that of the gentleman from Queen Anne's, (Mr.
Grason.) it seemed to him that the Convention
should not make odious distinctions between naturalised
and native-born citizens, which were
unnecessary. He was, therefore, in favor of the
amendment of the gentleman from Baltimore
county, (Mr. Buchanan.) He thought that re-
strictions enough would be imposed by that
amendment. No discriminations, he thought,
should be drawn except such as might be required
by the interests of the people, or important ob-
jects of public policy He thought there was no
such object in the present case, and he should
therefore vote for the amendment of the gentle-
man from Baltimore county.
Mr. BROWN gave notice, that when in order,
he would move to strike out, in the second line,
the words " been for ten years," and insert the
word " be," [so as to permit any man who had
been a resident of the State for seven years to be
eligible.]
Mr. SPENCER. Say ten years.
Mr. BROWN. It will shut out native Ameri-
cans—those who are here in the country, coming
from another State into Maryland.
Mr. SPENCER. Not at all.
Mr. BROWN, [resuming,] A foreigner, then,
cannot be elected Governor, unless he has been
a resident of the State for ten years. I think
that is enough.
Mr. SPENCER gave notice that at the proper
time, he should offer the following amendment,
strike out in sixth section, from the word "year,"
in the second line, to the word " and," in the
fourth line, and insert these words, " and been
for ten years a resident citizen (if this State."
Mr. GRASON thought, that practically, it was
a matter of very little importance whether the
Convention decided upon the term of ten, seven
or five years. It was not probable that any for-
eigner would ever be nominated or elected Gov-
ernor of the State of Maryland. Still, he thought
it was their duty to show to the people that this
Convention was not making a provision with the
express object of bringing in a man who had not
been for ten years a citizen of the Untied States.
He had, in the first instance, designated the pe-
riod of ten years., but, upon subsequent reflection,
had thought it better to designate seven. At the
same time, he repeated, that so far as the practi-
cal operation of the section was concerned, he
was indifferent as to the term.
Mr. CHAMBERS said, he must express his regret
at these unceasing, persevering efforts to shape
our Constitution, as if we were in an especial
manner providing for a particular class of per-
sons—a class of foreigners and strangers. The
current seemed continually to become deeper
and wider as we proceeded. This instance ex-
emplified the remark. An intelligent committee
in the calm quiet of their committee room, had
unanimously reported these restrictions. They
had deemed it proper to require of foreigners a
reasonable period of time for a residence amongst
us, to enable them to acquire a knowledge of our
peculiar institutions, and to undergo a probation
before they could be admitted to the chief execu- |
tive office, but the continually growing demand for
the privileges of these people, the accession of
new advocates and the defeat of opposition to
them, was now leading the Convention to over-
rule the well considered caution of the commit-
tee. He thought it time to call a halt in this pro-
gress.
He had yet to learn that in any State in this
Union, a foreigner had been made Governor.
Why should Maryland desire to go ahead of the
rest of the American world in this respect? Was
it to invite, foreigners to come amongst us? It
could scarcely be supposed they could propose
to themselves such a motive for their emigration.
He supposed no man here expected, that he or
his children or his children's children, would live
to see the day when a foreigner, in ten years af-
ter his coming into the country, would be made
chief magistrate of the State.
He was willing to pay any just tribute to the
merits of foreigners, but such a provision as is
now advocated, is an indirect imputation of in-
competency, upon our own citizens. Had there
every been a dearth of our own people, that we
must invite foreigners to fill this station? Cer-
tainly there was no evidence of scarcity in na-
tive material at present, nor any prospect of a fu-
ture diminution. He preferred the proposition
reported by the committee, and as no advantage
could result from any high bidding on the one
side or the other, he hoped the house would not
consent to change it. There being neither ne-
cessity nor advantage to recommend it, why
change it for the mere sake of change?
Mr. BROWN read the fourth section of the
second article of the Constitution of the State of
Pennsylvania, in the words following:
"He, [the Governor.] shall be at least thirty
years of age, and have been a citizen and an in-
habitant of this State, seven years next before
his election, unless he shall have been absent on
the public business of the United States, or of
this State."
Mr. BUCHANAN said he did not know what the
gentleman from Kent, (Mr. Chambers,) meant
by "high bids," He was unable to say whether
the gentleman intended to apply his remarks to
his venerable colleague, (Mr. Dorsey,) who had
favored the amendment offered by him, (Mr. B.,)
or to some other person.
I can only say, continued Mr. B,, that howev-
er disconcerted the gentleman from Kent may
fee] at the undoubted indications of a liberal ten-
dency on the part of the gentleman from Anne
Arundel, [Mr. Dorsey,] we who desire to advo-
cate liberal doctrines here, are altogether satis-
fied with his position on this question, and wel-
come his advent with pleasure. The grounds
assumed by the honorable gentleman from Anne
Arundel, in his argument just submitted to the
Convention, are liberal, equitable, and patriotic.
He is opposed to odious and ungenerous distinc-
tion between the native born and the naturali-
zed citizen. And this we hold to be the true doc-
trine.
Although, said Mr. B., this remark of " high
bids" was made by the gentleman from Kent, |
