Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-01-17
CONGRESS
OF THE
u NITED STA e EES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
October 26, 1908.
Debate on the AMENDMENT to the Constitution
CONTINUED.
TMr. Huger's speech concluded. J

ness, thar the proposed mode OF electing
the President and Vice President, has
been PRESENTED underssa very different as
~pect to the public vley. "A respectable
sTaember from Pennsylvania Mr.. Gregg
has indeed undertaken to give us the.whole
history of the amendment, as ne terms 1t,
and infers from thence, thatsueh an alte-
ration in the constitution has been long
contemplated and wished for by all parts
of the union, He tells us that a former
member from South Carolina, the state
have the honor at this time to represent,
had brought forward proposition to the
same effect, that a similar one had once
originated in New Hampshire, that the
state Of New-York had two years ago SUBJ
mitted to the consideration OF Congress a
resolution, proposing in substance the very
alteration, now about to be adopted, and
that it had been before us during both the
last sessions. All this, Sir, is no doubt
true, but / draw very contrary inference
from it to that of the honorable gentleman.
H has proven to be sure that certain IN
diyiduals some parts even OF this union,
have at different times, for party and local
purposes, or from whatever cause, propos-
ed and perh APPS been desrous that an altera-
ton of this Kind should be made IN the con-
sttution. Heshas proven however-at the
same time and no less evidently, that the
great body ofthe union have always been
opposed to any such change, that the pub
lie mind has not heretofore been ripe for it.
| And even at this moment sir, 1 feel the
most perfect conviction, if the people had
time and could take correct and tempe
rate view Of the real merits OF the question /;
If the irritations of the moment, the party
feelings of the day, could be laid aside, the
small states in particular could never be-
come SO wantoniy felo de se--commlt such
evident self murder, (if may be allowed
the expression nor could the constitutions
al majority in the two houses of congress,
stillless demonstrations number of states,
ever be found ta rat;fy SO great, so.als I'M
portant an innovation and change IN the fun
damentaI principles of the federal compact.
The chance of ultimate success depends
am confident even row, upontEe party feel
ine and party zeal Of the times, and the lr-
ritation. which was excited and has been
so industriousiy kept up since the late con-
tested election Of the President. Twas my
self, as YOU know, sir, one OF the actors IN
that scene, and | may venture to say that
from the peculiar situation, IN which | was
placed, had it in my power to Judge more
cody and dispassionately OF the occurren-
ces of that day than almost any other lndi-
yidual In the United States. 1t IS well
known to every one, who knew any thing
of me at the time, that was warm, SIM
cere and Jealous advocate of the two gene
tlemen who were understood to be the fe-
deral candidates. The majority .ot the e
lectors, however, having given their votes
to the two candidates, who were brought
forward and supported in opposition to
them, and they having been fond to have
equal votes, it devolved upon the house OF
representatives to FIX upon the one OF the
two characters who should ELL the office OF
chief magistrate. In this state ofthlngs,
it's no secret, sir, although we afterwards
voted by ballot, that separated from my
political friends and those ofmy colleagues
who were on the floor and performed the
painful task Of acting in direct opposltlon.to
them. I consequently voted invariably tor
the candidate, who ultimately prevailed;
and now fills the Office of chief magistrate
Of the United Stetes, until the last ballot
when withdrew into an adjoining COM
nittee room, IN order to facilitate declsi-
On of the contest. Situated as | was there
| fore, it may well be imagined, that could
not be over jealous or feei any very pecu-
liar interest in the success Of either OF the
two candidateswho were opposed to each
other-I had acted according TO the best OF
| my Judgment, and in compliance with the
1 L;.4ntas &c NJ, c1,nScience In voting for the