Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-04-05

may be admitted
The ninth declares that provision
ought to be made for deciding disputes
between the United States and an indi-
vidual state as to territory.
The tenth declares that naturaliza-
ton ought to be uniform. "asr ii
The eleventh provides that a citizen
of one state committing an offence in
another should be treated as though he
were a citizen where the offence was
committed. ...iAL
1t will be readily seen that the main
difference between these and the Vir,:
ginia Resolutions is, that the former
contemplated an avowed federal gov
ernment, and the latter no less ex-
plicitly avowed national government.
So they were regarded by the members
of the convention; so Mr.. Lansing de-
clared at the opening of the protracted
and able discussion which arose as to
their comparative merits. .,
In the debate, which occupied four
days, June 10, 16, 1s and 49,, Messrs.
Patterson and Lansing advocated the.
Jersey plan; Messrs. Wilson, G. c.
Pincknay, Randolph, Hamilton and
Madison favored the Virginiaidea; Mr..
James Wilson, of Pennsylvania, one of
the 'ablest members of the convention,
thus differentiates the two: - aD'-'
"virginia plan proposes two branch
es in the legislature; Jersey, single
legislative body. Virginia, the legis-
lative powers derived from the people;
Jersey, from the states. Virginia, a
single executive; Jersey, more than
one. Virginia, majority of the legis-
lature can act Jersey, small minority
CAN control. Virginia, the legislature
can legislate on all national con-
Germs; JERSEY, only on limited objects.
Virginia, legislature to negative all
state laws; Jersey, giving power to the
executive to compel obedience by force.
Virginia, to remove the executive by
impeachment; Jersey. on application of
a majority Of the states. Virginia, for
the establishment of inferior judiciary
tribunals; Jersey, no provision" -
That the Virginia plan contemplated
a national government is asserted In
this discussion by Messrs. Lansing,
Patterson, Wilson and Pinckney. Ram
dnlph said, "The resolutions from Vir-
ginia must have been adopted on the
supposition that federal government
was impracticable." HamiIton:-"All
federal governments are weak and dis
tracted. To avoid the evils deducible
from these observations, we must es-
tab ish general and national govern
ment completely sovereign, and annihi-
late the state distinctions and state Op-
erations." Madison:-''It is evident,
if we do not radically depart from q
federal plan, we shall share the fate OF
ancient and modern confederacies."
On motion of Rufus King, of Mass :,
the committee of the whole, June 10,
by a vote of seven states for, three
against, and one divided, reported the
Jersey plan not admissible, and that
the Virginia Resolutions be adhered to
1t is singular fact that the Jersey
Resolutions give to the general govern
ment the power to coerce the obedi-
ence of any recalcitrant state. This
seems strange and inconsistent with
their general tenor. This provision
was inserted doubtless with the design
Of remedYing the weakness of their ex-
treme federal character. 1t is also no.
ticeable that in the discussion no obiec-
ton was made to this feature. ~
Another interesting fact is, that Mr..
Patterson the author of these Rcsolu-
tiens, in the speech which he made ad-
vocating their adoption, used this Ian.
guage:-"The confederation is In the
nature of a compact; and can any state,
unless by the consent Of the whole,
either i'll politics OF law withdraw thei,
, powers 7 Let it be said by Pennsyl'
vania and the ether large states, that
they, for the sake of peace, assented to
the confederation; can she now resume
her original right without the consent
of the donee p Here we have the. most
extreme tederalists in the convention
denying the right of secession and ad-
vocating the coercion Of sovereign
states. 1t would seem that Mr.. Patter
son did not have very logical mind.
We shall now consider
COL. ALEX. HAMILToN's PLAN OF GOV
ERNMENT,
which he read to the convention in hi
speech on the Virginia and the Jersey
plans. He was not in favor of eithel
of these; but of the two preferred the
Virginia or national plan. He said:-
Il am at u loss to know what must be
done; despair that q republican form
of government can remove the Difficult
ties. Whatever may be my opinion,
would hold it, however. unwiss tc
change that form of government. l be-
lieve the British government forms thu
best model the world ever produced
and such has been its progress in thu
minds of many, that this truth gradu
ally gains ground" 1t will from thi
be seen that he preferred monarchy
His plan he set forth in eeven prop
ositions or resolutions. The Legislature
to consist of two distinct bodies; tn.
assembly to be chosen by the people o
election districts for three years; tn.
senate, to be chosen to serve during
good behavior by electors chosen by
the people, not OF. the states but O.
election districts. The legislature t.
have power to pass all laws whatsoev
er; the senate to have sole power
of declaring war, and the power of ap
proving treaties, and Of approving thu
appointment Of all officers, except tn,
heads of the finance, war and foreig,
dep rtments.
The supreme judiciary to consist O
judges, holding during good behavior
with good and permanent salaries; t.
have original jurisdiction of captures