Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-19
THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION

BY RANDOLPH LEIGH,
Director National and International OrdorcaL Contests

Party Strife.-"Mr. Gerry said that
popular election is radically vicious.
The ignorance of the people would put
1t in the power of some one set Of
men dispersed through the Union, and
acting in concert, to delude them into
any appointment" DIR. Franklin
asked OF what kind are the men that
will strive for profitable pre-eminence
through all the hustle of cabal, the
heat of contention, the infinite mutual
abuse of parties? They will not
be wise and moderate, but bold and
violent. Their competitors, of
the same spirit and from the same
motives, will be perpetually endeavor-
ing to distress their administration,
thwart their measures and render them
odious to the people"
States Before Natton?-"Mr. Martin
said that the separation from Great
Britain placed the 10 States in
state of nature toward each other
"Mr. Wilson would not admit
that in becoming independent of Great
Britain they became independent of
one another He said that the Dec
laration of Independence showed that
they became independent, not indi-
vidually, but collectively" Mr..
Hamilton agreed with Mr.. Wilson. He
denied that the States were thrown
into state of nature" Mr..
Madison said that the States alone
are bound. Are not the States the
agents? Will they not be the mem
bers? Did they not appoint this con-
vention? Are they not to ratify its
proceedings? Will not the new Con-
stitution be their act?"
Revenue Bills.-"Mr. Butler said that
1t giving the House sole power to
originate revenue) will lead the Senate
into the practice of lacking other
clauses to money bills" Mr..
Wilson could see no concession here.
If both branches were to say yes or
no it was of little consequence which
Where is the difference, in which
branch it originates, If both must con-
cur in the end?"
Value of Presidential Appointive
Power.-"Mr. Hamilton said that the
nomination to offices will give great
weight to the President
Centralization.-"Mr Gerry said that
by its general power the Legislature
may make whatever laws they may
please to call necessary and proper"
under the power over COM
merce monopolies may be estab-
lished' /" Mr.. Martin opposed
it (allowing President to send troops
into State without its request) as
giving dangerous and unnecessary
power. The consent of the State
ought to precede the introduction of
any extraneous power whatever"
Ship Subsidy.-"Mr. Morris said that
shipping was the worst and most pre-
carious kind of property and stood in
need OF governmental patronage"
Congressman to Seek Higher Of
fices.-"Mr. Ellsworth said that am
bilious minds will serve two or more
years in the Legislature, for the sake
OF qualifying themselves for other
Offices"
PrOhibition-"Mr.M Mason moved to
enable Congress to enact sumptuary
laws No government can be main
tanned unless the manners be made
conSonant to it. 1t was objected to
sumptuary laws that they were con-
error" "Mr. Ellsworth said
that as far as laws regulating eating
and drinking can be reasonable, it is
provided for in the power of taxa
ton" Mr.. Gerry said that
the law of necessity is the best sump-
tuary law"
Supreme Court Final as to Laws
trine that the judges, as expositors of
the Constitution, should have au-
thority to declare law void Laws
ought to be well and cautiously made
and then uncomfortable" DIR.
Franklin related in a brief manner q
Scotch mode (of choosing judges in
which the nomination proceeded from
the lawyers, who always selected the
ablest of the profession, in order to
get rid of him and share his practice
among themselves"
One or More Terms for PRESIDENT
"Mr. Randolph urged making the Ex-
ecutive ineligible for second term.
If he ought to be independent he
should not be under a temptation to
court reappointment. "Mr.
King. however, thought that he who
has proved himself most fit for Office
ought not to be excluded by the Con-
stitution from holding it,"
More Money.-"Dr. Franklin said
that money may become plentier as
the country becomes more populouS"
Mr.. Madison favored STABILIZE
ing salaries by making the amounts
payable in dollars depend upon the
eeo pof Sh @nea: ana osner
thought this a favorable moment to
shut and bar the door against paper
money" Mr.. Randolph, not
withstanding his aversion to paper
money, could not agree to strike out
the words. as he could not foresee all
the conditions that might arise"
Tariff.-"Gen Pinckney said it was
the true interest of the Southern States
to have no regulation of commerce"
There Is a record by Madison Of an
event almost unheard of in debates
the admission by a debater of convic-
ton by his opponent. On Friday, July
20, 1887, "Mr. Morris opinion had
been changed by the arguments used
IN the discussion. He was now, he
said, sensible of the necessity Of i'm
II the ExecutiYe.n eta,