Page:The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 Volume 2.djvu/496

 49 �ORDS OF THE FEDEP. AL CONVENTION Monday MADISON September $ any kind, and the acceptance of such office shall vacate their seats respectlvely. "7 I-Ie was strenuously opposed to an ineligibility of members to office, and therefore wished to restrain the proposition to a mere incompatibility. He con- sidered the eligibility of members of the Legislature to the honorable offices of Government, as resembling the policy of the Romans, in making the temple of virtue the road to the temple of fame. On this question N.H. no. Mas. no. Ct no-- N-- J. no. Pa a�. Md. no Va. no. N. C. ay. S. C m no. Geo. no. [Ayes -- z; noes -- 8.] Mr King moved to insert the word "created" before the word "during" in the Report of the Committee. This he said would exclude s the members of the first Legislature under the Constitution, as most of the Offices wd. then be created. Mr. Williamson zded. the motion, 9 He did not see why members of the Legislature should be ineligible to vacancies happening during the term oF their election, x� Sherman was for entirely incapacitating members of the Legislature. He thought their eligibility to offices would give too much influence to the Executive. I-te said the inca- pacity ought at least to be extended to cases where salaries should be increased, as well as created, during the term of the member. He mentioned also the expedient by which the restriction could be evaded to wit: an existing officer might be translated to an office created and a member of the Legisla- ture be then put into the office vacated. Mr Govr. Morris contended that the eligibility of members to office wd. lessen the influence of the Executive. If they cannot be appointed themselves, the Executive will appoint :heir relations & friends, retaining the service & votes of 7 Upon this subject see above, Virginia Plan, May 9, June xz, June '-3, June z6, Report of Committee of Detail, August x4, September x, and Appendix A, CXLVIa, CLVIII (4o-4), CXCI, CCX, CCXXXVI, CCLXXVII. s Crossed out "most who". 0 Crossed out "tho'". x0 Crossed out "since they could not be influenced by an event whL was i his contingency."

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