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THE GREEN BAG
organized knowledge based not only upon deep philosophic study and profound his torical research, but upon vast practical experience in the affairs of government. No one can read Madison's, King's, or Yates' minutes of the Convention, without being impressed by the fact that Wilson's intellect, to a greater extent than that of any other man's, dominated the proceedings of the Convention. The great principles of republican government, which were finally crystallized into form in the Constitution, he held constantly as beacon lights before the members of the Convention. He was on his feet more frequently than any other delegate, excepting one, speaking, in all, one hundred and sixty-eight times, yet the contemporaneous records of the proceedings show that he never rose for the mere sake of talking, but only when it was necessary to give direction to the trend of thought. When views were being expressed consonant with his theories of government, and there seemed no doubt but that the Convention was in accord therewith, he would sit a silent spectator, intently watching, but always on guard against a departure from correct principles, and ever ready to battle for them at the slightest intimation of a variance therefrom. In the great battles of the Convention, he was ever in the fore front, contending with all the powers at his disposal for the nation's life. Space will not permit of more than a cursory glance at his services in the Convention.1 In the index to The Documentary History of the Constitution of the United States, as recently published by the government, seven and a half columns of fine print are taken up in merely indicating the topics he discussed. However, a brief summary of his work in the Convention will not be out of place : He desired the executive, legislative, and judicial departments to be independent of each other. He wished to guard the 1 Those interested are referred to McLaughlin's able analysis, entitled "James Wilson and the the Constitution," Polit. Sc. (Jr.. March, 1897.
general government against the encroach ments of the states, yet he desired the preservation of the state governments, and stood like a rock against all those who would have abolished them, declaring on June 19, according to the minutes of Chief Justice Robert Yates of New York: "I am (to borrow a sea phrase) for taking a new departure, and wish to consider in what direction we sail, and what may be the end of the voyage. I am for a national government, though the idea of federal is, in my view, the same. With me it is not a desirable object to annihilate the state governments, and here I differ from the honorable gentleman from New York [Hamilton]. In all extensive empires a subdivision of power is necessary. Persia, Turkey, and Rome under its emperors, are examples in point. These, although despots, found it necessary. A general govern ment, over a great extent of territory, must in a few years make subordinate jurisdictions. Alfred the Great, that wise legislator, made this gradation and the last division, on his plan, amounted only to ten terri tories." He contrasted the Virginia and New Jersey outline plans for the Constitution, and brought light out of the darkness. He argued that the separation from Great Britain did not make the Colonies independent of each other, yet he did not think the individuality of the states incom patible with a general government. He proposed that the executive should consist of but one person, and advocated' the election of the President through electors elected by the people, as an alternative to having him selected by Congress. To the latter plan he was unalterably opposed, declaring that he "would agree to almost any length of time for the service of the President, in order to get rid of the depend ence which must result" from an election by Congress, and he presented the plan of an electoral college as a compromise. He objected to an executive council, but urged a council to consist of the President and the Supreme Court, with a veto power over the acts of the legislative branch, coupled
