to the standard already established, or which may be established by the State itself. It will be safe to the United States; because, being fixed by the State Constitutions, it is not alterable by the State Governments, and it cannot be feared that the People of the States will alter this part of their Constitutions in such a manner as to abridge the rights secured to them by the Fœderal Constitution.
The qualifications of the elected, being less carefully and properly defined by the State Constitutions, and being at the same time more susceptible of uniformity, have been very properly considered and regulated by the Convention. A representative of the United States must be of the age of twenty-five years; must have been seven years a citizen of the United States; must, at the time of his election, be an inhabitant of the State he is to represent; and, during the time of his service, must be in no office under the United States. Under these reasonable limitations, the door of this part of the Fœderal Government is open to merit of every description, whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to any particular profession of religious faith.
The term for which the Representatives are to be elected, falls under a second view which may be taken of this branch. In order to decide on the propriety of this Article, two questions must be considered: First, whether biennial elections will, in this case, be safe; Secondly, whether they be necessary or useful.
First. As it is essential to liberty, that the Government in general should have a common interest with the People; so it is particularly essential, that the branch of it under consideration should have an immediate dependence on, and an intimate sympathy with the People. Frequent elections are unquestionably the only policy by which this dependence and sympathy
