Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-03-06
CON RESS
OF THE
NITED std TEsS.
HOUSE OF REP.> EN- TAT5vE5.
Thursday Dec. s.
eDe5ass on the amendment to tasl onstttHti0'''
Continued
HOUSE OF REPSGs ENTATzVE5.
1r. Grsgg's speech coaclndea. J

in which i liz, P.nn(ylyania.} At The late
election for PseGteat, the members OF the fiouc
of Rcp,efentatives from that fate, gave vote
far the erelent cbiefamag afate. Had the vote
been given by The Senator'S OF that tate, thcrc IS
no doubt il uld have been different. he
oaefien then was, who fpoke the voice of the
people Look to the reialt tor an aniwef. As
lon as the conaitutioaai period expired for
which their Senator's hsd bee9 appointed. trey
iupplcd their places by uccefors, Whole political
ooinions they iuppafed 70 be in coincidence with
their members who coulpoted she rnaj3rityat the
pgeilential election
Bu, there is one proviiion in this part Of 'ho
amendment which isreftainly OF very COST ief-
able importance. AS | have ieverai times OBJ
leryed | again repeat, that | do not tank he
electors viii he Likely to fail amakng IA cleo
ton Should they hoWever not agree, 1 cannot
conceive thar rhc. tiopf Of Repleientatyes Will
be &c Lott 10 fsa{e of-dny, as either 70 retales
or neglect complying with cher constitutional
obligations. Bug lhou!d an election fail there.
slio, we will have by his prayliion ape'l9n con-
Rtut@nsly Vetoed wish prsfidengial piwer, until
a Peficnt is elected. SHtelY ills peftsr 70 have
a couHitutsonai Rieef ~ d.ieharge theft ,mpot-
TIN. II ca ms, 80 that i6 choien 100 u The
hfR io!tance, Wit Az eye ~ fu b contingency,
is inGnisely ptetrrap3e haa Z lffer me ufiae %
become vacant nd shesehy exYoie oudeivts 10
all the evils incident e fueh aitAe u things az
would be unavoldabiy Produced thereby. could
have -w3hed thar this prevltion had exFeated snr.
Their and directed tn vacancy 10 be iuppile by
an extraordinary election within one yea from
the commencement Of ihch vacancy. Ba' rs il
is providing Tor remote contigeacy, enc which
nay not and hope viii not nap.sen III a cen
Jury, think we may truf it as II IS. As the
ca.'ttitngion NV fanas, . Ii cafe OF he re
maval of The PreGde2t from off e, or Of death,
reiisnation, OF inability TO dlcharge the powers
and duties # the fad ofie@, the fame fhall de
volve on sbe Vice PreGdens." Art. ID, fec. 1T.
This 10 only aiding one other pofa5le, an bare
ly pebble, for il is not probable cafe ofyacan-
cy of tina oGee, anj.itis iecusing againit ali the
dangers and coniuion 20 BE- dreaded from an in.
terregnugn.
TIE obieetions that have been raised TO the
amenimens generally, think, all resolve them
selves intotwo. Fra the dlngrr Of in ovating
on the constitution, and Second, the jeopardy in
which the small states will be placed by It's sdop.
ton.
perfectly accord in sentment with gentlemen
in ali their remarks respecting the great caution
to be observed, in touching the constitution. No
abstract theofetic reasoning could induce me TO
consent 70 alter il in any 0! It's parts; ous when
on-experience il is found to be detective, as is
the case in the present ,naance, thlnk we are
bound 70 exercise our constitutional privilege in
obvasng that deted.
With respect to the objection. dawn from the
danger TO which the smali s. ates are 20 be expos
cd, if the amendment prevail, Icontcss, Mt.
Speaker, my mind IS nj capable to comprehend
their force. From whence do gentlemen derive
those fears and alarms with which thy endesvor
10 persuade us their minds are 50 distressed Do
they know, or have thy ever heard If the large
states forming csmblnationss asailtst the 1nteless
of the suail ores? live Ia large state, and !.
declare ! never heard sush.a thing 2ven hinted.
Such an idea am persuaded weuid receive no
ca5rencg in. that state. Such a combination is
unnatural, il Cannot obtain.
Should local considerations ever have any in
fllence on The election Of our chef magistrate,
that period ! believe is far distant. While the
country DIVIDED lnro two great political parties
(and believe il Will long cennnue 10 &c SO d,
vided) each party viii eadeavpr . select tbs
most plem,aent charaefer, whose political senti
ments are IN unison wlsl tAeir owp, and phase
him in the presidential chair, without any egasa
to:local situation. His palitics will be the cn
terion by which be viii Be juag-d, wlsheut any
reference 70 his hclng an int,abitant OF The cas-
TEN, middle, or southern sections Of The u
Mon.
How far would the ambition Of the small
stases extend Lock into the constitution, and
see what ample provision is thee made for their
security. lnthe Senate, 5lsslnct and entire