The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-02-09

diately from the legitimate source of
all authority. The government ought
to possess not only, first, the force,
but, second, the mind or sense Of the
people at large. The legislature ought
to be the most exact transcript of the
whole society. Representation" he
said, lis made necessary only because
1t is impossible for the people to act
collectively
There was a democrat. If alive to-
In that convention he stood practically
alone, none but the aged Franklin be-
side him. He was probably regarded
as dangerous character and certainly
made no apparent impress on the con-
vention
Mr.. Madison was afraid the majority
would Cypress the wealthy minority
I'm a republican government" he said,
"the majority, if united, have always an
opportunity. The only remedy is to
enlarge the sphere, and thereby divide
the community into SO great number
of interests and parties, that in the first
place the majority will not be likely,
at the same moment, to have a COM
mon interest separate from that of the
whole, or OF the minority; and in the
second place, that in case they should
have such an interest, they may not be
apt to unite in pursuit Of it,
That was Madisons idea of major
ity rule" and popular government. He
wanted it to distract the people that
they could pass no measure, however
popular. And he succeeded in doing
so. Do you want to go back TO James
Madison for guidance and inspiration?
Mr. Dickinson wished the senate. to
consist Of the most distinguished char
acters, distinguished for their rank n
life and their weight of property, and
bearing as strong a likeness to The
House of Lords as possible" There
was a sterling old Democrat Of tho
Grover Cleveland school.
Mr.. Gerry wanted ito provide some
check in favor the commercial interest
as against the landed" He was ac-
commodated. Mr.. Randolph said "the
democratic licentiousness OF the state
legislatures proved the necessity of II
firm senate" Mr.. Madison said he fear
ed q seven-vear term or a senator was
not enough. His fear was that ~-.e
L
an overmatch for it.
Alexander Hamilton addressed the
convention on June 49, In part he said:
I'm his private opinion he had no
scruple in declaring supported as he
was by the opinion OF so many wise and
gocd, that the British government was
the best in the world, and he doubted
much if anything short OF it would do
in America. The members most tenac-
iOus of repub}icanism, he observed,
were as loud as any in clamoring
one branch of the legislature hold their
places for life, at least during good be-
havior. Let the executive also be IN
life" He was strongly in favor Of a
king. He then submitted plan incor-
porating his ideas. Much of it was
practically adopted. Hamilton is now.
the patron saint of the Republican
party.
Mr. Mason said "the convention,
though composed of So many distin-
gUished characters, could not be expec-
ed to make a faultlcss government. He
would prefer trusting to poster. .Ae
amendment Of its defects rather than to
push the experiment too far" And yet
we are assured that he constitution is
perfect
Mr.. Rutledge, Of South Carolina, had
net faith in the people. With fine ego
tism he said "If this convention had
been chosen by the people in districts,
it is not to be supposed that such
proper characters would have been pre-.
ferred." This calls to mind the faci
that the people were not consulted, even
in the selection of men who framed a
constitution for their government. t
was not even ratified by a popular vote.
1t was never adopted by the people of
the United States.
Alexander Hamilton defended corrup-
tiCn. He said lit was known that one
of the ablest politicians (Mr -ume)
had pronounced all that influence on
the side OF the crown which went under
the name of corruption, an essential
part Of the weight which maintained
the equilibrium Of the constitution"
There is no record that any delegate
rebuked Hamilton for this frank avowal
in favor cf bribery and official corrup-
ton.
Mr. Sherman uttered a truth when he
said: Government is instituted for
those who live under it. 1t ought
therefore to be constituted SO as not to
be dangerous to their liberties. The
more permanency it has the worse,
if it be bad government" Mr.. Mason
wanted property qualification that no
man should be elected senator unless
he was worth 100000 Gouverneur
Morris wanted a life senate go as to
protect the rich against the people z
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