The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-09
Nv.


80 much for some Of the subjects on which
light is thrown by Mr.. Kings notes Of the secret
debates in tAe Constitutions Convention. To
the part which he himself took in the discus
sions he makes scarcely any reference; for that
we must go to the memoranda made by Madi-
son and Yates. 1t Is noteworthy that, in the
preliminary adjustment OF rules for the govern
ment Of the Convention. Mr.. King objected to
ono of them authorizing any member to call for
the yeas and hays and have them entered on the
minutes. Heurged that, as the acts Of the Con-
vention were not TO bind the constituents. II was
unnecessary 90 exhibit such evidence OF n men,
ber's attitudes; and even improper, inasmuch
as changes OF opinion would he fire.
quent in the course OF the business
and would I'LL the minutes with con-
tradictions. George Mason, secondlng the OBJ
lection. II was stricken out ncm con. The wis
dom OF the DECISION was manifested throughout
the proceedings. 1t caused secrecy TO DO
scrupulously observed by all the members,
and prevented interference on the part OF those
outside Of tho Convention. We have seen that
In the Congress Of the Confederation Mr.. King
persistently endeavored TO secure the exclusion
OF slavery from the northwest territory. We
are not surprised, therefore. 10 Gnd him uppos-
ing in the Philadelphia Convention the motion
that States SHOULD have representatives in pro-
portion to ths whole number OF their white and
other free Inhabitants. and also to three-ffths
OF all other persons, except Indians. not pay
ing taxes. He thought that, 10 allow the
blacks TO count at all in the distri-
button Of the suffrage would excite great dis
content among the States having no slaves.
He had never declared. he said, as 10
any proposed feature of the new Consti-
tuition that he would In no event acauicsce
in It and support 1t. but lie would say that
III any featurehOuld proynke srcb "a dacIaratio,
It would be this. In a discussion OF the question
whether a President should be eligible 10 a sec
ond term, Mri King maintained the Affirmative.
lie thought There was great force In the re-
mark OF Mr.. sherman that he who had proved
himself most fit for an Office ought not 10 be
excluded by the Constitution from holding II. |
lie would. Therefore, prefer any other reasona-
BILE plan that could be substituted" As re-
garded the method OF electing the Chief
Magistrate, he was disposed TO think that. In
such cases. the people at large would choose
wisely. On the whole, however. he accepted
the suggestion that the President should be
by, Presidential electors chosen by
the people. The length OF the Presidents term, |
Mr.. King thought. should be twenty years,
which, he sdid. was "the medium life of
princes" He considered that the power 10 i'm
peach the PRECEDENT vested in the House OF Rep
resentatiyes really made his tenure OF ONCE
UPON the good pleasure OF the Fed
eral Legislature. To the proposal that the
should meet every year he was
lid did not think there would
be any necessity for such frequent meetings.
insisted that "a great vice in our system
that Of legislating too much. The most
objects OF legislation would be-
long TO the 'States. Those of the national
legislature Would be but few. The chief of
them were commerce and revenue. When these
should be onte settled. alterations would be
rarely necessary and easily made" A motion to
consider the etpediency OF the United States as
all thu state debts was seconded by Mr..
King. He said that. besides the considerations
Of Justice ana policy which have been mem
toned, It might be remarked that the State
creditors, an artiye and formidable party. would
be opposed to a plan which trans
ferred to the,C MON the best resources Of the
without transferring the State debt at the
'ame time" The proposal TO make the mem
Ders Of both Houses OF Congress Ineligible 10
any civil Otnce under tho authority of
he United states was resisted by Mr..
King. and Anally changed TO the exist
ng form by inserting after ~"ohice" the
words which shall have been created. or the
whereof shall have been increased
Turing the term Of their once As members" 1t
: well ~knownthat Messrs. Randolph and Mason
II Virginia aid Elbridge Gerry Of Massachu-
'etts refused % sign the Constitution and gave
heir reason for not appending their signatures.
observe That, before proceeding to sign,
Mr. King Suggested that the journals Of the
should be either destroyed or depos-
ted In the custody Ofthe President" lie thought
I they were Suffered TO be made public a bad
Use would be made OF them by those who would
sish to preveAt the adoption OF the Constitution.
v.
The servtcea OF Rufus King in connection with
he Federal Constitution did not end with the