Mass^{ts} ay. Con^t ay. N. Y. ay. N. J. no. P^a ay. Del. ay.
M^d div^d. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
Election of the 1^{st} branch "for the term of three years," considered.
M^r Randolph moved to strike out, "three years" and insert "two
years"--he was sensible that annual elections were a source of great
mischiefs in the States, yet it was the want of such checks ag^{st} the
popular intemperence as were now proposed, that rendered them so
mischievous. He would have preferred annual to biennial, but for the
extent of the U. S. and the inconveniency which would result from them
to the representatives of the extreme parts of the Empire. The people
were attached to frequency of elections. All the Constitutions of the
States except that of S. Carolina, had established annual elections.
M^r Dickinson. The idea of annual elections was borrowed from the
antient Usage of England, a country much less extensive than ours. He
supposed biennial would be inconvenient. He preferred triennial, and in
order to prevent the inconveniency of an entire change of the whole
number at the same moment, suggested a rotation, by an annual election
of one third.
M^r Elseworth was opposed to three years, supposing that even one year
was preferable to two years. The people were fond of frequent elections
and might be safely indulged in one branch of the Legislature. He moved
for 1 year.
M^r Strong[97] seconded & supported the motion.
[97] "M^r Strong is a Lawyer of some eminence,--he has
received a liberal education, and has good connections to
recommend him. As a speaker he is feeble, and without
confidence. This Gent^n is about thirty five years of age,
and greatly in the esteem of his Colleagues."--Pierce's
Notes, _Amer. Hist. Rev._ iii., 326.
M^r Wilson being for making the 1^{st} branch an effectual
representation of the people at large, preferred an annual election of
it. This frequency was most familiar & pleasing to the people. It would
not be more inconvenient to them, than triennial elections, as the
people in all the States have annual meetings with which the election of
the National representatives might be made to co-incide. He did not
conceive that it would be necessary for the Nat^l Leigsl: to sit
constantly; perhaps not half--perhaps not one fourth of the year.
M^r Madison was persuaded that annual elections would be extremely
inconvenient and apprehensive that biennial would be too much so; he did
not mean inconvenient to the electors; but to the representatives. They
would have to travel seven or eight hundred miles from the distant parts
of the Union; and would probably not be allowed even a reimbursement of
their expences. Besides, none of those who wished to be re-elected would
remain at the seat of Governm^t; confiding that their absence would not
affect them. The members of Cong^s had done this with few instances of
disappointment. But as the choice was here to be made by the people
themselves who would be much less complaisant to individuals, and much
more susceptible of impressions from the presence of a Rival candidate,
it must be supposed that the members from the most distant States would
travel backwards & forwards at least as often as the elections should be
repeated. Much was to be said also on the time requisite for new Members
who would always form a large proportion, to acquire that knowledge of
the affairs of the States in general without which their trust could not
be usefully discharged.
M^r Sherman preferred annual elections, but would be content with
biennial. He thought the Representatives ought to return home and mix
with the people. By remaining at the seat of Gov^t they would acquire
the habits of the place which might differ from those of their
Constituents.
Col. Mason observed that the States being differently situated such a
rule ought to be formed as would put them as nearly as possible on a
level. If elections were annual the middle States would have a great
advantage over the extreme ones. He wished them to be biennial; and the
rather as in that case they would coincide with the periodical elections
of S. Carolina as well of the other States.
Col. Hamilton urged the necessity of 3 years, there ought to be neither
too much nor too little dependence, on the popular sentiments. The
checks in the other branches of the Govern^t would be but feeble, and
would need every auxiliary principle that could be interwoven. The
British House of Commons were elected septennially, yet the democratic
spirit of y^e Constitution had not ceased. Frequency of elections tended
to make the people listless to them; and to facilitate the success of
little cabals. This evil was complained of in all the States. In Virg^a
it had been lately found necessary to force the attendance & voting of
the people by severe regulations.