Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/242

 236 RECORDS OF THE FEDEllAL CONVENTION T,ursday MADISON .,'lugv,.tt 9 proper: because it will give a tincture of illiberalfry to the Constitution: because it will put it out of the power of the Natl Legislature even by special acts of naturalization to con- fer the full rank of Citizens on meritorious strangers & because it will discourage the most desirable class of people from emigrating to the U.S. Should the proposed Constitution have the intended effect of giving stability & reputation to our Govts. great numbers of respectable Europeans; men who love liberty and wish to partake its blessings, will be ready to transfer their fortunes hither. All such would feel the morti- fication of being marked with suspicious incapacitations though they sd. not covet the public honors He was not apprehen- sive that any dangerous number of strangers would be ap- pointed by the State Legislatures, if they were left at liberty to do so: nor that foreign powers would make use of strangers as instruments for their purposes. Their bribes would be expended on men whose circumstances would rather stifle than excite jealousy & watchfulness in the public. Mr. Butler was decidely opposed to the admission of for- eigners without a long residence in the Country. They bring with them, not only attachments to other Countries; but ideas of Govt. so distinct from ours that in every point of view they are dangerous. He acknowledged that if he him- self had been called into public life within a short time after his coming to America, his foreign habits opinions & attach- ments would have rendered him an improper agent in public affairs. He mentioned the great strictness observed in Great Britain on this subject. Docr. Franklin was not agst. a reasonable time, but should be very sorry to see any thing like illiberality inserted in the Constitution. The people in Europe are friendly to this Country. Even in the Country with which we have been lately at war, We have now & had during the war, a great many friends not only among the people at large but in both Houses of Parliament. In every other Country in Europe all the people are our friends. We found in the Course of the Revolution, that many strangers served us faithfully-- and that many natives took part agst. their Country. When

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