Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-03-03

3nv popular sgi --tiNrs or Inconvenience !
Hsvr they tended 70 ALLEVIATE, or cnnciliale /
the y,l,;ic raicd? Have they created. OF
r. moved discomfort? Have they weaken !
ell or streny hen-d the election and Al
tach neat of our citizens? Certainly. Sir, !
The ice ofcxpercnce, our best ;Nstru ,lor
on the subject, has pronounced the cons,i- (
tuinno, process of anendlnC thc CrNsli-
tut'on 70 be safe and saluiary. There
can, then, be no such objection aC re
neal nature to the amendment under con-
sid"ration.
The true question FOR us to decide is,
not whether the amendment now propos.
ed is the best that could be devised? Il
is question OF comparison, not with any
other contemplated modification of ihe
amrniment, but between this and the ex-
istrg observation-disclosures a vote agains,
1t. IN another place, in the House OF Re
prcscn'atives nf the u. States, might be
considcrednot as final negative. butrather
Is an evidence OF prediction for the re-
solution, which had been passed Nv that
II use. and not cnncurred in by the Senate:
However it might be there, it is different
here. II is not our duty, as it is that or
the two Houses OF Congress, to propose
anv amendment; but simply 90 ratiiy, or
reject il, when proposed. And whether
il is, IN the Judgment Of any gentleman
the very best, that is possible, or not, it
ought to be ratified, if it is found upon
candid comparison, to be preferable to
that FIR which il is offered as substi-
ture. II is properly question of prefer
ence.
The proposed amendment contains four
variations from the existing clause Of the
Constitution. The first and principal one
is the discrimination of electoral votes.
Tae second is consequential and subcrdi-
nltc to the first; that. in an eventual
choice bv the House Of Rep esentatives,
the selection shall be made, not as at pre-.
sert - fro n the Eve highest on the list"
but from the persons having the highest
numbers, not exceeding three The
third Respects the election of the Vice
President, requiring majority of votes
to constitute an election, and Cor want of
snch uaiori'v, authorising the Senate to
MAKE selection " from ;he two highest
numbers" The fourth is a provision that
III case ofa vacancy in the Presidency, by
nn-elcEtion, the President Shall
al as President.--TheSe are the ONLY ma
terial alterations.
The Constitutional article. proposed 10
be amended, has been said to have been
introduced near the close of the national
convention, as a substitute for others
which had been moved and objected 10.
after most Of the contested principles of
the Constitution had been settled and when
the members were not only iliigued and
i'm D1tien', but unwilling 70 hazard any
thing unnecessarily by entering upon new
grounds of debate. II was in SOM re
spe Is, novel bat twas adopted 60 far
a relates to the iDdiscr' mination of eecto-
raj v9fes, the convention who formed the
constitution, and those who ratified Il 10
the several states, were alike destitute or
any instruction derived from history or
f1m our own national or state experience.
Il was m un.ried theory, having never
been ltte nptcdin practice. Its practical
operation and effects we're. for that reason,
m1re likely to be miscalcnlatcd, 1t is,
therefore, cmpha,icilly within the spirit,
So we'll as th= letter Of the clause pro
Viding for occasional revision ard amenj
Incnt.
Duiinr the two frs, presidential term ,.
Il a'.r3@led no special notice, from the pc
cuiiar state of the country. 81 that neriod
r state, Which viii not probably recur IN =
Century. There was then one chsracler H.
whom ~ parties had confidence. WASH.
INGr5S had No conpetitor for the presi.
d.ncv. The only competition was for the
Vice presidency While bo'h parties thus
uni'eA in one common candidate Cor Tie
FIST o.Tire hut divided between rival can
d'dafes for the second there vas a ylrlu j
d~sig- alien, as real and as CT 1u,l, as If
/, .l1 been written on the ballots. Al
squl'jv Of votes, with all is inco0venien
eies and dangers, was absolutely excluded
Bu a, spnn a. there was compe ition f.
the Presidency the attention nrthc public
was TUNED to this constitutional point.
The improperly NJ want uf discrimins
ton becanr a su'ic0 If coayerg ,tion ~
priva'e circles md publications in news.
pap@"s. At length it eNcitcd Legislative.
attention. IS early rs he year 796, the
Legislature Of New Hinr hire passed
resolve in favor Of amending this part or
the Cpos'i'pion. Their resolve, sanf(i.
onei by The aDprobaory signature Of Go.
Varuor or - 10 ~ ~ cofy1 rutgnicofad 10 e.