Massts no. Cont ay. N. Y. ay. N. J. ay. Pa no. Del. no. Md no. Va no. N. C. no. S. C. ay. Geo. ay.
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 necessãy. 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.
Massts ay. Cont no. N. Y. no. N. J. no. Pa ay. Del. ay. Md ay. Va ay. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no.
Mr 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.
Mr Wilson remarked the additional dependance this wd 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: