Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v5.djvu/529

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1787.]
FEDERAL CONVENTION.
503

thought it would be a greater inconvenience, to require vessels bound to Philadelphia to enter below the jurisdiction of the state.

Mr. GORHAM and Mr. LANGDON contended, that the government would be so fettered by this clause as to defeat the good purpose of the plan. They mentioned the situation of the trade of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the case of Sandy Hook, which is in the state of New Jersey, but where precautions against smuggling into New York ought to be established by the general government.

Mr. M'HENRY said, the clause would not screen a vessel from being obliged to take an officer on board, as a security for due entry, &c.

Mr. CARROLL was anxious that the clause should be agreed to. He assured the House that this was a tender point in Maryland.

Mr. JENIFER urged the necessity of the clause in the same point of view.

On the question for agreeing to it,—

Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, ay, 8; New Hampshire, South Carolina, no, 2.

The word "tonnage " was struck out, nem. con., as comprehended in "duties."

On the question on the clause of the report,—

"and all duties, imposts, and excises, laid by the legislature, shall be uniform throughout the United States,"—

it was agreed to, nem. con.[1]

On motion of Mr. SHERMAN, it was agreed to refer such parts of the Constitution as have been postponed, and such parts of reports as have not been acted on, to a committee of a member from each state; the committee, appointed by ballot, being, Mr. Gilman, Mr. King, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Brearly, Mr. Gouverneur Morris, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Madison, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Butler, and Mr. Baldwin.

Adjourned.


Saturday, September 1.

In Convention.—Mr. BREARLY, from the committee of eleven, to which were referred, yesterday, the postponed part of the Constitution, and parts of reports not acted upon, made the following partial report:—

"That, in lieu of article 6, sect. 9, the words following be inserted, viz., 'The members of each House shall be ineligible to any civil office under the authority of the United States, during the time for which they shall respectively be elected; and no person holding an office under the United States shall be a member of either House during his continuance in office.'"

Mr. RUTLEDGE, from the committee to whom were referred sundry propositions, (see 29th of August,) together with article 16, reported that the following additions be made to the report, viz.,

"After the word 'states,' in the last line on the margin of the third page, (see the printed report,) add 'to establish uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies;'—


  1. In the printed Journal, New Hampshire and South Carolina entered in the negative.