"Dear Sir,
"I have still some hope that I shall hear from you of ye reinstatement of ye negative–as it is certainly ye only means by which the several Legislatures can be restrained from disturbing ye order & harmony of ye whole, & ye governmt render'd properly national, & one. I should suppose yt some of its former opponents must by this time have seen ye necessity of advocating it, if they wish to support their own principles."
(James McClurg to Madison–Mad. MSS.)
Mr Broome 2ded the proposition.
Mr Sherman thought it unnecessary; the laws of the General Government being supreme & paramount to the State laws according to the plan, as it now stands.
Mr Madison proposed that it should be committed. He had been from the beginning a friend to the principle; but thought the modification might be made better.
Mr Mason wished to know how the power was to be exercised. Are all laws whatever to be brought up? Is no road nor bridge to be established without the Sanction of the General Legislature? Is this to sit constantly in order to receive & revise the State Laws?–He did not mean by these remarks to condemn the expedient, but he was apprehensive that great objections would lie agst it.
Mr Williamson thought it unnecessary, having been already decided, a revival of the question was a waste of time.
Mr Wilson considered this as the key-stone wanted to compleat the wide arch of Government we are raising. The power of self-defence had been urged as necessary for the State Governments. It was equally necessary for the General Government. The firmness of Judges is not of itself sufficient. Something further is requisite. It will be better to prevent the passage of an improper law, than to declare it void when passed.