Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-04-20

inc by states, 4 Die to the inconve-
niences that mig e from voting per
captain so large as this IS, on st.cll
an occasion, which ould III some degree
partake OF the nature Of popular election.
From this view Of the subject / conceve1is
will also result, that the trainers Of the con-
stitution In fixing on the FIVE highest on the
list of those voted for as President and
Vice President, as the nunEer q cancs-
dates, from whomthis House should choose
the President, in case the event should rem
der such choi e necessary, could nothaye
Intended, thereby to confer ans favor enthe
small states, more than they wodsd hive
done bs.fixing on the TWO, three or four
highest on tie list; as it has been sheWn
that the small states could NJ te benefited
by the electioa beng decided inthis House.
Il am therefore decidedly Of opinion, that
the relative interests OF the large and snalF
states had no influence whatever i'll fixing
the number five in the constitution. But |
conceive that number was adopted o. the
trainers OF the constitution as the least ex-
cepsionable to the states IN general, when
connected withthe present mode Of voting
for President and Vice President without
designation; according to that mode ofe-
lection, three persons Nigh: have each
majority Of the votes of Fall the electors, and
of the whole number Of votes be an equal
number, (Which will BIZ the case atthe next
electioa) Jour persons might divide the
votes equally, each having within one oil q
majority OF The whole number of electors
appointed: and this il a case that might
have been considered as likely to take place,
upon the supposition that two persons would
BE- nominated and voted for by one POLITE
cal party, and Two other persons BY OPP
poslte party; therefore less than the four
highest or the Hst, could not, with any
reason, have been adopted, from whom
this house should choose the President in
case no election was made by the electors;
and the trainers of the constitution thought
it advisable to add one to this number,
making the Eve highest on the list, con-
ceiving in all probability, that this would
have an effect to prevent an equality of e.
lectoral votes being given for different per-
sons, and thereby be more likely to pro
duce all election by the electors. 1t must
also be taken into view chat from this num-
Der of candidates (hve) both the President
and Vice President are to be chosen, and
on that ground might be considered as
small a number as could reasonably have
been fixed upon. Here, Sir, | cannot
help noticing circumstance in this debate,
which presents to me avery singular aspect;
and thatis, that most of those who have
opposed this amendment On the ground of
It's affecting the Interests of the small states,
are Representatives from large states.--
These would seem TO become the protec-
tors of the rights of the small states, as If
they were not sufficiently tenacious of their
own interests. Is this anxiety in those
gentlemen for the security of The small
states and their rights really serious
or is it intended to awaken the fears o, the
small states and alarm them IN order to de-
feat the proposed amendment? / trust the
representatives of small states will see their
true interests, and will not be Influenced
by such measures. With.regard to the
verbal criticisms made on the manner in
which this resolution is expressed, deem
1t Unnecessary to enterinto any examination
ofther, except SO far as they relate to the
number Of candidates from whom the Pre-
sidentis to be chescnb by this House, II case
the event should render such choice ne
cessary. AS the resolution WAS printed
and laid on our tables, the words alluded
to are, 9. ,ffTom the .1es$ods fduing The high-
est nan,ber MT eaceeding tttee on the list, =
&c. In this, the word number: being SIM
gular, might occasion some doubt in the