The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 2

by United States. Constitutional Convention; James Madison

M^r Gov^r Morris opposed it for reasons urged by him on a former occasion—

Col: Mason contended strenuously for the motion. There was no weight he said in the argument drawn from changes in the value of the metals, because this might be provided for by an increase of salaries so made as not to affect persons in office, and this was the only argument on which much stress seemed to have been laid.

Gen^l Pinkney. The importance of the Judiciary will require men of the first talents: large salaries will therefore be necessary, larger than the U. S. can allow in the first instance. He was not satisfied with the expedient mentioned by Col: Mason. He did not think it would have a good effect or a good appearance, for new Judges to come in with higher salaries than the old ones.

M^r Gov^r Morris said the expedient might be evaded & therefore amounted to nothing. Judges might resign, & then be re-appointed to increased salaries.

On the question

N. H. no. C^t no. P^a no. Del. no. M^d div^d. V^a ay. S. C. no. Geo. abs^t also Mas^ts. & N. J. & N. C.

M^r Randolph & M^r Madison then moved to add the following words to art. XI sect. 2. "nor increased by any Act of the Legislature which shall operate before the expiration of three years after the passing thereof."

On the question

N. H. no. C^t no. P^a no. Del. no. M^d ay. V^a ay. S. C. no. Geo. abs^t also Mas. N. J. & N. C.

Sect. 3. art. XI. being taken up, the following clause was postponed viz, "to the trial of impeachments of officers of the U. S." by which the jurisdiction of the supreme Court was extended to such cases.