Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-01-07
HOUSE or REPaEsE NATIVES,
October 26, 1908.

4 4
/ Representatives Of the United States of
America, in Congress assembled, two
thirds of beth houses concurring, that the
following article be proposed tothe legis-
/ latures of the diferent states, as Al amend
ment to she Constitution of the United
States, which when ratified bv three fourths
| of the said legislatures, shall be valid to ell
intents and purposes, as a part of the Cen
| stitutlon, VIZ.
| {, In all future elections &C President and
! Vice President, the electors shall naale IN
their ballots the person voted for as Presi-
dent, and in distinct ballots, the persoa
voted for as Vice President, of whom, one
at least shall not be an inhabitant of the
same state with themselves. The person
voted for as President having a majority
the votes, Of all the electors appointed,
shall be the President; and if no person
Ishave such majority, then from the FIVE
highest on the list of those voted for as
President, the House of representatives
shall choose the President, In the manner
directed by the constitution. The person
having most votes as Vice President, shall
be Vice President; and In case fan equal
number Of votes for two or more persons
for Vice President, they being the highest
On the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice
President, from these having such equal
number. in the manner directed BY the con-
stitution.'
Mr.. Clopton. Mr.. Chairman, / beg
leave to solicit the indulgence Of the COM
nittee a few minutes. Having had the
honor to propose an amendment to the re-
port of the select committee, and having
failed of obtaining it, feel wish to state
my reasons why / am in favour of the prin-
ciple OF the provision contained in the re-
port-the principle of designating the per-
sons. votedfor as PRESIDE ut and Vice Pre-
sident. Sir. the propriety, the eligibility
and importance of such a provision, appear
tony mind SO plain, and so obvious, as
scarcely to require single argument to.
support it. Nevertheless, plain and obvi-
Gus as think tits, it does not meet with
universalapRyobation and inasmuch as il
contemplates material alteration in one Of
the provisions OF the constitution, and an
important provision too, inasmuch as it
may involve consequences ofvast moment,
to the happiness and tranquility of this
country, trust the committee viii pardon
me for troubling them with statement of
the principle grounds of my opinion in fa-
vor of the resolution. promise the COM
mittee that will not utter a single word
but what applies directly to the principle of
the resolution. Every sentence shall be
reason why / am in favour of that princi.
pie. am in favor OF the resolution, be-
cause it's perfectly congeniaI with the most
essential principle of our government, even
the principle of representation. For, sir,
In a government constituted as our govern
mentis, wherein all the constituted autho-
rites are the agents of the people, the suf-
frages given for the election OF those agents
ought ever to be a complete expression OF
the publ will, and should therefore be d.
rected Immediately to those persons, IN
whom the electors intend to place conf
dence as their agents IN the particular Off
ces, for which the elections are made. An
election, therefore, which may, from the
mode Of holding il, terminate ultimately N
the appointment OF a different person to
an Office, than he.person intended for is
by a majority Of the electors, cannot BE
said to be such ascomplete expression Of
the public will. When one person is IN
tended for an Office, and another per8oa
actually ootains.it, such election, if indeed
it can be properly called an election, is not
conformable to the will Of those, By whom
il was made. No sir, it contrary to 1t.
The etltctresulting from the act flhc ma /
.iority. Ia such acase, would be completely
at variance with the will of that majority
in performing the act. Such an event