Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-02-04

three-fourths of the frveral hatcs fhoull,
adopt a relout;on which, in direa terms, /
ihculd declare, that in future The o;!,gr
itatcs hould give no votes, or illould haYs.
no flare in the e!eGion OF PRECEDENT and
Vice-Prehdent would any one pretend
that they were authorized to 10 thisunlcr
the article providing for amendms Of
the contribution confider it impo.ii,le
to adopt a relolniion which viii impair
the rights Of fome itates--w,l;sh Ia .als,
viii fecrre to few ltar@s The power of
chuiing the PRECEDENT and vice proficient a.
pleasure, to the total EXECUTION Of III the
other itates, land it has been clearly taewa
that, with the prelent population, iiv.
ltates may ct.ale the PRECEDENT aad vic.
PRECEDENT, to the rxcluiion of the other
twetve,) without making the contribution
nndxm pafum without dcfaroyiag tie
very BATS Of the confede~acy. Look
forward, FIR, with fearful approximations
to the consequences, fhould this rcgoin-
ton be adopted. 1t will create the. great
ct dii1atisfaetion in the ltatss injured bY
the alteration. 1t will furni;h Argument.
to the enemies Of this union, which may
effect its deiiru6tion.
An honorable gentleman from T'snnel-
fee (Mr. Campbell)has founded his argu-
naent principally spon the potion tina,
the Propoied amendment viii carry into
etted the public will that it viii pre-
vent contingency, which lnder cp.e-s
TENT mode ST election may occur, VIZ. ti,x !
Perfon intended by a majority Of the eicc-
tors for preiident may be Implanted 81
the perfon intended BY them Tor vice pre-
ndent, and will fill the lecord Office 10 The
government. This argument has as.fo bsers
urged by other gentlemen.
i is icafcely within the conpsfs Of poe
iibility that with the experience already
had, 40 equal number Of votes, and a ma
jority ihould be given to two candidates
tor the proficiency. But il IS demoni,ra-
bic that whenever the right Of chaG:.g i
PRECEDENT fhsll, under this amendment, De-
1 noi oh lyon l7 1As A hey # ss5s!snasxs
from the vice proficiency, will be increaie.i
| in tenfold ratio. For under this amend
| ment as adopted ~ the feaass, the hou's
&c Representatives may chuie the prehd-nt
not only from Ave candidates as under
| the prefent mode but from among. the can
didates who may have either q the three
hiphef numbers. The number OF candl-
! dates is. therefore. almoa unlimited
Every itate candidate, every ambitious
man who can lecure few votes. will OF
Ifer himle,f for the Office, and knowing
that his only chance IF fuccefs will be IN
the hcafe Of Representatives., it will be the
; obiea Of all his Importers % prevent 2
choice by the electors. The vice preiidcn'
: will be impelled by the mott powerful. n
!, ducemerlts to prevent q choice, becauis
! bv this amendment, 6 ifihe houte OF re
4 lnrefentstives lliall not chufe a ,preslden
: whenever the right ot choice ihan devols
' upon them, before the fourth day 9
: March then next following, l:hen IN
Z vice prendent ihall act Is rrs.ident
! IN the cafe Of the death or other conhi''
&c ,ional disability Of Preident.' # II
: vice preiident hall be elected BY the SCI
3, ate. the influence Of the fena:ors may
VT added to prevent choice by the Houl
y. for they viii naturally prefer that the M
~ | of theif own choice ihould aef as Pre-
81 dent. Thus 10 the Claiming intereits
;,h oates, and Of numerous candidates, may
rlv added the influence Of the vice rfsfide'
~ and Of the Senate, all tending to proven
lie majority Of i}ates from, Uniting III one g
far didate -Under the pfe!eat mode, if.
ho' pohblility, the choice ihou'd devo,ve
i'm. On the Houfe of representatives, the
rate fponfibility for all the evils Of an inter-