Col. Mason. He did not rise to make any motion, but to hint an idea which seemed to be proper for consideration. One important object in constituting the Senate was to secure the rights of property. To give them weight & firmness for this purpose, a considerable duration in office was thought necess[~a]y. But a longer term than 6 years, would be of no avail in this respect, if needy persons should be appointed. He suggested therefore the propriety of annexing to the office a qualification of property. He thought this would be very practicable; as the rules of taxation would supply a scale for measuring the degree of wealth possessed by every man. A question was then taken whether the words "to be paid out of the public treasury," should stand. Mass^{ts} ay. Con^t no. N. Y. no. N. J. no. P^a ay. Del. ay. M^d ay. V^a ay. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no. M^r Butler moved to strike out the ineligibility of Senators to _State offices_. Mr. Williamson seconded the motion.[113] [113] According to Yates, before Wilson spoke: "Mr. Madison. Congress heretofore depended on state interests; we are now going to pursue the same plan."--Yates, _Secret Proceedings_, etc., 173. M^r Wilson remarked the additional dependance this w^d create in the Senators on the States. The longer the time he observed allotted to the Officer, the more compleat will be the dependance if it exists at all.[114] [114] After Wilson, according to Yates: "Mr. Butler. This second branch I consider as the aristocratic part of our government; and they must be controlled by the states, or they will be too independent."--Yates, _Secret Proceedings_, etc., 173. Gen^l Pinkney was for making the States as much as could be conveniently done, a part of the Gen^l Gov^t. If the Senate was to be appointed by the States, it ought in pursuance of the same idea to be paid by the States: and the States ought not to be barred from the opportunity of calling members of it into offices at home. Such a restriction would also discourage the ablest men from going into the Senate. M^r Williamson moved a resolution so penned as to admit of the two following questions. 1. whether the members of the Senate should be ineligible to & incapable of holding offices _under the U. States_ 2. Whether &c. under the _particular States_. On the Question to postpone in order to consider Williamson's Resol^n Mas^{ts} no. Con^t ay. N. Y. no. N. J. no. P^a ay. Del. ay. M^d ay. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay. M^r Gerry & M^r Madison move to add to M^r Williamson's 1. Quest: "and for 1 year thereafter." On this amend^t Mas^{ts} no. Con^t ay. N. Y. ay. N. J. no. P^a no. Del. ay. M^d ay. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. no. On M^r Will[iam]son's 1 Question as amend^{ed} vz, inelig: & incapable &c. &c. for 1 year &c. ag^d to un[~a]mously. On the 2. question as to ineligibility &c. to State offices,