On the question for payment of the Senate to be left to the states, as moved by Mr. ELLSWORTH, it passed in the negative,—
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Georgia, ay, 5; Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, no, 6.144
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 and firmness for this purpose, a considerable duration in office was thought necessary. But a longer term than six 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 national treasury," should stand,—
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, ay, 5; Connecticut. New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, no, 6.
Mr. BUTLER moved to strike out the ineligibility of senators to state offices.
Mr. WILLIAMSON seconded the motion.
Mr. WILSON remarked the additional dependence this would create in the senators on the states. The longer the time, he observed, allotted to the officer, the more complete will be the dependence, if it exists at all.
Gen. PINCKNEY was for making the states, as much as could be conveniently done, a part of the general government. 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.
Mr. WILLIAMSON moved a resolution, so penned as to admit of the two following questions,—first, whether the members of the Senate should be ineligible to, and incapable of holding, offices under the United States; secondly, whether, &c., under the particular states.
On the question to postpone, in order to consider Mr. Williamson's resolution,—
Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, ay, 8; Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, no, 3.145
Mr. GERRY and Mr. MADISON move to add to Mr. Williamson's first question, "and for one year thereafter."
On this amendment,—
Connecticut, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, ay, 7; Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Georgia no, 4.
On Mr. Williamson's first question as amended, viz., "ineligible and incapable, &c., for one year, &c."—agreed to unanimously.
