Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-01-12

i solutions, fifteen in number, which he Pre-
/ posed to the convention for their adoption
and as leading principles whereon to form
new government. He candidly confesse
it was not calculated for a federal govern
ment. He meant strong consolidated Uni
on, in which the idea of states should b
nearly annihilated.
. The Cd of June, 1887, Mr.. Randolph
displayed the views Of the plan OF Virginia
with respect to the executive branch OF tn
union. He proposed the establishment Q
adirectory of three-dividing the states i
| three divisions and taking an executive Iron
each, chosen by the people and invested witt
extensive power.
MIR. MADISON from Virginia, endea
vored to support the plan Of that state in al
It's branches, and gave it as his opinion tha
when the convention agreed to the first re-
solve Of having a national government, i
was then intended to operate to the exclusion
If q teseral government, and that the more
extensive the basis was made the greater
would be the probability Of duration, hap
pincss and good order.
The 9Th of June, Mr.. c. Pinckney
having moved that the National Legislature
should have the power of negativing all the
laws passed by the state legislatures, which
they may deem improper, he was warmly
supported BY Mr. Madison, who insisted
that the unlimited power in the general go
vernmcnt OF negativing the laws passed by
the state governments was absolutely neces-
sary-thatit was the only attractive princi-
pie which would retain the centrifugal force,
and that without itplanets viii fly from their
orbits.
6 Mr.. Gerry observed ironically, that he
was not willing to take such leap in the
dard.
On the question to FIJI up the blank Of
the duration Of the first branch representa-
tives) of the national legislature, Mr.. Ma
olson was for three years, though Mr.. Ger
~ was afraid that the people would be a.
larned at that clause as savouring of des-
potism.
8 On the motion to fill up the blank of the
duration Of the second branch (Senate) of
the national legislatures, Mr.. Madison was
for sevea yesrs-and declared, that consi-
derlng this branch as check an democracy,
it could not be too strong.
The goth of June, on the question Of
the continuance of the senators iii Office,
Mr.. Madison gave it as his opinion, that
the longer the senators remain in Office the
better it will be for the stability and psrma-
nencv of the government.
"The following motion was made by Mr..
Lansing, of New-York That the repre-
sentation Of the second branch (senate) be
according to the articles of confederation,
Chat is to say, on fsdtral principles of r7slai-
ny. A debate took place, in which Mr..
Madison supporting the Virginia plan, de-
clared that the representation must nat be
on federal principles, but relative to the
number of inhabitants.
Mr.. Madison supported the following
dogmas--Ihat there is a graduation OF pow
er in all societies, from the lowest corpora
ton the highest sovereign-that the states
never possessed the right of sovereignty
that they were only corporations having the
power Of making bye laws-that they ought
to be still more under the controul OF the
general government, at least as n,Rch &c they
zvere mdsr tie King md British govern
taaent.
6 DR.. Franklin recommends compro-
mise on that subject, and made in his usual
way the following comparison when a
Joiner wants to fit two boards, he takes off
with his plane the uneven parts from each
side, and thus they fit: let us do the same,
said he, and as an expedient he proposed,
that the senate be elected by the states e.
qually.'' But Mr.. Madison considering,
that by his plan the senate was to be the