Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/276

 270 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL CONVENTION Monday MADISON /lugust x 3 Mr. Govr. Morris moved to add to the end of the section (art IV. s. 2) a proviso that the limitation (of seven years) should not affect (the rights of} any person now a Citizen. s Mr. Mercer 2ded. the motion. It was necessary he said to prevent a disfranchisement of persons who had become Citizens under the faith (& according to} -- the laws & Con- stitution (from} being on a level in all respects with natives. Mr. Rutlidge. It might as well be said that all qualifica- tions are disfranchisemrs. and that to require the age of 2 5 years was a disfranchisement. The policy of the precaution was as great with regard to foreigners now Citizens; as to those who are to be naturalized in future. Mr Sherman. The U. States have not invited foreigners nor pledged their faith that they should enjoy equal privi- leges with native Citizens. The Individual States alone have done this. The former therefore are at liberty to make any discriminations they may judge requisite. Mr. Ghorum. When foreigners are naturalized it wd. seem as if they stand on an equal footing with natives. He doubted then the propriety of giving a retrospective force to the re- striction. Mr. (Madison} animadverted on the peculiarity of the doc- trine of Mr. 8harman. It was (a subtilty} by which every national engagement might be evaded. By parity of reason, Whenever our public debts, or foreign treaties become incon- venient nothing (more} would be necessary to relieve us from them, than to g new model the Constitution. It was said that the U.S. as such have not pledged their faith to the natural- ized foreigners, & therefore are not bound. Be it so, & that the States alone are bound. Who are to form the New Con- stitution by which the condition of that class of citizens is to be made worse than the other class? Are not the States ye agents? will they not be the members of it? Did they not appoint this Convention? Are not they to ratify its pro- ceedings? Will not the new Constitution be their Act? If the new Constitution then violates the faith pledged to any Revised from Journal.  Crossed out: "abolish them by".

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