Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v5.djvu/505

1787.] bound to Baltimore, to enter and clear at Norfolk, &c. They moved the following proposition:

"The legislature of the United States shall not oblige vessels belonging to citizens thereof, or to foreigners, to enter or pay duties or imposts in any other state than in that to which they may be bound, or to clear out in any other than the state in which their cargoes may be laden on board; nor shall any privilege or immunity be granted to any vessel on entering or clearing out, or paying duties or imposts in one state in preference to another."

Mr. GORHAM thought such a precaution unnecessary: and that the revenue might be defeated, if vessels could run up long rivers, through the jurisdiction of different states, without being required to enter, with the opportunity of landing and selling their cargoes by the way.

Mr. M'HENRY and Gen. PINCKNEY made the following propositions:—

"Should it be judged expedient by the legislature of the United States, that one or more ports for collecting duties or imposts, other than those ports of entrance and clearance already established by the respective states, should be established, the legislature of the United States shall signify the same to the executives of the respective states, ascertaining the number of such ports judged necessary, to be laid by the said executives before the legislatures of the states at their next session; and the legislature of the United States shall not have the power of fixing or establishing the particular ports for collecting duties or imposts in any state, except the legislature of such state shall neglect to fix and establish the same during their first session to be held after such notification by the legislature of the United States to the executive of such state.

"All duties, imposts, and excises, prohibitions or restraints, laid or made by the legislature of the United States, shall be uniform and equal throughout the United States."

These several propositions were referred, ''nem. con.'', to a committee composed of a member from each state. The committee, appointed by ballot, were—Mr. Langdon, Mr. Gorham, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Fitzsimons, Mr. Read, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Mason, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Butler, Mr. Few.

On the question now taken on Mr. Dickinson's motion of yesterday, allowing appointments to offices to be referred by the general legislature to "the executives of the several states," as a further amendment to article 10, sect. 2, the votes were,—

Connecticut, Virginia, Georgia, ay, 3; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, no, 6; Maryland, divided.$235$

In amendment of the same section, the words, "other public ministers," were inserted after "ambassadors."

Mr. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS moved to strike out of the section, "and may correspond with the supreme executives of the several states," as unnecessary, and implying that he could not correspond with others.

Mr. BROOM seconded him.

On the question,—

New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, ay, 9; Maryland, no, 1.

The clause, "shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers," was agreed to, ''nem. con.''