Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-03-09
CONGRESS
OF THE
UNITED STA e z j.
HOUSE OF REpR EsENTAF1VEs.
Thursday Dec. 8.
DeBats on the amendment to,tbel 0'asf's'''0''
Continued
Continued
clNr. Godaar4's sseech c0otiauea.J

-
at this time, into arguments winch have
already been advanced, with much force'
respecting the influence ofthls change upon
the rights of great and small states can
add nothing to their weight by repetition.
But [ may be permitted again, to call the
attention ofthe house, tothe important and
singular additions which the Senate have
annexed to the discriminating principle
We sent resolution to the Senate, III
which we declared, that in case no choice
should be made by the electors, Presl-.
dent should be chosen from the five per-
sons, highest on the list. The Senate have
not adopted this, butsent down to Us, the
number three. Without attending attllls
time to verbal criticism, OF advertlng to the
extreme ambiguitylof the sentence which
contains the number or numbers oil persons,
or classes of persons, out OF which the
house OF Representatives are to chuse, IN
case no election is made by the electors; l
viii only say, that whether three IN that
sentence is made to refer to persons, or to
classes Of persons, highest on the list, it is
in either view, the most Objectionable nun
Der, which the Senate could have selected.
L am not disposedto cultivate local feelings,
or distinctions arising from geographical
situations. But, sir, such is the extent OF
this country; such il diversity OF interests.
manners and habits, that parties viii rise
az hereafter, influenced by such conside-
rations. Look at the United States, and
consider what may, and probably will be
the great sections of the union, most. like
IL to be united in their views respecting a
Chief Magistrate. The eastern states will
form one section. The middle another
The southern third And the western a
fourth. This last from It's great accessi-
ons, and rapid increase, will soon be the
most influential OF the whole. Suppose
each of these sections of the union, should
set UP their candidates for the Offices Of
President and Vice President? From a
disunion, no election is made. A choice
devolves on the house of Representatives.
By this resolution choice must be made
from the candidates presented by three OF
these sections of the union, 70 the total ex-
clusion Of the fourth and which thatfourth
will be, is not difficult to predict. The a.
doption of this part of the resolution IS,
on this account, extremely Objectionable.
But sir, the Senate have in this resolu-
ton proposed to alter the constitution, in
another important particular; and, have va
ried, essentially from the resolution, which
we sent to item. No less in effect, than
to take the choice from US, the immediate
Representatives of the people, and assume
it to themselves. And we are called upon
to submit to this! / speak not now, under
the impression OF state or any otherlocal
feelings, but as the Representative of a Tree
people. In case no choice is made BY the
electors, the constitution has conhded that
choice to the Representatives Of the people,
without even the concurrence OF the Sc
nate. BY the resolution on your table, we
surrender that power wholly, IN certain e.
vents to the Senate.
Having 2ateJ this ohicttioa on forme day
when that part of he retoluton WAS Under dis
Clifton, gentleman from Virginia lhlr. Ran
dolph) in reply TO my ofeevatiors, gave TIVE an
lwers-One, which he cenfdered as oonolalvc,
was, that although the Senate, if this asnend
rneut becomes part of The contribution, may elect
Vice Preldent, who may become Prefdent ct
the United States, for four years, yet that this
could only happen, upon failure of The Houfs
of Representatives. to do their duty, and make
choice. Did the gentleman, tetore he gave this
anfwer, -cooGder that the ptoyiion in this rciolu.
.ion, $40 which the objstiion is taken, is pre-
d6ted wholly % the idea, that the FIoule If Re-
prefentatyes will fail TO make a choice; the
proyifion itlef fuppofss that a cafe will happen,
in which 10 choice will be made by the Houfr O.
Representatives.. 1t is introduced TO guard a.
a;.G Ii. auii. Which - is fnnnniea may reiIl.-