws passed by the several States interfering in the opinion of the legislature with the general interests and harmony of the Union; provided that two thirds of the members of each House assent to the same." This principle he observed had formerly been agreed to. He considered the precaution as essentially necessary. The objection drawn from the predominance of the large States had been removed by the equality established in the Senate. [41]
"Richmond Augt 22. 87.