Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-10-25
CON GRESs
OF THE
UNITED TIT E S.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Wednesdt1u. October I9.

the Constitution, offered on Monday by MI.
Dawson, as follows
Resolved, BIZ the Senate and H1use Of
REPRESENTATIVES d the United States Of line
RIGA, IN CONGRESS- assembled, Two thirds Of
both Houses concurring, that the following
article be proposed to the legislatures Of the
several states, as an amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, which
when ratified by three fourths Of sae said
legislatures, shall be valid to all intents
and purposes, as part Of the said Constitu-
ton, VIZ.
That in ell future elections of President
and Vice-P President, the persons voted for
Shall beIparticularlyd esignat, ed by declaring
whichis voted for as President, and which
as Vice-P President.
!. Mr.. Nicholson said the proposition now
under consideration contemplated an i'm
portant amendment ofthe constitution, and
he thought it the duty of the House to rem
der it so plain and ineligible, that hereaf-
ter no room should be left for doubt. The
circumstances attending the election of the.
present chief Magistrate were uncommon
in their nature, and he believed had left an
almost universal impression uponthe public
mind, that some amendment to the 'consti-
tuition should be adopted. In doing this
however it was necessary, that the amend
ment should clearly and precisely express
the meaning of those who are to adopt it
as a rule for the future government of their
conduct. The motion before the commit
tee was sufficiently correct as far as it went,
but in his opinion if that alone were to be a.
greed to, the constitution itself would be
extremely equivocal, and future legislatures
would be involved in difficulties, not very
farhnferior tothose from whichIwe are anxi-
Gus TO relieve them. The constitution as
it now stands, provides that the electors
shall assemble and vote for two persons,
that the votes thus given shall be sealed up,
and sent to the President of the Senate and
by him shall be opened in presence of both
Houses OF Congress, and that the person
having the greatest number of votes, il such
number be majority of all the electors APP
pointed, shall be the president; but if more
than one have an equal number then the
House of Representatives is to choose one
of them as president; and if no person has
a majority then the House are to choose
from the Eve higheston the list, one of
them as president. In all cases however,
it is further provided otter the choice of a
President, tire Person having the greatest
number Of v0tes shall be tie Nice-President.
Thus the constitution now stands; but lift
is amended in the manner proposed, it may
be extremely uncertain what part of the o.
riginal constitution is annulled and what is
to remain in force. These are to be left to
future construction--to make himself more
fully comprehended, Mr.. N. said he would
suppose case. After adopting the pro-
posed amendment A. and b. being voted
fors as president have an equal number of
the votes of the electors, neither having
majority, and c. and ID. have an equal num-
Der of votes for Vice-President, neither of
these having a majority. In such an event
the constitution as 1t now stands provides
that the House of Representatives shall
choose president from the FIVE highest on
the list, and unless this provision is annul-
led by the amendmentnow proposed, per-
Son voted for by the electors as vice-presi-
dent may be chosen by this House as presi-
dent. AgainA--A. and B. being voted for
as president, have an equal number of
votes, but neither has a majority; c. D.
and E. being voted for as Vice-President
have likewise an equal number of votes,
but neither of them have as great number
as the TWO first. Here agreeable to the con-
stitution as it now stands, afterthe president
lis chosen, the person having the. greatest
number ofvotes is to be the V. President,
& ofcourse, the choice must fall upon man
who has notbeenvoted forby the electors as
Y. P. but, upon one who has been voted for !;
as President. IF these difficulties occur at
IL. Il