Founding America: Documents from the Revolution to the Bill of Rights
Page 76
47 (This copy of Mr. Patterson’s propositions varies in a few clauses from that in the printed Journal furnished from the papers of Mr. Brearley a Colleague of Mr. Patterson. A confidence is felt, notwithstanding, in its accuracy. That the copy in the Journal is not entirely correct is shewn by the ensuing speech of Mr. Wilson (June 16) in which he refers to the mode of removing the Executive by impeachment & conviction as a feature in the Virga. plan forming one of its contrasts to that of Mr. Patterson, which proposed a removal on the application of a majority of the Executives of the States. In the copy printed in the Journal, the two modes are combined in the same clause; whether through inadvertence, or as a contemplated amendment does not appear.) [James Madison’s note]
48 Oliver Ellsworth ( 1745-1807), representative from Connecticut; later the principal author of the Judiciary Act of 1789 and chief justice of the Supreme Court.
49 James Wilson (1742-1798), delegate from Pennsylvania, was later a justice of the first Supreme Court.
50 Literally, “adjournment without a day [set]” (Latin); a permanent adjournment of the Convention.
51 General Charles Cotesworth Pinckney ( 1746-1825), a delegate from South Carolina.
52 Jacob Broom ( 1752-1810) represented Delaware.
53 Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), delegate from Massachusetts and later vice president during James Madison’s second administration.john Rutledge ( 1739-1800) of South Carolina.
54 Rufus King ( 1755-1787) of Massachusetts.
55 In the printed copy of the draft, the number VI was repeated in error. We have here renumbered articles VII to the end and include the original, incorrect, numbers in brackets.
56 Charles Pinckney ( 1757-1824) of South Carolina.
57 Pierce Butler (1744-1842), delegate from South Carolina.tin this and the following document, square brackets are used to indicate later insertions to Madison’s notes from the journals, and angled brackets are used to identify later additions or clarifications to the delegate’s speeches.
58 Roger Sherman (1721-1793) represented Connecticut.
59 George Mason ( 1725-1792), representative of Virginia.
60 On the remark by Mr. King that “make” war might be understood to “conduct” it which was an Executive function, Mr. Elseworth gave up his objection [and the vote of Cont was changed to—ay] [James Madison’s note].
61 Gouverneur Morris ( 1752-1816) of Pennsylvania.
62 Nathaniel Gorham ( 1738-1796), delegate from Massachusetts.
63 John Dickinson (1732-1808), a Delaware delegate.
64 William Samuel Johnson ( 1727-1819) of Connecticut.
65 Richard Henry Lee.
66 George Mason; see note on p. 387.
67 melancton Smith, a delegate to Congress from New York.
68 The same idea, tracing the arguments to their consequences, is held out in several of the late publications against the New Constitution [Hamilton’s note].
69 I mean for the union [Hamilton’s note].
70 By this Madison means the Senate, which has a “qualified connexion” with the executive through the “advise and consent” it gives in making appointments and treaties.
71 New York has no council except for the single purpose of appointing to offices; New Jersey has a council, whom the governor may consult. But I think, from the terms of the constitution, their resolutions do not bind him [Hamilton’s note].
72 De Lolme [Hamilton’s note]. The reference is to political philosopher Jean Louis De Lolme (1740-1806).
73 Ten [Hamilton’s note].
74 The celebrated Montesquieu, speaking of them says, “of the three powers above mentioned, the JUDICIARY is next to nothing.” Spirit of Laws, vol. I, page 186 [Hamilton’s note].
75 ldem. page 181 [Hamilton’s note].
76 Vide Protest of the minority of the convention of Pennsylvania, Martin’s speech, &c. [Hamilton’s note].
77 “A state within a state” or “a government within a government” (Latin); this familiar maxim meant that two sovereign bodies could not coexist within a single polity.
78 N. York [Madison’s note].
79 As the American minister to France, Jefferson was alluding to deliberations of King Louis XVI and his advisers.
80 Jefferson means a president partial to either France or Britain.
81 These and all other italicized words in this letter were originally written in code.
82 madison refers to the three-volume A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America ( 1787-1788), written while Adams was minister to Great Britain.
83 Madison refers to a recently published pamphlet reprinting all the amendments to the Constitution proposed by the various state ratification conventions.
84 Madison alludes to the fact that Jefferson has been serving as the minister to France and thus observing the traditional problem of how to protect rights against the concentrated power of monarchy.
85 These and all other italicized words in this letter were originally written in code.
86 100£, at a compound interest of 5. percent, makes, at the end of 19. years, an aggregate of principle and interest of £252-14, the interest of which is 12£-12s-7d which is nearly 12per cent on the first capital of 100.£ [Jefferson’s note].
87 Rhode Island and North Carolina initially rejected the Constitution.