Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-04-12

possesses the rights of the United States.
| This is union of the men of those states,
The maglstracy in congress possesses the
sovereignty. Consolidation is already estab-
lished.' Luther Martin, Md. a federal:-
"Our accession to the union has been by
states. II any other principle Is adopted BY
this convention, lie will give it every oppos-
tlon." Mr.. Martin did earnestly oppose the
adoption of the constitution.
June 90, the word "natiOnal' In the first O!
the Virginia Resolutions was replaced by
government OF the United sta,es;- no one
obJecting. Then followed another discussion
OF the national system as embodied in these
Resolutions. Mr.. Lansing, Mr.. Martin,
Roger Sherman, opposed; Mr.. Mason, Mr..
Wilson and Mr.. Madison, favored. Mr..
Lansing said:-''I am clearly of opinion, that
am not authorized to accede to a system
which will annihilate the state governments.
and the Virginia plan is declarative OF such
extinction" Mr.. MasOn:-''I never will
consent to destroy state governments" Mr..
Martin :-"Whatever we have now in our
power to grant, the grant is state grant, y
Mr.. Sherman n:-"Foreign states have made
treaties with lis as confederated states, not
as a national government. Suppose we put
an end to that government under which those
treaties were made, will not these treaties be
vol Z" Mr.. Madison:-"I apprehend the
greatest danger is from the encroachment Of
the states on the national government" In
this remark, Mr.. Madison did not show him
self very sagacious political prophet.
June 81. Mr.Pinckney moved that the elec-
ton of the members of the first hcsnch of the
legislature be left to the stale legislatures.
This was carried, though opposed by Madi-
son, Hamilton, Mason, Wilson and Hing.
Hamilton said ;-'There may be time when
state legislatures may cease, and such an
event ought not to embsrrass the national
government" Two years. duration for the
first branch was agreed to.
June 22, Judge Ellsworth thought that
each state should pay its own members of the
general legislature. Mr.. Gorham and Mr..
Sherman were of the same opinion. .Messrs.
Randolph, Wilson, Madison, Hamilton and
Rutledge, thought that they should be paid
from the national treasury The question
was left undecided. An effort was made to
strike out the lnelgibilitY clause of the legis-
lators, but it failed by tie vote. On the
next dag 80 much of this clause as disqualified
a legislator Of the lower branch from hold
ing state Office while In service was ex-
plunged.
On the 25th and 26th days of June, the term
OF the second branch Of the legislature was
considered. There were five propositions; for
four, five. six and nlne years, and during
good behavior. Five years and q biennial
rotation was carried. This, however, was
changed to the present term of
OF six years. During the discussion of these
two days, Mr.. c. Pinckney said While we
We're dependent on the crown of Great Brl.
tain, it was in contemplation to have formed
the whole THAT is, all the colonies] into one;
but it was found impracti :able.'' Madison
expressed the opinion that the senate ought
to be organized TO represent the landholders,
SO 'as TO protect the minority of the Opulent
against the majority" Mr.. Mason thought
that the senators ''onght to be qualified as to
The remainder OF the notes is taken I'D
with the great discussion in regard to state
suffrage i'll the two branches OF the lesisla-
fure. Before, however, we examine this
most Interesting question, let US note the con.
Of the convention. On the first
lay the seven states already given appeared;
Nj ,ssachusetts and Connecticut on May 2s;
Maryland. May 81; Georgia, June s,
probably; and New Hampshire, July %;
while Rhode Island was not represented at
ALL L.Y,t.N