Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-03-15
Martinsbwgh, Tvginia,
PRINTED 6 PUBLISHED BY
JOHN ALBURTIS.
Congress of TIE tlniteh State8.
NIX. QO = OI LLOI1
On the Of PLACE and PATIO
MACE.
WEDNESDAY, January so, 1911.

THE house being resolved into a com.
mittee of the whole on the state ofthe union
and Mr. Bassett, of Virginia, being in the
chair, the following amendment TO the con.
sti,usion of the United States, proposed BY
Mr.. Macon, of North Carolina, was un,
der consideration.
"Resolved, by the senate and house o.
representatives of the United States of A,
merica, in congress assembled, two third:
ofboth houses concurring, That the follow.
ing section be submitted to the legislature:
of the several states, which, when ratified
by the legislatures of three fourths of the
states, shall be valid and binding as a par,
of the constitution of the United States.
mo senator or representative shall b.
appointed to any civil Office, place, or EN-.
p%loyment, under the authority of the Uni
ted States, until the expiration of the pre-,
sidential term, in which such person shall
have served as a senator or representa-
tive"
Mr.. Quincy, (of Massachusetts, moved
the following proposition as an amendment
TO DC added to the preceding resolution.
Ind no Person, standing TO n sena
tor or representative in the relation of E-
her, brother, or son, by boodoy marriage
.shaAbe abbointed TO any civI odFce unde,
tie United States, or shaA recefve any place
agency, contract or ~emotumenf, from. o,
nnder any deoartmeatoy officer Mereaf."
The question being stated to the com.
mIttee, Mr. Quincy addressed the chair.
Mr. C~uAIRxAN,
TEE amendment to the constitution
proposed by the gentleman from North
Carolina, is of the nature of a remedy fol
an evil. The proposition, which I have
the honor to submit, is similar in principle
but embraces a wider sphere Of action, and
Is offered as a medicament of a higher pow.
er. His amendment has, for its object, to
put'y the legislature of thar corruption
winch sPrings from the hope of Office 70,
ourselves. My proposition has for its OBJ
jet to purify the legislature of that corrup.
ton, which springs from the attainment q
Office for our relations. And if the house
VIII take the trouble to anaiize the respec.
i've natures of these two evils, it will fad
thatthe evil, to which my proposition refers
is higher in nature, and more intense il
degree, than that to which the amendment
OF the gentleman from North Carolina, ha.
reference. That is TO say, the present at.
tainment of Office for our relations, 70,
those near and dear to us, who are parts oil
our blood, and, four natures be generous
parts of ourselves, is an application to the
principle ofhuman action, as much more
strong aud alluring than the distant hope d
otlce for ourselves, as ~fruition is a nearer
approximation to bliss than expectation
or as payment in hand, is better than pay.
rnent in promise.
l shall offer a few considerations in sup.
port of my proposition, not only by way OF
clucidation to this house, but also for the
purpose of attracting the attention Of the
public to the subject. For, | am we'll a.
ware, that let it be discussed when il. will,
ard under what administration it will, i,
cannot fail to be in this and the other branch
OF the legislature, a bitter-pi and unless
1t have the aid of external pressure, it will
stick in the passage.
know the nature of the subject, and arr
aware that it is very delicate and very crit
cal. Why, sir, it relates to nothing les:
than our blood and our purses objects, oil
all others, the most squeamishly sensitive
and the most j%ealous of other peoples inter,
terence. 1t shall be my indeavor, howey-
err to handle the topic with as much eau
ton as possible. And in order to avoid all
appearance of party or personality, | shall
speak concerning things past and things fn'
'nre, without particular notice of things
present.
In the first place, / would remark, thai
our general mode of speaking, both on this
moor and in common conversation, con
eerniag this power Of distributing oeicss,