Miracle At Philadelphia

The next major issue for debate was the national executive proposed in the Virginia Plan. There was widespread opposition to such an office—later known as “the presidency”—that was rooted in suspicion of conferring monarch-like power on a single individual. However, others, like James Wilson, insisted that a strong executive was necessary for liberty, that such a large territory would need an office capable of quick and decisive action, and that the office would place a check on the legislature, which was just as prone to tyranny as a monarch. Having grown up under the British government, delegates looked to it as a model, but were also afraid to replicate it too closely. Some argued that there should be multiple executives, perhaps representing different regions, but this met with the objection that each would care only for their part rather than advance the interests of the whole. There was also a debate over the presidential veto, then called the “executive negative,” which Franklin feared would be used for corrupt ends. Franklin was so worried about corruption that he suggested no pay for the office, though others pointed out that this would likely limit candidates to the rich.