Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1803-11-03
CONGRESS
OF THE
UNITED STD z EsS.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, Octoaer d.
AMENDMENT ofths Constitution.
(coNcLUDEp.)

amendment ought TO De 10 prevent PClooAs
voted for as Vice President from becom-
ing President 1.-THE amendment effected
this. it was sufficient. All other innovati-
on upon the Constitution was improper:
and no dangers could arise from extend
ing the right of the House of Represen~
4atives to making choice from THEY'VE
highest.
Mr.. Rodney said that in the select com.
mittee he had been in favour of the number
stated in the Constitution. He was not
Tor innovating on the Constitution one tit
tie more than was absolutely necessary. -
AS to the mere designation OF office, the
people looked for and expected 1t; and If
that were obtained, they would be satisfied.
He well knew thatif amendments to this
simple proposition were multiplied, ob]ec-
lions TO the whole would also be increased.
Having been originally in favour of five,
and thinking the inconvenience apprehen-
ded BY some gentlemen not likely to.occur,
he should vote in favor of the amendment
of the gentleman from Maryland, Prlncl-
pally for the reason assigned by the gentle
man from Connecticut, that it would al
low to the smaller states larger scope OF
choice.
Mr.. Elliott hoped the amendment Of the
gentleman from Maryland would not pre-
wall; and coming as he did himself from a
small state, he trusted the house would
pardon him for assigning his reasons for
that hope. He felt confidence in the house
of representatives, as well as the gentle
man from Connecticut; but he was of OPT
Mon that their discretion ought to be limit
ed. The amendment will give the house
of representatives the unqualified power OF
electing from the whole number on the list
Of persons voted for as president; and on
this ground he opposed it. It was said to
be a question of larger and smaller states,
and those who represent the smaller states
were called upon to check the usurpatlon OF
the large states: Our system was undoubt-
edIy federative; and there mightbe danger
of an usurpation of the large states if the
small ones were not protected by the con-
stitution. His wish was that they naightbe
so guarded. But he still thought the dis
erection of the house of representatives
ought to be limited. When this subject
was first discussed, an observation of a gen
tleman from Virginia Mr.. Clopton) had
struck him with force. That gentleman
had correctly stated that, according to the
proposition then before the house, one can
didate might have 81 votes, another IS,
and three have one vote, and a choice be
made from among the candidates having
but one vote. Should the amendment of
the gentleman from Maryland obtain, the
same right would existin the House of Re-
representatives.. But the gentleman asks If
any House of Representative will dare to
elect a person having but one vote. He
hoped they always would dare to do their
duty, and it-would then be their constitu-
tional right. But Mr.. E. thought they
ought not to possess this discretion. Cen
tlemen further say the great object is de-
sipnation of the Office. It is so. 1t was
his sincere wish that that simple object
should be attained. But he believed there
would be no danger in adding to the pro-
position an amendment restricting the
number from which the,choiee should be
made.
Mr.. 6. W. Campbell said he too repre-
sented a small state and was anxious to pre-
serve the rights of the small states. Bur
in great Constitutional question, while
these rights were not lost sight OF, rrinci-
pie ought also to beregarded. This he
conceived his duty, whatever effect it might
have upon the state he represented. For
this reason he considerable proper to .ex-
press his ideas on the present occasion. It
was vital principle to preserve the Constl-
tuition as pure as possible. This rendered
it necessary to shew that the proposition of
the gentleman from Pennsylvania MIR.
Iln,rA r.a,,aa 1,eare,. to the r,rincinle of The