The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-07-04
commoNwrALra OF MASSACHUSETTS.
In SENATE. Ipne Ia. 1904

y
The undersigned members ofthe Senate. nro-
tea againft the refolve this day paffed, for the
choice of Electors of PreGdent and Vice-PreG-
dent OF the United States on the part of this
commonwealth, by GENERAL TICKET. for
the following reafons.
t.Becaule 1t is departure from the practice
OF this Commonwealth in all former inltances of
The choice of Electors in which, 70 far as the
people have any agency, they have always vot-
ed by diftri6ts.
cd. Becaufe it is deviation from the fvfem
of election eHabliihed by law in the analogous
Gale ofchooling representatives. in CongreG by
dittricts fyltem introduced with deliberation
and fanctioned by fair experiment.
Sd. Becauieit is inconffent with the conaitu-
tional principle of Ele6ting Senators and Repre-
fcntatives in our State Legislature by diftries.
1 9TH. Becauie 1T is an innovation upon the ge
neral and immemorial cuftom of the people of
this commonwealth, who have inherited from
theirancetors the ufage and habit of voting for
their public officers, by diftriGts, of convenient
extent, IN all cafes, where more than one are to
be elected, by their fuffrages, to the fame Office
or fruit. The election of Governor and Lien
tenant-Governor, by General Ticket, is foun-
ded upon abiolute neceflity, there being only
one perton to be elected for the whole COM
monwealth, toedch ofthofe Offices. 1t is, there
fore, neither an exception from the general rule
ii.
no flich neceiiity exits Befides, thofe two fate
officers are not only Jingle, but ALTO permanent.
and are filled by annul elections for which a
few prominent chara tiers, refiding any where in
the tate, are, from year to year, generally for
long time, held ur to public contemplation as
candidates; by "hich means the people at large
have reaiona,le opportunity TO form a iude.
merit OF their qualifications and pretenlions
whereas there are 0 electors to be now choEen
TO y,eTfOrfn anf Has, !.
any fuch probationary Introduction or any fur
ther continuance in Office. The embarrahment
OF the people will be rendered ftill greater, by
Their being confined to vote for one Elector in
each diitrfct throughout the Commonwealth.
lnitead OF being left at liberty to vote for part
only, or for their General Ticket, the candidates
bet known and mof approved by them, in
whatever counties they might happen to refide.
5th. Becauie, from the peculiar lituatioo and
circumstances OF this Commonwealth, extending
from the fate of New-York to the province Of
New-Brunlwick, a difance Of more than five
hundred miles, feparated by the interiacency oil
another Rate, comprehendng three original CO.
ionles, and two independent Judiciary dfritfs
and containing eighteen counties, above four
hundred towns, and more than half a million of
inhabitants, the qualified voters in one extreme
nave not, and cannot have ftich KNOWLEDGE of
the principles and characters of the candidates
N'hNi N''NA.S VI ing commonwealth, as to
be able TO act underfandingly in making their
own choice. They NUT, therefore, either omit
To act, and thus iote their eleGGve rights, or act
upon the judgment of others, aud merely adopt|
q lut preisnted TO them under the form OF a no.
imitation. The refult of fuch procefs, how,
yer dignifed with the name of an election by the
people at large, will in reality DC nothing more
than an appointment made for them by few in
dividuals
9th. Becanfe il is incompatible with the true
ipu1t of our representative fyftem of govern
ment as under the exiting circumstances of
the Commonwealth, its operation will be to de-
prye a large proportion of the citizens thereof
ofthe benefit OF fair exercife of their cono;f,,.
tional right of outrage.
18th. Becauie we believe the public fentinsnt,
which ought TO be duly refpeeted by legislators,
In order to give general atistaetor, is in favor Of