Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-03-03

DESTROYS it. Ii so littie. Judgment mas Decn
eIisplavsd, By tic friends OF this measure,
as to ensure opposition from all the states
except those five states which the gentle
man styles.large states, in contratllshnctlon
from the other twelve, which he denomi-
mates small states, it was scarcely worth the
trouble Of the gentleman and his friends to
make so VIGOROUS an opposition to it,
sat tits becausel ,nosbeileve the rcso-
LUTON to be SO drafted as TO ensure oppo-
sirion from the smaller stases, BECAUSE /
Judge of the temper otthose states, as well
By the appreciation which three fourlhs OF
the Senate have given it, as by that which
has been expressed in the course OF this
discussion from various quarters, that il
am anxious for It's adoption. The gentle
man savs that we had as well alter the ra-
ito of representation from $4,000 TO 500,
oco and therereby deprive the smaller
states of any vote ON this floor. Surely
the gentleman does not mean TO say eitlcr
that Congress have not the power to en-
large the ratio Of representation, or that
such increase would be injurious to the
smaller states. The gentleman has express
sed TOO great an attachment to the cohsti-
tuition not to be well acquainted with it..
Je must know that each state IS entitled
by it to at least one representative on this
aoor, and that by an increase OF the ratio
Misrepresentation the number of represent
tatives might be reduced to that of the
states, and the influence Of the largest be
only co-extenslyr with that OF the smallest
member of the uniop. And this was well
known objection urged to the adoption of
the constitution. But at last the gentle
man from North Carolina candidly con-
fesses that he is averse to any alteration OF
the constitution whatsoever. One of my
greatest objections to the constitution is
/ the difficulty Of obtaining desirable amend
ments which encreases with the encreas.
ing number of the states. Thinking diff
+ ferently from the gentleman, on this point,
he cannot be surprised at my acting differ
entity. But he has surely little cause of
alarm when he recoilects that we possess
merely the initiative in this business, and
that the assentof three fourths Of the state
legislatures is necessary 10 give validityto
whatwe shall do. | consider this as an
answer to the charge of precipitancy,
thrown out by the gentlemen from Con-
necticut, even fit were not fully answered
BY the history Of this amendment. One
Of the same nature had passed that House
during the present and the proceeding ses-.
sion. 1t had been the theme of conversa-
ton and discussion, both in and out Of
doors; and now we are charged with pre-
cipitancv, although the resolution had to
pass through the ordeal Of three fourths Of
the states. But more serious charge is
brought against this amendment. It isde-
nounccd as opening an endless source OF
venality and intrigue. Butte my mind the
present system is more favorable to such
smischiefs, and it is because [ regard it as
the death blow to all intrigue because I
do not wish chance TO preside where there
ought to be choice, because want no blind
ballot under cover of which intrigue orcor-
ruption may take shelter, that | advocate
the resolution before you. From the man
ner in which some gentlemen have express
ed themselves on this subject it would ap-
pear that they had had personal knowledge
~of some such agency heretofore. Whe-
/ Their such enginery has been brought into
action cannot undertake to affirm, on this
subject am totally in the d2rk-nor do |
wish to be enlightened.
NIrch too has been fad Of the fpiis of par,y
exhibited on this occsGon, and on what is Due
TO decofun on 70 folemn a fubjsa. We ought
not we are told, 70 touch tie conftitu,ion Under
.eh. irritation produced by the itrugslc Of con-
tending factions. Mott dnctrely SIR, do with
that the American public CO. have been fpec-
tators Of this whole traafaction--or even ths, e.