N. H. no. Mass. no. Ct no. Pa no. Del. ay. Md no. Va no. N. C. no. S. C. no. Geo. no.
Mr Rutlidge. Altho' it is agreed on all hands that an annual meeting of the Legislature should be made necessary, yet that point seems not to be free from doubt as the clause stands. On this suggestion, "Once at least in every year," were inserted, nem. con.
Art. III with the foregoing alterations was agd to nem. con., and is as follows: "The Legislative power shall be vested in a Congress to consist of 2 separate & distinct bodies of men; a House of Reps & a Senate. The Legislature shall meet at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the 1st Monday in Decr unless a different day shall be appointed by law."
"Article IV. Sect. 1. taken up."
Mr Govr Morris moved to strike out the last member of the section beginning with the words "qualifications of Electors," in order that some other provision might be substituted which wd restrain the right of suffrage to freeholders.
Mr Fitzsimons 2ded the motion.
Mr Williamson was opposed to it.
Mr Wilson. This part of the Report was well considered by the Committee, and he did not think it could be changed for the better. It was difficult to form any uniform rule of qualifications for all the States. Unnecessary innovations he thought too should be avoided. It would be very hard & disagreeable for the same persons at the same time, to vote for representatives in the State Legislature and to be excluded from a vote for those in the Natl Legislature.
Mr Govr Morris. Such a hardship would be neither great nor novel. The people are accustomed to it and not dissatisfied with it, in several of the States. In some the qualifications are different for the choice of the Govr & Representatives; In others for different Houses of the Legislature. Another objection agst the clause as it stands is that it makes the qualifications of the Natl Legislature depend on the will of the States, which he thought not proper.
Mr Elseworth. thought the qualifications of the electors stood on the most proper footing. The right of suffrage was a tender point, and strongly guarded by most of the State Constitutions. The people will not readily subscribe to the Natl Constitution if it should subject them to be disfranchised. The States are the best Judges of the circumstances & temper of their own people.