1. DEBATE OVER CONSTITUTION

the general welfare to make the president and senate hereditary in
their offices, and to make the time and service of the members of the
house seven years instead of two; it appears, to me, the constitution
gives them a legal power to pass the necessary acts.
It is pretty evident, that the small states in the convention had an idea,
that this power was lodged in Congress; and upon this principle only
can we account for the last part of the article-"That no state, without
its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the senate."
To make a provision, at this time, that it shall not be in the power
of the legislatures of three fourths of the states to alter the principles
of representation in the senate, seems to be a useless and unnecessary
precaution. The late convention have fully demonstrated what regard
is to be paid to such provision-for notwithstanding, the present con-
federation provides, that no alteration shall be made in it, without the
consent of all the legislatures,' yet, we find a plan proposed which may
entirely exclude four states from the union. The provision, therefore,
in this view has no weight in it. But in the other view, it is wise and
cautious in the small states. Yet, there may hereafter be found an am-
biguity in the words "equal suffrage." And the large states may insist
upon having the number of their senators encreased, so as to give them
an equal suffrage with the small states. This constitution will undoubt-
edly be the most unexceptionable-Therefore I do not see that the
small states have secured any thing more, than a representation in the
senate upon the principles of equity. It is expressly stipulated, that there
shall be two senators from each state, and that each senator shall have
one vote-yet, I do not find that it is stipulated that there shall be only
two and no more.
I have several more observations to make, which I must postpone to
another opportunity, and conclude with repeating, that the people are
by the constitution to convey all the power they possess, or can convey,
to the legislature.
That it is left with the legislature to alter the arrangement and de-
posit of the powers, in such manner as they may deem necessary.
On these principles alone can I account for Mr. Wilson's high en-
comium   on the constitution,2 for otherwise, it seems to contain the
seeds of its own dissolution.
1. Article XIII of the Articles of Confederation states that "the Articles of this confed-
eration shall be inviolably observed by every state, and the union shall be perpetual; nor
shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration
be agreed to in a congress of the united states, and be afterwards confirmed by the
legislatures of every state" (CDR, 93).
2. A reference to James Wilson's 6 October speech to a Philadelphia public meeting
(CC:134). See also "New York Reprinting of James Wilson's 6 October Speech Before a
Philadelphia Public Meeting," 13-25 October (above).

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