“The President of the United States has no constitutional Council (a
thing unknown in any safe and regular government), he will therefore
be unsupported by proper information and advice, and will generally
be directed by minions and favorites—or he will become a tool to
the Senate—or a Council of State will grow out of the principal
officers of the great departments; the worst and most dangerous of
all ingredients for such a Council in a free country, for they may be
induced to join in any dangerous or oppressive measures, to shelter
themselves, and prevent an inquiry into their own misconduct in office:
Whereas, had a constitutional Council been formed (as was proposed)
of six members, viz., two from the eastern, two from the middle, and
two from the southern States, to be appointed by a vote of the States
in the House of Representatives, with the same duration and rotation
of office as the Senate, the Executive would always have had safe and
proper information and advice: The President of such a Council might
have acted as Vice-President of the United States, _pro tempore_, upon
any vacancy or disability of the Chief Magistrate, and long-continued
sessions of the Senate would in a great measure have been prevented.
From this fatal defect of a constitutional Council has arisen the
improper power of the Senate, in the appointment of public officers,
and the alarming dependence and connection between that branch of
the legislature and the Supreme Executive. Hence also sprung that
unnecessary and dangerous officer, the Vice-President, who for want of
other employment, is made President of the Senate; thereby dangerously
blending the Executive and Legislative powers; besides always giving to
some one of the States an unnecessary and unjust pre-eminence over the
others.”