The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-18
EXECUTIVE PLURALITY.

ion OF exeeutive power. The following extract.
, from tho second yolurne~ OF Mr.. Madisons in
) valuable report Of the proceedings of the con
yenton which framed the Constitution Of the
United States, will show that more than one
distinguished member Of that body favored the
idea. This report should be studied by every
man who wishes fully to understand the true
principles Of the Constitution, through the opin-
ions and Arguments of its founders, for and
against the different provisions II is worth a
score of the commentaries of old federal Judges
and lawyers whose notorious devotion to a
"strong government" justly deprives their ex.
position of all authority.
The first draft of a constitution was present
ed by Mr.. Randolph, of Virginia, in a series of
resolutions which were taken up and debated
separately. The seventh resolution provided
for an executive, consisting of three persons,
and was taken up on the LIST of June, 1887 The
following debate took place
"Mr Pinckney was for vigorous executive,
but was afraid the executive powers of the ex.
listing Congresst might extead to peace and war,
&C., which would render the executive mon
archy of the worst kind, to wit, an elective mon
archy.
| "Mr. Wilson moved that the executive con.
sist of single person. Mr.. T.. Pinckney sec
onded the motion, rs to read "that national
executive, to consist of single person." be in
stituted.
"a considerable pause ensuing, and the chair
man asking if he should put the question, DR..
Franklin observed it was n point of great i'm
portance, and wished that gentlemen would de-
liyer their sentiments on it before the question
was put
"Mr. Rutledge said he was for vesting the ex-
ecutiye power in single person, though he was
not for giving him the power of peace and war.
A single man would feel the greatest RESPONSE
b;lity, and administer the public affairs best
"Mr. Sherman said he considered the exccu-
tive magstraey as nothing more than an nstitu-
ton for carrying the " i'll of the legislature into
effect: that the person or persons ought to be
appointed by, and accountable to the legislature
only, which was the depository of the supreme
will of the society. AS they were the best
judges of the business which ought to be done
by the executive department, and consequently
of the number necessary from time to time for
doing it, he wished the number might not be
fixed, but that the legislature should be at lib
erty to appoint one or more, as experience might
dictate.
"Mr. Wilson preferred a single magistrate as
giving most energy, dispatch and responsibility
He did not consider the prerogatives of the Brit.
ish monarch as a proper guide in defining the
executive powers Some Of these prerogatives
were of Legislative nature; among others that
of war and peace &C.
"Mr. Gerry favored the policy of annexing
council to the executive, in order to give weight
and inspire confidence
"Mr. Randolph strenuously opposed an unity
in the executive magistracy He regarded it as
the f9us of a monarchy We had he said, no
motive for being governed by the British moA
archy as our prototype" y y "America re
qured different form of government He
could not see why the great requisites for the
executive pArtments-vigor, dispatch, and re-
sPoISuiHty-COuIuH OL DC IOuHu Ill LilTee Uefl as
well as one &c.
'Mr Wilson said that the unity of the exec
utive, instead of being the fGtus of monarchy,
would be the best safeguard against tyranny
He repeated that he was not governed by the
British model, which was inapplcable to the sit
uation of this country the extent of which was
so great, and the manners so republican, that
nothing but great confederation would do
for it.
"Mr. Wilson's motion for single magistrate
was postponed by common consent the com
mitee being unprepared for any decision on it
and the first part of the clause agreed to, viz
"That national executive be instituted"
On the third of June the debate was resumed
and the amendment of Mr.. Wilson adopted, as
follows: massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsyl-
vania, Virginia, (Mr. Randolph and Mr. Blair,
no; Doctor McClung, Mr.. Madison, and Gen
Washington, aye; Col Mason being no, but
not in the House; Mr.. Wythe, aye, but gone
home,) North Carolina, SouthCarolina, Georgia,
aye-7. New York, Delaware, Maryland, no-3"
Page 1862, &c.
The Congress of the confederation.
nlEJc Tho Naw York Herald snarns 70 rorord