The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-06
He not onl, observed that the present con.


He not only observed that the present con-
federation wns doaclent in not providing for
| coercion and punishment against delinquent
States but he argued that punishment could
not. in the nature OF things. be executed on
the States collectively. and therefore. that
| such q Government was necessary as could
directly operate on individuals. and would
punish those only whose guilt would require
It In affirming this cardinal principle that CO.
ercion could not be used against States. George
| Mason was In direct opposition to clause in
the sixth resolution OF the Virginia plan pre-
scented by Edmund Randolph. which declared
that the National Legislature should have the
power to call forth tho force OF the Union
against any member OF the Union failing to
| fulfl its duty under the articles thereof. or
| all the Virginia delegation Mason alone saw
clearly tho danger in this clause. and he was
the first one in the Convention to suggest the
solution Of tho difficulty which was subse-
| qucntly adopted.
| 1t Is well known that the method OF electing
tho members of the House of Representatives
| was the subject Of prolonged discussion in tho
Federal Convention The delegates from
Massachusetts, and Connecticut thought that
they should be chosen by tho State Legisla-
lures. but Col Mason sided with those who
advocated their election by tho people. The
| House OF Representatives he said. was to be
| the grand depository Of tho democratic prn-
cirle OF the Government 1t was. so to speak.
| to be our House OF Commons. 1t ought to
| know and synpathi2o with every rart OF the
| community. and ought. therefore. to be taken
| not only from different parts of tho whole re-
public. but also from different districts Of the
| larger members Of II. which had in several
| Instances. particularly in Virginia. different
interests and views arising from df-
| ference OF produce. OF habits &c. He
| admitted that we had been too demo-
cratic. but was afraid We should ihcautiously
| run into tho opposite extreme. We ought TO
| attend to the rights of every class OF people.
| He had often wondered at tho Indifference OF
the superior classes Of society TO this dictate
|. OF humanity In politics. considering that how
| ever af1luent their circumstanc or elevated
their situations might be. the course OF a few
years not only might but certainly would dis
tribute their posterity throughout the lowest
classes of society. Every selfish motive. there-
FORE every family attachment, ought to recon-
mend such a system OF policy as would provide
no less carefully for the rights and happiness
| OF the lowest than of tho highest order"
When tho Convention took up the question
| OF the Executive it was moved that his term OF
| Office should be for seven years. though others
advocated throe years with n provision for re-
eligibility. 1t Is interesting to learn that
Mason was for seven years at least and for
prohibiting rc-cigibility as the best expedi-
ent. both for preventing tho effect OF a false
complaisanco on the side OF the Legislature
toward unit characters. and temptation on
the side of the Executive to intrigue with the
Legislature for reappointment.' Seven years
| was the term ut first agreed upon. Then
| came tho question whether the Executive
| ha nd
magistrate or distributed among several
| persons. Mason said that he never would
| agree to give up all the rights OF
| the people to single magistrate. HethouCht
that IL the Executive power were vested in
! three persons. ono chosen from the northern.
one from the middle. and one from the south
| ern States, It would contribute to quiet the
| minds OF the people. and convince them that
| proper attention would be paid to their re-
spective concerns. 1lo argued that three men
SO chosen would bring with them into office
more perfect and extensive knowledge OF the
real interests OF this great Union. Edmund
| Randolph advocated in the Convention this
| suggestion Of his colleague. that tho Execu-
tive should consist of three members taken
from the three sections OF tho country.
On July %. 1877. the Convention debated
the important question how the Constitution
should be ratified Should it be by the States.
through their Legislatures. or by the people.
through State Conventions? George Mason
warmly advocated the latter alternative. He
considered tho reference OF the plan to the
authority Of the people rs one OF the most I'M
portant and essential OF tho resolutions. The
Legislatures had no power to ratify it. They
are the mere creatures Of tho State Con stitu
TONS and cannot be greater than their creator.
| And ho knew Of no power in any of the Con-
stitutions that could be competent to this OBJ
| ject. Whittier. then, must we resort? To the
| people. with whom all power remains that
| has not been given up in tho Constitu-
tlons derived from them. 1t was of great
moment" he observed. that this doctrine
| should be cherished Us the bGsis OF free gov
| eminent. Another strong reason was that.
| admitting the Legislatures to have n compe-
tent authority. it would be wrong to refer the
! plan to them. because succeeding LeEisla-
lures. having equal authority. could undo tho
acts OF their predecessors: and the national
| Government would stand in each State on the
weak and topping foundation Of an act Of As
scmbly. There was remaining consdera-
| ton OF some weight. In some Of the States
the Governments were not derived from the
clear and undisputed authority Of the people.
| This was the case in Virginia. Some OF the
| best and wiscst citizens considered the Nir-
! ginia Constitution us established by an as
sumed authority national Constitution de-
rived from such source would be exposed to
| the severest criticism.
George Mason has left deep mark upon that
Fart OF the Constitution which fixes the quail
lcations OF voters for Presidential electors
and members OF the House OF Representatives.
| Gouverneur Morris wished to conine the right
OF suffrage to freeholders. 1t is we'll known