Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-01-18
NGREss
OF THE
UNITED STA TES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
October IS, 1903.
DEBATE on The amendment to the Constitution
CONTINUED.

rise for the purpose of going into an elabo-
rate discussion, upon the subject OF the
proposed amendment to the constitution
for that has been alreadyveIy fully debat-
ed1 but merely to state some OF the rea-
sons. which will influence me III voting
againstit.
/ have always believed, sir, that the fede-
raj constitution, was as much the result OF
compromise and mutual concession, as OF
great deliberation and wisdom and that
alterations in this charter OF our national
union, ought to be made with extreme eau
ton. In respect to the amendment pro-
posed, / have understood that in the con-
vention Of delegates that framed the con-
stitution variety of ways tor electing
President and Vice President, We're pro-
posed and all rejected, until the new con-
stitutional one was offered, which was a.
greed to, with this mode of electinga Pre-
sident and Vice President, | am satisfied
IL believe many advantages result from
it-by the present mode, the electors IN
giving their votes for two persons to be
President and Vice President, will be ln-
duced (from the uncertainty which OF the
two voted for will be elected President to
give their ballots for two persons, either of
whom shall be well qualified to discharge
the important powers or duties of first ma
gstrate ofthe nation. But if the proposed
amendment prevails, will not the Office of
Vice President in all future elections, be
considered as a mere sinecure? and altho'
the person voted for to ill that Office may
be we'll qualified to perform the duties in-
cumbent upon him as president of the Sc
nate yet he may be wholly unqualified to
fEthe office Of the President of the United
States; and person in whom the Ameri-
can people would have no confidence as
such: butby the proposed amendment up
on such unfit person, in the event OF the
removal of the president from oHice-his
death, resignation, or his inability to dis
charge the duties and powers Of the Office,
will devolve all the duties and powers of
first NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. advantage that
/ conceive may he the effect of the EXISTING
constitutional mode Of electing Presi-
dent and vice president, is, that it may be
the means of checking and moderating the
rage and violence Of party spirit, and con-
trollng and putting down faction. by the
election of President, who may be agree
able TO the wishes OF the minority, and
thereby producing an equilibrium Of power
between contepding parties. Besides, sir,
fear if tLe amendment obtains, that it may
give a weight and influence to the large
states in the union in the election of pre-
sident and vice president that they ought
mot to possess--and though ! have the
honor of being representative from state
of some consequence. in the union, on ac-
count of its population and resources, still
/ cannot wish that Massachusetts in this or
any other way should acquire any undue
advantage or improper influence over the
smallzr states.
In fine the reasons and arguments that
have heard In this house in the course OF
the debate, particularly those offered by
the honorable gentleman from South Caro-
lima last up Mr.. Huger) have convinced
me that the. proposed amendment ought not
that the to be made. | will not say, sir,
constitution is perlectin allits provisions
there is particular patriotic, in article 1st,
section second and third paragraph, thar
fixes the rule of representation, which |
wish TO see altered in due time-I wish to
sec.this part of the constitution altered, be-
cause wish to see upon the floor OF this
house an MISREPRESENTATION of free ,citi-
zens, and of free citizens only. As the
constitutional rule now is, the representa-
ton is made unequal. But this it will be
said was also the effect Of a spirit ofaccom.
modation and compromise. TWAS COM
promise, however, by which one part of the
union has obtained a great and in my OPT
mon, Unjust advantage over other parts Of
the union. A compromise, Sir, by which
the southern states have gained avery con-