Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-03-05
con GREss
OF THE
UNITED STATES.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
Thursday Dec. 8.
CON G r e S S
Thursday Dec. 8.
Debate os the Aaisndne,s to the Constitution.
Continued.

Fl,
constitution now on your table had been
already discussed, | did hope that the
question on its final passage would have
been decided Yesterday. | thought the
minority could have. no Just cause OF CONF =
plant that they had not been heard, and
believe the people OF the United states
s will concur with me in this sentiment, when
they attend to the lengthy speeches on the
SUBJECT, with which the newspapers have
been filed for several weeks. lhs great
anxiety of the majority, discovered by
their loud and repeated calls for the cues
ton, convinced me that they aiso.were ful-
" satisfied with what had been said, and
were willing to rest,tfle decision on the dis
cussion that had already taken place. lie
appeared, however,, that enc gentleman Of
the majority ENTERTAINERS different opinion.
Alta late hour last night, he again entered
the field of discussion, and delivered his
seHtiments!at considerable length. a de-
cent respect for the minority requires
that they should be heard in reply. shall
now Attend with patience to gentlemen on
both sides, and althoughI had intended to
take no part In the debate, shall ask the
indulgence of the house, while briefly
state the reasons that will influence my
vote, and notice the most prominent OBJ
iections that have been urged BY gentlemen
in the opposition,
II am willing to acknowledge Mr.. Speak
| er, that the constitution of the u. States,
In my estimation far surpasses in excellence
nay that it is infinitely superior to the
constitution of another country that has
been stiled g the most stupendous nonu-
ment of human wisdom" Ibelieve it to
be the best that now is, or perhaps that e.
yer was In the world. The naraes of,those
sages, to whose wisdom and patriotism we
| are indebted for it, viii | trust be always
recollected by the American people with
gratitude and pleasure. But sir, it is q
constitution of experiment.. The wise fra-
mers of it with all their sagacity could not
foresee, how far It's various provisions
would in practice correspond with their
views, or answer their expectations. 1t
looked fair in the theory, but It's real ex-
/ cellence was to be tested bpexperlence, and.
| therefore a provision was inserted for IN.
| PRODUCING amendments, when experience
should prove the propriety ofadopting them.
This it must be acknowledged is an adra5e
! rable provision, and also q convincing EVIL
| .dence Of the candor OF the convention
| Conscious Of their own faliibility as men,,
they did not, as. some have since done, pro-
/ claim the. constitution 70 be perfect. They
fforesaw that experience might discover
some irnperfections, and therefore they
inserted the fifth article, declaring that,
& the Congress, whenever two thirds of
both houses shall deem il necessary, shall
Y propose. amendments TO this constitution !;
/ or, on the applicationscf two thirds of the
several states, shall cali q convention for
! proposing amendments, which, in either
case, shall be valid to all intents and pur-
| poses as part Of this Constitutes, Syc.n
The article respecting the election Of
! President and Vice President, / have un-
, -dierstood@was suddenly adopted BY the con-
vention. a varietyos modes Of chnsing
! the chief magistrate had been suggested,
j none OF which received the appreciation of
| a majoriSy Fatigued with the subject all
! parties united in supporter the naode con-
/, tanned in the article as itnow stands, which
was not proposed until all the other plans
j.had been rejected. Plaudable however
| es it appears, and supported asst has been
| by the opinions Of very eminent men, tits
/ onexperlence foundto be imperfect. The
result of the last election evinces this be-
! yond the possibility ola doubt. Had the
discriminating principle now contended for
been at that timeln the constitution, could
the electors have designated on their ballots,
who theY voted for as President and who