IV. CONVENTION ELECTIONS

the people, who has power equal to many European kings; and who,
though elected for four years, may be again elected and continued for
life.
Ans. The President is to be chosen by Electors, appointed in such
manner as the different Legislatures shall direct; and his power ceases
of course at the end of four years, which is only one year longer than
the time for which the Governor of this state is elected. It is true he
may then be re-elected for the same time, and so may our Governor.
His power does not extend to rejecting a single law, that two thirds of
the Legislature think proper to pass; which power answers directly to
that of the Council of Revision in our own state.10 He cannot touch a
shilling of money unless a law is passed for the purpose-He can make
no treaty, no permanent appointment to offices, nor, in fact, do any
thing whatever but by and with the consent of the Senate; except re-
ceiving Ambassadors, and the common official powers that are vested
in the Governor of our state by our Constitution-and in general, his
powers are so far from being superior to an European king that, on
many occasions, they are inferior to the Governor of our state.
Obj. The trial by jury not provided for in civil cases.
Ans. The Continental Court, as far as private citizens of different
states may be concerned, is a Court of Appeals, and may, perhaps, in
some instances, be compared with our Chancery Court, as well as to
the Courts of Law in many of the other states, where no jury is called;
and as nothing is said to prevent a jury on cases of appeal to the Con-
tinental Court, it must remain to be established by the future laws of
our Representatives in Congress. The Massachusetts' Convention have
proposed an explanation of this section," and we have no doubt but
our Convention will do the same: but all trials, between citizens of this
state, must and will be conducted in future, just as at present, and
determined by a jury as usual.
Obj. 26, 27 and 28. The great powers of the Continental Supreme
Court, extending to all cases in law and equity-allowing the court
original jurisdiction in some cases, and granting appeals to that court
on both law and fact.
Ans. This court is confined to those cases only, which arise under the
Constitution-all transactions between citizens that live in the same
state must be determined, in future, just as they are at present, that is,
by jury and the laws of their own state. The Continental Court is in-
tended to try all cases that respect Ambassadors and other public Min-
isters, and where a whole state may be a party, it therefore must have
the right of original jurisdiction in all such cases-and on cases of
appeal from partial state Courts, by citizens who live in, or claim lands

1394