Col: Mason. Instead of excluding merit, the ineligibility will keep out corruption, by excluding office-hunters. M^r Wilson considered the exclusion of members of the Legislature as increasing the influence of the Executive as observed by M^r Gov^r Morris at the same time that it would diminish, the general energy of the Government. He said that the legal disqualification for office would be odious to those who did not wish for office, but did not wish either to be marked by so degrading a distinction. M^r Pinkney. The first Legislature will be composed of the ablest men to be found. The States will select such to put the Government into operation. Should the Report of the Committee or even the amendment be agreed to, The great offices, even those of the Judiciary Department which are to continue for life, must be filled while those most capable of filling them will be under a disqualification. On the question on M^r King's motion N. H. ay. Mas. ay. C^t no. N. J. no. P^a ay. M^d no. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. no. Geo. no. The amendment being thus lost by the equal division of the States, M^r Williamson moved to insert the words "created or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased" before the word "during" in the Report of the Committee. M^r King 2^{ded} the motion, & on the question N. H. ay. Mas. ay. C^t no. N. J. no. Pa. ay. M^d no. V^a ay. N. C. ay. S. C. no. Geo. divided. The last clause rendering a Seat in the Legislature & an office incompatible was agreed to nem. con: The Report as amended & agreed to is as follows. "The members of each House shall be ineligible to any Civil office under the authority of the U. States, created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during the time for which they shall respectively be elected--And no person holding any office under the U. S. shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office." Adjourned. TUESDAY SEP^R 4. 1787. IN CONVENTION M^r Brearly from the Committee of Eleven made a further partial Report as follows "The Committee of Eleven to whom sundry resolutions &c. were referred on the 31^{st} of August, report that in their opinion the following additions and alterations should be made to the Report before the Convention, viz.[50]