Doc^r Franklin. A Gentleman from S. C., (M^r Butler) a day or two ago called our attention to the case of the U. Netherlands. He wished the gentleman had been a little fuller, and had gone back to the original of that Gov^t. The people being under great obligations to the Prince of Orange whose wisdom and bravery had saved them, chose him for the Stadtholder. He did very well. Inconveniences however were felt from his powers; which growing more & more oppressive, they were at length set aside. Still however there was a party for the P. of Orange, which descended to his son who excited insurrections, spilt a great deal of blood, murdered the de Witts, and got the powers revested in the Stadtholder. Afterwards another Prince had power to excite insurrections & make the Stadtholdership hereditary. And the present Stadth^{ der} is ready to wade thro' a bloody civil war to the establishment of a monarchy. Col. Mason had mentioned the circumstance of appointing officers. He knew how that point would be managed. No new appointment would be suffered as heretofore in Pens^a unless it be referred to the Executive; so that all profitable offices will be at his disposal. The first man put at the helm will be a good one. No body knows what sort may come afterwards. The Executive will be always increasing here, as elsewhere, till it ends in a Monarchy.
On the question for striking out so as to give Executive an absolute negative,--Mass^{ ts} no. Con^t no. N. Y. no. P^a no. Del. no. M^d no. V^a no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Georg^a no.
M^r Butler moved that the Resol^n be altered so as to read--"Resolved that the National Executive have a power to suspend any Legislative act for the term of ----."
M^r Gerry observed that a power of suspending might do all the mischief dreaded from the negative of useful laws; without answering the salutary purpose of checking unjust or unwise ones.
On question "for giving this suspending power" all the States, to wit Mass^{ ts} Con^t N. Y. P^a Del. Mary^d Virg^a N. C. S. C. Georgia, were _No_.
On a question for enabling _two thirds_ of each branch of the Legislature to overrule the revisionary check, it passed in the affirmative sub silentio; and was inserted in the blank of M^r Gerry's motion.