The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-08-19
THE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, AUGUST 10, 1908.


Political Question I've had lately occasion
TO touch Oh a curious question flowing from
that article OF the Constitution, winch res
poets the election Of president and vice-pre-
sident of the u. S. This question was in
case of a disputed vote or election, qvhat tr-
bunal was to decide, and how is this decision
TO be given? Under persuasion, however,
that the eve of a presidential election was
not the most proper period for pressing this
discussion, we determined to wave it for
the present. Under more suspicious times,
however, we shall resume it. We shall C.
ven carry our researches into the whole
structure of the Executive Department We
shall once more press upon Cur Countrymen,
the necessity of limiting the extent and du-
ration of those Presidential powers, which
are laid down in the Constitution.
Since this determination, we have lit upon
an essay in the Democratic Press of Phila-
delphia, which sheds new light on this SUBJ
ject AS mere article Of mj formation, the
contents of this paper will deserve re -nnhli-
c2tion. They present this subject in a new
point of view; and they present some histo-
rical facts, which are certainly unknown to
some OF the people.
1t is the object of this Essay TO denounce
the claims Of James Ross OF Pittsburg to the
chair of the state of PENNSYLVANIA For this
purpose, the writer gives us the history of
transaction which took place in the Senate
OF the United States.-On the Esd Of Janua-
~, 1850, resolution was laid before that
body to appoint committee for the purpose
of bringing in a bill ito prescribe he made
Of deciding disfuted elections Of President
and Vice-President of the United States"-
Mr.. Ross was chairman of this committee.
Messrs- Lawrence ct New-Vork, Dexter of
n ,nIy
Livermore Of New-Hampshire, were the o.
Their members all of them federalists, but
Mr.. Piskasy.-As appears by page 101 OF
the Skates Journal, the bill (which Mcy re-
f0rted, constituted the Chief Justice or next
supreme Federal Judge, the chairman of a
committee OF tzvetUe senator's and represen-
tatives, composing an election cemmittee-
Another proposition was, that this commit
tee were to act in Secrets qviih closed
doors This committee was not to be APP
pointed, only in the event of any dispute, or
on the appearance, or even suggestion Of
one; But they were to be " appointed on the
day before the second Wednesday in Febru-
AIRY, next following the day when President
and Vice President shall have been voted
for by electors" They were Of course to be
n committee Of scrutiny, who might even
invent grounds for disputes, cavils or ex-
ceptions; and their report, when cOnCiu&ive-
Il made, was to be conclusive with Congress,
and the people of the United States For the
10th Sec. "a the bill explicitly states, thot
" the report OF a mai0rfty of the said COM
mittee shal be a final and conclusive deter
mlnston of the admissibility Of the vof cs civ
en- By the-electors for President and Vice
President Of the United States and where
votes are rejected by the grand comnittee,
THEW reasq.s, shall be stated in writing Tor
such exclusion
Alter some amendments, this bill, so
fraught with strange and dangerous provisi-
ons, was passed BY the Serafe C5ec Sc
nate's Journal, 28th March page 206) The
cases, In which ths Committee Of Electors
was specially called on to decide, are thus
enumerated in the 6th Sect Of this bill.
IND be IL tnr.h"r rHactea, That the
grand committee shall have power to en-
quirc, examine, decide and report, upon
the constitutional qualifications Of the per
sons voted for as President and Vice-Frcei-
dent Of the United States upon the consti
tutional qualifications Of the electors appoint
ed by the different states. and whether their
appointment was authorised by the state lc-
Fislature or NOT, or mdde acCcDrdiHp 10 fbr
7Dodc prescribed by Mp LegisIafU1.e : upon
al petitions and exceptions against corrupt,
illegal conduct Of the electors, or force, nc
naces or improper means used TO influence
NOR votes: PToUided Arrays, that no pc
tltion or exception, shall be granted or al
lowed by tho grand committee, which ahaY
har@ FIR lis c5Jcc5, to dyoqO into qucsfi>7
the "p7'bor Qfrotcs, on 7Dhich anu elecf0r
a. dnH Bfhc Stateg 8haH haze 6ceH deciared
s.Iowtcd.
The House Representatives hrohosed to
amend this Bill by referring the necessary
c"c'cions in the case Of disputed PRESIDENT
81 elections TO the mcmbers Of the two hou-
as ct Congress, as Hcu supposed was intend
"a BY the constitriian.--M Mr. Ross and his
federal bre thren howe refused this mate
rel amendment-Thc bill at length met
with the fate it deserves. And it fell to the
dust.
correspondents IN the upper country,
wbose suggestions we shall always respect
has advised us 90 ;necrt in cur paper some
q the most precious morceaus of Toryism
Hom i3e Northern papers; which SANDER
ana tr7occe numerous and respectable
class Of PEOPLE by assuming their political
o'Sliuction, and utteriug sentiments " hieh
rr.a $50 e.