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Show 86 1'Il~ FEDEHAL CONVENTION. h t be bound by oath, to support the government, oug t 0 ' articles of union. . l 11 l d Tl t the amendments w h lCh s 1a. be 21 Reso ve , 1a · . · 1 0 f deration by the ConventiOn ougllt, at a offered to t 1e on c ' proper tu. nc or. t'u nc s, "n" ftcr the apl)robnlio.n of Congrc: 'to be submitted to an assembly, or assemultcs, of reprcscn ta- t1. vcs recommen d cd by the several legisla.t ures, to be e.x - pres 'l y c1 1 oscn b Y the peop· le to cous1dcr and dce1de thereon. · · th second 22. Resol·ved, That the representatwn m c . branch of the legislature of the United States shall con~lst of two members from each State, who shall vote per cnJ!tla. 23 . R es'o lved, That it be an instruction to theC c omrmtt.c e to ·whom were referred the proceedings of the. onvenl~on f . the establishment of a national government, to reeelve a 01 clause, or clanses, requiring certain qualifications of property and citizenship in the United States, for the executive, the judiciary, and the members of both brauchcs of the legislature of the United States. August 6. Mr. Rutledge dclivct~cd ~he report of the:~~~mittec of detail, reporting a consittutwn at large. [I 1118 report was so nearly like the constitution as ?nally adop.te~, and as we shall give that at the close of th1s chapter, 1t IS not thou(J'ht necessary to occupy space by copying it here J A·ugus~ 7. The report of the committee of detail being taken up, Mr. Morris moved that thai the right of suO'rago be restrained to freeholders. A long debate ensued. Cui. Mason opposed it as leading to an aristocracy. Mr. Madison was for leaving this matter to the States. Some SLates required it, and others did not. llis own opinion was thai freeholders would be the safest depositaries of liberty. Those without property might become the tools of the rich and ambitious, hence there would be just the same danger as from the property qualification. Dr. Franklin opposed the views of l\1 r. Mt~.dison. H~ THE FJi;DJ~l~AL CONVJ~NTlON. 87 thought the restriction wrong in princi pic, and had no doubt it would create dissatisfaction with the people. On the question of Mr. Morris, only Delaware voted Aye. Maryland divided. August 8. Article 4th, section 2d, being under considc· ration, declaring that a member of the liouse shall have been a citizen of the United States at least three years be· fore his election. Mr. Mason was for opening a wide door to emigrants, but thought three years too short. Foreign nations might impose upon us their tools, and get them into the legisla· ture for insidious purposes. lie moved seven years, which was agreed to, only Connecticut voting No. Section 4th, allowing the legislatures to apportion the representatives according to the number of inhabitants, was taken up. Mr. Morris moved to insert u free inhabitants." lie said he would not agree to a constitution that upheld slavery. It was the curse of Heaven. lie proceeded at length to demonstrate the evils of the institution. · Mr. Sherman said he did not regard the admission of negroes in the ratio of representation as a great objection. In fact, it was only the freemen of the South who would be represented, because it was only them who paid the taxes. On the question to insert 11 free inhabitants," it was lost, only New Jersey voting Aye. August 9. From this date to the 18th, the Convention wns occupied in discussing questions of naturalization, re· venue, &c. August 18. Mr. Madison submitted to be referred oo the committee of detail the following propositions, to be incor· porated in the powers of Congress: • "To dispose of the unappropriated lands of the United States. |
