Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-24


: The Executive branch OF the government
was compound OF both the people and
| the state sovereignt;cs, combining their
| powers TO eject President OF tie United
States. Hence, IA small State, containing
sixty thousand souls, WAS entitled 10 four
electors while one, of double the pop,s-
latlon, had, perhaps, not i've ,otcs--be-
cause, the electors are chosen on Il prin-
ciple, which is Il compound O! the popular
and tederatiye principles, one OF which
tins proposition proposes TO invade
Those electors to be appointed TO repre-
sent the people, MIR. Z. said, he had 10
objection should he chosen bv the peu-
pie, and III the same districts as are laid
ont for the election of Representatives
but the other two in each state, VITO were
10 represeEtthe state sovereigrties, ought
20 continue to be chosen as the Iegisla-
ture might direct. To establish differ
emf mode would be TO invade the rights
OF the states; and it would, besides, he
found extremely Incorvenient, in prao-
tice, to adopt the rule proposed New
York, for instance, with % districts for
Representatives, would find IT extremely
announcement TO lay out % for Electors;
and the change would in other respects be
burthensome. But, the Inconvenience Of
the rule in practice was not an objection,
by any means, Of equal force with that
growing ont OF It's invasion Of the princ.-
Piles of our government, which was 10 him
AN insuperablc obstacle TO that part ofha
resolution.
MIR. Hrmmond of n Y said, that the re-
solution under consideration embraced
two objects. The first part o; il WAS in
tended 10 render the mode OF eIeciing the
members of this House unifosm through
out the Upited States The other part was
Intended to produce an uniformity in the
mode of choosing Electors Of President
and Vice-PresiClent of the u. States He
was in favor Of both parts Of the resoutl-
on. He would, he said, however, pre-
mise that he had no objection to the mod
ification of the resolution in tie manner
proposed by has colleague, (AIr. ROOD
who had just resumed his seat.
With respect to The first part OF tIe re-
solution, Mr.. II. said, the states, immedi-
ately after the adoption of the constituti-
on, by their practice under II, might be
said TO have expressed anopinion favora-
bic to the proposed amendment. Most.
inot ailthe states, immediately after the
adoption OF the constitution, had ieen Ill
vlded into districts for the purpose of e.
lecilng members IN the House of Repre-
sentatives Of the L. States, III the manner
contemplated by the proposed amend
have been continued to the present time,
had n haa., Es.. d. ..---7--I
the two great parties which md Cor sever
al Wears past divided this nation
Mr. II. said. he could notperceive that
any serious INCONVENIENCE could arise
from ENGRAVING thispart ofthe resolution
into the constitution, while 81 least one
II. advantage v0nid result from
If lie Electors residing within terrific
~ conlprehendng only SO, 00Oinhahitants,
vote FOR one man only withiuihat territory,
their means of personally knowing tlie pc
iitical principles, talents and morals OF The
candidate, would be far better than they
could he where the members of Congress
are chosen by general ticket, IN a state
containing population equal to New-Jer-
sey or Hampshire.
Mr.. II. said, that, in this view, the prin-
cipaI value of the elective franchise consis-
ted in this, that the Elector having in his
eye several Of his fllow-ctizens, with
whose moral characters and mental en-
dOwments he was well acquainted would
by his vote declare which of them he tho't
most worthy to be entrusted with his
rights. AS, therefore, by adopting the
proposed amendment, the value of tke q
lective franchise would be increased, and
no serious evil would, in the opinion Of
Mr.. IL. result from il, he said he was de-
cidedly in favor OF that part Of TIE reso!u-
ton.
But, said Mr.. II. consider that part of
The resolution which proposes so to alter
the constitution as t. render tie mode Of
choosing Electors for President and Vice
President uniform throughout Tie T.
States, far the mostimporlant
Thepracticei i'll many Of the states under
the constitution is, that the Electors for
President are chosen by the members of
the State Legislatures. This practice is,
| think, inconsistent with the genius If
our government. The American govern
ment is essentially popular enc All
power is declared to be derived from the
People. The voice of The People, consi-
tuiioualy pronounced at the poll Of an e.
lection, is the only sovereign and indencn-
dent exercise Of authority Acknowledged
in this nation.
Aud, sir, the further YOU remove en- Of
ficcr from a direct dependence for polii-
cal existence, on the voice Of the People.
thus expressed, in that proportion YOU di-
niDish the power end priv ilcges ofthc cit-
izer. II this doctrine be correct, il is then
totally inconsistent With the general pr;n-
clples OF our government, that ihe eiccfd
should choOse Electors. This machincre
IS unnecessary IN ascerfaining tic viii &C
the majority Of the People on Tic great