Mr Langdon [13] was for striking out the whole clause for the reasons given by Mr Wilson. So many exclusions he thought too would render the system unacceptable to the people.
[ [13] "Mr Langdon is a man of considerable fortune, possesses a liberal mind, and a good plain understanding–about 40 years old."–Pierce's Notes, Am. Hist. Rev., iii., 325.
Mr Gerry. If the argumts used today were to prevail, we might have a Legislature composed of Public debtors, pensioners, placemen & contractors. He thought the proposed qualifications would be pleasing to the people. They will be considered as a security agst unnecessary or undue burdens being imposed on them. He moved to add "pensioners" to the disqualified characters which was negatived.
N. H. no. Mas. ay. Con. no. N. J. no. Pa no. Del. no. Maryd ay. Va no. N. C. divided. S. C. no. Geo. ay.
Mr Govr Morris. The last clause, relating to public debtors will exclude every importing merchant. Revenue will be drawn it is foreseen as much as possible, from trade. Duties of course will be bonded, and the Merchts will remain debtors to the public. He repeated that it had not been so much the fault of individuals as of the public that transactions between them had not been more generally liquidated & adjusted. At all events to draw from our short & scanty experience rules that are to operate through succeeding ages, does not savour much of real wisdom.
On question for striking out, "persons having unsettled accounts with the U. States."
N. H. ay. Mass. ay. Ct ay. N. J. no. Pa ay. Del. ay. Md ay. Va ay. N. C. ay. S. C. ay. Geo. no.
Mr Elseworth was for disagreeing to the remainder of the clause disqualifying Public debtors; and for leaving to the wisdom of the Legislature and the virtue of the Citizens, the task of providing agst such evils. Is the smallest as well as the largest debtor to be excluded? Then every arrear of taxes will disqualify. Besides how is it to be known to the people when they elect who are or are not public debtors. The exclusion of pensioners & placemen in Engld is founded on a consideration not existing here. As persons of that sort are dependent on the Crown, they tend to increase its influence.
Mr Pinkney sd he was at first a friend to the proposition, for the sake of the clause relating to qualifications of property; but he disliked the exclusion of public debtors; it went too far. It wd exclude persons who had purchased confiscated property or should purchase Western territory of the public, and might be some obstacle to the sale of the latter.