The question then was on the adoption of the
said fifth section, as amended;
The question was taken, and
The section as amended, was adopted.
Mr. CHAMBERS, of Kent, gave notice that when
there should be a full Convention, he would
move to reconsider the vote by which the amend-
ment of Mr. THOMAS, had been adopted,
The sixth section was then read as follows:
Sec. 6. The General Assembly may continue
their first two sessions after the adoption of this
Constitution, as long as in the opinion of the two
Houses, the public interest may require it, but
all subsequent regular sessions of the General
Assembly shall be closed on the tenth day of
March next ensuing the time of their commence-
ment, unless the same shall be closed at an ear-
lier day by the agreement of the two Houses.
Mr. PARKE moved to amend the section by
striking out "two sessions" and inserting "ses-
sion."
The question was taken; and
The amendment was rejected.
And then the section was adopted.
The seventh section was read as follows:
Sec. 1. No person shall be eligible as a Sena-
tor or Delegate who, at the time of his election,
is not a citizen of the United States, and who
has not resided at least three years next preced-
ing the day of his election in the State, and the
last year thereof in the which he may be
chosen to represent, if such shall have
been so long established, and if not, then in the
county from which in whole or in part, the same
may have been formed; nor shall any person be
eligible as a Senator, unless he shall hare also
attained the age of years, nor as a Delegate
unless he shall have attained the age of twenty-
one years at the time of his election,
Mr. THOMAS moved to fill the blank in the
fourth line, with the words "county, city) or
district."
Mr. DORSEY moved to amend the amendment
by striking out the word "district,"
After a brief explanation between Messrs.
THOMAS and DORSEY—
Mr. THOMAS accepted Mr. DORSEY'S amendment.

The amendment thus modified, was agreed
to.
And the same words,
On motion of Mr. THOMAS,
Were inserted in the fifth line of the section.

Mr. SPRIGG moved to amend the seventh section,
as follows:
Strike out in the second line, the words "is
not a citizen of the United States," and insert
"has not been a citizen of the United States for
at least five years "
Mr. BROWN, This is an important amendment
1 ask the yeas and nays.
Mr. THOMAS called for a division of the question,
first on striking out.
Mr. DORSEY said:
He was opposed to the proposition of the gentleman
from Prince George's, (Mr. Sprigg,) the

object of which was, to postpone the rights of
naturalized citizens. Was any beneficial object
to be effected by it? He saw no reason for such a
provision. When the old Constitution was formed
it was not considered necessary that either the
Governor, a Senator or a member of the House
of Delegates, should be a citizen, nor was it con-
sidered that voters should be so until the year
1836. That, however, was wrong; and the con-
stitutional amendments of 1836 provided the rem-
edy. But it appeared to him to be altogether
unnecessary to require the lapse of five years
afternaturalization before a naturalized foreign-
er can be admitted to the privileges of a native
born citizen.
He was unwilling to impose unnecessary res-
traints on naturalized citizens; they ought to have
the same rights as natives. There was not the
east danger of the State being so overrun by
naturalized citizens, as to render them dangerous
to the native born population. Maryland held out
no such inducements to their settlement in it, in
such excessive numbers, as did the new States. If
naturalized citizens settle among us and give
proof of their attachment to our institutions, by
so conducting themselves as to obtain the respect
and confidence of the community, their fellow-
citizens think proper to elect them to responsible
stations, he would not interpose in this respect
any restriction to the wishes of the people. He
saw no benefit in its interposition—no evil result-
ing from its omission. He would deem it wrong
to put a limit of this kind on the free exercise of
the elective franchise, and eligibility to office.
In the State of Maine, he believed, there was a.
restriction of this kind, where the population is
made up) in some portions of the State, of En-
glish and Irish, and other foreigners, which ren-
dered it necessary, in the opinion of those who
framed the Constitution of that State, to impose
such restriction.
But in this State, be repeated, we had no
ground of apprehension of an excessive or dan-
gerous influx of foreign population; and if the
people chose to elect a naturalized citizen to an
office of trust and honor, he knew no reason why
they should be restricted in their choice.
Mr. SPRIGG interposed and said, that if the
gentleman from Anne Arundel, (Mr. Dorsey,)
would yield the floor for the purpose, he, (Mr.
S.,) would relieve the gentleman from the ne-
cessity of further discussion.
He, (Mr, S.,) had no intention to excite de-
bate on this or any other question. With the
permission of the gentleman, he would withdraw
his amendment.
Mr. DORSEY yielding the floor for the pur-
pose;
Mr. SPRIGG withdrew his amendment.
Mr. MCHENRY moved to amend the section by
striking out all from the words "United States,"
to the word "nor" in the seventh line, and inserting
"and of this State."
Mr. McH. said, that the requirement of three
years residence would be avoided by the adoption
of his amendment. He thought the people
were always sufficiently jealous of any encroach-