Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-06-11

we'll as Virginia, have declared to me tina
very important amendments OF the constl
| tuition must and nil take place IN a re"
years. One member from Virginia IN the
presence of several members OF both poll
| iitical parties told me, that the nmej o'
| which the senators are elected nnst be re-
| duced to two years; that this ALTERATION
ssouM soon be agitated that 1t Woun be
lest By which to try the republicans ana
| that no member couldbe considered as a trut
republican .who- should oPboseit. have as.
certainued that a very great proportion OF
republicans in congress are OF opinion tn q
| the constitution is too aristocratic, that the
small states had too much weight, that the
judiciary is by far too independent, and that
the following alterations of the constitute
on must be made as soo as the public
mind can be prepared for them.
1. To reduce the time for which the Sc
majors are elected to two years. This
would soon render the senators from the
small states the mere tools of the large
states, and would lead to the total destruc-
tion Of the senate.
2. To carry the election OF President to
the people at large This would destroy
ali the remaining weight OF the small states,
as states, in the election of President. The
weight of Vermont relative 70 Pennsylva-
MIA, in that election, is now in the ratio Of
6 to 20; it would then be only 4 to 18.
s. That the judges shall be appointed
for few years only. Comment is here
Unnecessary
Possibly there may be no just grounds
for any alarm upon the subject, but aliho'I
NAV too be credulous | am certainly sincere
IN my fear. Should no attempts be made to
alter the constitution, / shall be willing TO
be considered, uot only a weak ,alarmist,
but a visionary politician.
Much is said Of a plott to divide the u
MON. 1t is Imputed chiefly to the federal
lists, but attempts have not been wanting
to implicate the northern republicans. l
have expressed myself in favor of a union
of the people in the northern states in sc.
neral sentiment, for the purpose Of secur-
ingto us our due weight in the councils of
the nation, and for preserving instead of
destroying the constitution but | wish
that union to take place upon republican
principles and no other; upon the genuine
principles of the constitution alone.
Were the northern states as we'll united
as the southern, we should not be SO un.
reasonable as to desire more than our de-
gree Of political weight, and that the sou
them states would be willing to allow us,
for they must dread a dissolution Of the
union equally with ourselves. No person
in the United States can more ardently |
desire the preservation of the union than
myself. | snail always be prepared to spill
the last drop of my blood in its support.
4 believe the only way to preserve the u
nion IS to preserve the Constitution. MAY
both be preserved! May the constitu-
ton and the union be perpetual.
These are the sentiments Of Vermont
republican, who without aspiring to pre-
%tmiaence, will never think himself inferior |
to the republicans of Virginia. My little
farm OF fourteen acres, is cultivated by the
labour OF my own hands; my brother Of
the south possesses hundreds of slaves, |
scattered over thousands of acres. Spe, |
1culativcly the Virginian may be a better
republican than am but his republican, |
ism IS certainly not quite so practical as
mine.
JAMES ELLIOT. |
P.S. Since writing the above letter, fome OF
the alterations of the contribution which / have
vcn:uyed to predict, hive been moved in coz !
grets by MIR. Raadolph of Virginia, and Mr..
Nichollon Of Maryland, and are made the order |
OF the day for the frf day Of mex; FELTON,. Il
an aifo poilcised of evidence to prove that f,ne |
OF Mr.. Rando'ph's n able Importers in con. |
gfels have boldly avowed thei, nobility to the |
contribution Ia all its eGential paris.
II is poilible that my alarm on this fnbiea |
may be a vain one. ] hope that itis E.. Buy
in the alternate %triumpls Of the two great parties
in COy country havA E.sp aoou,h, - I