Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-03-03

small States. But IN what part oil the
Constitution is such a stipulation TO be
found There is none, either express or
implied. On the contrary, il IS provided,
in the fifth article, that all parts of the
Constitution, shall be amendable, with
three or four exceptions; one of which is,
that no State, without IFS consent, shall
be deprived Of its equality of votes in the
Senate. The provision respecting the eN
lection of President and Vice President is
no; excepted. Ii is liable, therefore, tn a.
mcu;iment and whenever two thirds of
both Houses OF Congress and the lcgis,a-
lures Of three fourths OF the States shall
think proper to amend 1t, the fair cOnsti-
tutonal agreement is TO acquesce in such
amendment. his is part OF the origi-
nal compromise. II is the compact Of all
the States, the small as well as the large.
The amendment will, therefore, violate
no stipulated right of any State but be
pursuant To the spirit and express provi-
sion OK the Constitution.
Ii is not the Object of the amendment
10 make any change in the II. :; I'VE rights
and powers of the several states. Ii 1t
produces such an effect, 1t is collateral and
incidental. And | may adj, if ii lessons
contingent right Of the small states 10 an
equal vote iii a choice by the House of Re-
personalities it thereby SO far corrects
dlsproportion now exisiiI 8 in their la, or.
They have an eqnallty Of votes in the Se-
nate. They have more shan their proper
lion of electors; Tor two added in each
state, 10 their proportiomate number of
Representatives. According to the ratio
o! numbers. the people OF massachusetts
are entitled 10 seventeen times as many
E'ectors as Delaware; but, instead Of Sc
veutecn To their one, we have only nine-
teen 10 their three. In Tie event of a
choice by the House OF Representatives.
we have ONLY one 70 their one. Now, let
me ask Is it equitable that Rhode Island,
Tor Instance. which is not larger thau the
county OF Worcester or Hampshire or
that Delaware. Which is but about half as
large as one OF these counties should have
~ equal vote with iic whole Oh this Com
mnnWe1ilh! Why should any humber of
clu2eho who happen ture5ide in a small
state, have seventeen times as much influ-
encc as the same rul.be; OF citizens resid-
INC IN this Commonwealth, IN the choice
OF our common President? I ne operation
OF The anicndment 10 lessen the chances
OF failure If AN election by the people,
ana consequent choice by the Represen-
taiircs acting by states, is in reality a re-
c"mmcmdatlon rather Than AN obi. clion.
Bat Ii is said, chat ia The popular mode of
election, he large s.atcs may, by ccnibin.
ing together control The small states in
he election. 1t may be answered, that a
m JGrity % the nation, whether they hap
peo'o reside In large or small states, ,ught
TO decide the election. But the idea Of
SUCH an overwhelming association OF he
great states,s visionary. W.ichare those
states Massachusetts, New York, Penn
sylvanIa, Virginia, and some add North
Caroii'.a. They ave extended from the
North TO the south e The Union, with in
tervening and surrounding small states.
they are separated, no, only By the re-
moleness OF their geographical positions,
out also by Their local con- petitions Of in-
leres; Suppose such poi.ica cogDoi-
nation were aboutto be iormcd, with whom
would this Commonwealth combine -
win Virginia, or with The small states IN
cur vicinity /? UnGcub,ediy the latter. Tie
history o. cur government confirms tbs
observation. la Congress there have
been struggles between the two great DO
"Ica'Par'ics which pervadc Ill the sta-cs;
AID sometimes competitions between lhs
Northern and the Southern, tn conn .r-
cIai and the agricultural interests bu not
single measure or question 10 fecolleGt-
cd, ia which the large states were divided
against the small. SO IN the elccliun of
President, tho division has never been ac-
cprding TO the dimensions Of tie states.
This northumberland with the small
states, most Of whom are s;iIl in favor Of
Il and for the inhabi'ants Of large state
10 profess to be anxious lest il should vi
oia'c the rights Of small states, who wish
icr ita adoption, IS oihcious and afrrnntiyc,
ard discovers either an afFeGtation Of mar
oanimlty, or disposition to oppose the
measure by al appel 40 jeaIou SEES pre-
judice5 and passions. rather than truth and
argurz eut.
IL IS consideration in favor oG the p.
mendInent, that II viii render the Consti.
tuition 81 he United States, in this part.
cuiar, analogous To our own state, C,ofaitu-
Ton. We distinguish GU votes for CO.
vernon and for Lieutenant Governor. 10
- I'll.