Page 2181

CONVENTION DEBATES AND PROCEEDINGS, 15 JULY 1788
GEORGE CLINTON. sorry the Gent. does not understand him A Mo-
tion containing these propositions and--is [Gilbert Livingston, Notes,
NN]
JOHN LANSING, JR. must be reduced to the point we set off from-
wishes not to take the questn in the present form-but wants to have
the Genl. questn. on conditions taken- [Gilbert Livingston, Notes,
NN]
GILBERT LIVINGSTON. I explain my Conduct of yesterday-
It was improper to Submit to Congress to do what they had no power
to do-
It is now amended agreeable to the 5th. Article and my Objection
removed- [McKesson's Notes, NHi]
ALEXANDER HAMILTON. I ask that Gent if his constituents gave him
a Right of Judging can he surrender that right of Judging- [Mc-
Kesson's Notes, NHi]
GILBERT LIVINGSTON. I do not find that Observance of Contracts that
could have been wished-The Confe [de]rat[ion] now laughed out of
Doors was most Solemnly agreed to-It is admitted we have a right to
make Conditions I am sure Congress must deem that
Gent. are willing to receive the Constitution with all its Imperfections
if a Convention will not amend it-Then why risque a doubtful Ques-
tion whether Congress will receive us or not- [McKesson's Notes,
NHi]
G. LIVINGSTON. old Compact- [Gilbert Livingston, Notes, NN]
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. does not think the Old confedn. binding
that all the parties to it-have broke it-therefore its force null-Gent.
say no compact can be [binding?] -a true rule is-if one party break
the compact the other must compell an obedience-compares the
compact with great Brittn all have violated-therefore gone-Gent.
recurring to the proposition-does not reflect-wheather congress
have a right to receive us-says they have no right-we have no right
to expect they will receive us-Gent. shakes his head-he will not go
with his party if he consents to this-at least doubtful wheather con-
gress will take us in-then wholly a questn. of policy-
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