RECORDS OF THE FEDEI?AL CONVENTION I g 3 ThursJay MADISON ]uly 26 advantages of the regulation, and that the motion did not go far enough. Mr. King observed that there might be great danger in requiring landed property as a qualification since it would exclude the monied interest, whose aids may be essential in particular emergencies to the public safety. 8 Mr. Dickenson. was agst. any recital of qualifications in the Constitution. It was impossible to make a cornpleat one, and a partial one would by implication tie up the hands of the Legislature from supplying the omissions, The best defence lay in the freeholders who were to elect the Legislature. Whilst this Source should remain pure, the public interest would be safe. If it ever should be corrupt, no little expedients would repel the danger. He doubted the policy of interweav- ing into a Republican constitution a veneration for wealth. He had always understood that a veneration for poverty & virtue, were the objects of republican encouragement. It seemed improper that any man of merit should be subjected to disabilities in a Republic where merit was understood to form the great title to public trust, honors & rewards. Mr Gerry if property be one object of Government, pro- visions for securing it can not be improper. Mr. (Madison) moved to strike out the word landed, before the word, "qualifications". If the proposition sd. be agreed to he wished the Committee to be at liberty to report the best criterion they could devise. Landed possessions were no certain evidence of real wealth. Man 7 enjoyed them to a great extent who were more in debt than they were worth. The unjust laws of the States had proceeded more from this class of men, than any others. It had often happened that men who had acquired landed property on credit, got into the Legislatures with a view of promoting an unjust protection agst. their Creditors. In the next place, if a small quantity of land should be made the standard. it would be no security. --if a large one, it would exclude the proper representatives of those classes of Citizens who were not landholders. It s See Appendix A, CLXXIL
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