Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-07-04

Our readers will learn with satisfaction
that the Legislature of New Hampshire
have ratified the A2iEwDMENr 10 the CON
SFiFJTION, respecting the node Of e.
lecling President and Vice President. Thi,
act, by uniting the sanctions of three
Iourths OF the state legislatures, makes the
amendment part Of the Constitution.
The following are The states which have
agreed to it:
Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Yer.
mont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania Maryland, Virginia, North Carroll
ma, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and
Ohio--i3.
The following states have rejected it:
NJ ,ssachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut.
The state of Tennessee has not We: de-
cided upon it. Little doubt is entertained
OF her agreeing to il.
On this event we congratulate the friends
of a republican government. Fully i'm
pressed with the convi Sion that Il maio-
rty should govern they viii rejoice that
those mans of intrigue are eradicated.
which might, at some future period, have
hazarded The peace and the liberties of the
country. Such Is the effect Of the amerd
ment that no man can hereafter be pro
mo,ed % the Chi-f Magistracy without d
far and decided expression of the publlL
will in his favor.
The manner in which this important
modification Of the Constitution has been
effected, is scarcely less interesting THAI
the amendment itself. is friends have
supported it by fair argument, while lis
enemies have opposed it with all the fury
OF party. But, notwithstanding this in
tiammalory opposition, so irresistible have
been the reasons in its favor, that thirteen
states out of sixteen have agreed 10 it. OF
the former, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Vir
glnia and Pennsylvania have ratified it Dy
votes almost unanimous, and South Caro-
lima, North Carolina, MARYLAND Vermont,
New Jersey and Rhode Island, by prea,
maJortIes; while its rejection has in the
large state Of Massachusetts, been effected
but by atriliing majority, and in the states
OF Connecticut and Delaware b. less Than
two Thirds of the members of the legl,la.
lures. The rat:fying states send 10 the
House OF Representatives of the United
States, l3 members, while the rejecting
statessend but26. From which il apDears
that the representatives of more than four
, i"uia OF the American people have decd-
ed in favor Of il.
The amendment has been very absurd
" presented as involving question of
large and small states, and the Dre;uaices
and PASSIONS of the one have been altemp,-
ed to be played off agsinst those Of the o.
Their; with what little success will appear,
when 1t is stated that of the thirteen re- /
, tying states, eight, viz. Rho lie Island, New
Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Ma
ryiand, South Carolina, Georgia and Ohio.
are small states, and fve. viz NV York,
/ Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina
and Kentucky are large states; while Of
the three rejecting states, fsOo, viz. Dea-
ware and Connecticut arc small and enc,
VIZ. Massachusetts large. Thus does it
appear that the good sense of the states on
bo'h sides have rejccteG lie idle dcclama.
ton, as unworthy OF notice.
(Ndt. lniel)
The resolutions offered in the Massa.
chusetIs Legislature by Mr.. Ely, merit,
the notice of the people Of the United
States; not because at the present time,
the principles they contain and the effects
to which such principles necessarily lead
can be in the least dangerous, but because
II is all important thatin the present period