JOHN LANSING: NOTES ON DEBATES Mr. Gerry reports from Committee that each State shall have a Vote in 2d Branch, provided it is generally agreed that every 40,000 shall send one Member in the first. Money Bills to originate exclusively in lower House.
Sherman—as we are pretty equally divided, it is best to put Question on the whole.
Wilson—We are not to be misled by Sounds—there is no equal Division—More than 2/3ds of one Sentiment.
Madison—Altho' the House was equally divided on the 2nd Branch on the first there was a considerable Majority for departing from Equality—All the Concessions are on one Side—We are reduced to the Alternative of displeasing Minority or Majority—by deciding for the latter we have Nothing to fear—the former every Thing.—He would rather have a System received by three or four States than none.
G. Morris—If the smaller States persist, if Argument is unavailing, the Sword will determine it.—To overturn the States is impracticable—but you may extract the Teeth of the Serpents.—We have been too warm.
Bedford—He has been warm—that not owing to a Want of Respect—but while he acknowledges that he was apparently warm, he cannot help remarking that he has Reason to be so—The Language of Intemperance is by no Means peculiar to himself.—Gentlemen have threatened in Terms very indelicate, tho' they have generally moderated their Voices when they did so. One Gentleman has declared the smaller States must agree another that two-thirds ought to give the Law and a third has pointedly declared that Force must be used—Do those Gentlemen suppose that Sentiments of that Kind can produce any other Effect than a Smile—they are mistaken if they do; we know their Language is calculated to make Impressions in favor of their System—but it cannot have that Effect—We know the States who have Recourse to it are impotent.
Patterson—same Sentiments differently expressed.
Rutlege moves that Representation in the first Branch be in proportion to Contribution.
Butler seconds it—You may either take this Rule or whole Number of Whites and Slaves.
Adjourned till to Morrow.