The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 2Madison, James
History
The Journal of the Debates in the Convention which Framed the Constitution of the United States, May-September 1787. Volume 2
Madison, James
Constitutional law -- United States; Constitutions -- United States; United States. Constitution
M^r Gov^r Morris. The lesson we are taught is that we should be governed
as much by our reason, and as little by our feelings as possible. What
is the language of Reason on this subject? That we should not be polite
at the expence of prudence. There was a moderation in all things. It is
said that some tribes of Indians, carried their hospitality so far as to
offer to strangers their wives & daughters. Was this a proper model for
us? He would admit them to his house, he would invite them to his table,
would provide for them comfortable lodgings; but would not carry the
complaisance so far as, to bed them with his wife. He would let them
worship at the same altar, but did not choose to make Priests of them.
He ran over the privileges which emigrants would enjoy among us, though
they should be deprived of that of being eligible to the great offices
of Government; observing that they exceeded the privileges allowed to
foreigners in any part of the world; and that as every Society from a
great nation down to a club had the right of declaring the conditions on
which new members should be admitted, there could be no room for
complaint. As to those philosophical gentlemen, those Citizens of the
World as they called themselves, He owned he did not wish to see any of
them in our public Councils. He would not trust them. The men who can
shake off their attachments to their own Country can never love any
other. These attachments are the wholesome prejudices which uphold all
Governments. Admit a Frenchman into your Senate, and he will study to
increase the commerce of France: an Englishman, he will feel an equal
bias in favor of that of England. It has been said that The Legislatures
will not chuse foreigners, at least improper ones. There was no knowing
what Legislatures would do. Some appointments made by them, proved that
every thing ought to be apprehended from the cabals practised on such
occasions. He mentioned the case of a foreigner who left this State in
disgrace, and worked himself into an appointment from another to
Congress.
Question on the motion of M^r Gov^r Morris to insert 14 in place of 4
years
N.H. ay. Mass. no. C^t no. N.J. ay. P^a no. Del. no. M^d no.
V^a no. N. C. no. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
On 13 years, moved by M^r Gov^r Morris
N. H. ay. Mass. no. C^t no. N. J. ay. P^a no. Del. no. M^d no.
V^a no. N. C. no. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
On 10 years moved by Gen^l Pinkney
N. H. ay. Mass. no. C^t no. N. J. ay. P^a no. Del. no. M^d no.
V^a no. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
D^r Franklin reminded the Convention that it did not follow from an
omission to insert the restriction in the Constitution that the persons
in question w^d be actually chosen into the Legislature.
M^r Rutlidge. 7 years of Citizenship have been required for the House of
Representatives. Surely a longer time is requisite for the Senate, which
will have more power.
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