Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-09-19
HEAR HIM. HEAR HIM

HEAR fttH 1tE1h IL W.
The editor Of the Richmond Enqnirer,
1s;ng in his place. addresses the house IN
he fo.loving able aud mastery speech
SENATE or MARYLAND.
Now. that the election is pfer, and the
nlayof the passions may Jield to the die
i,tes Of sober jn.lgmeut, may we not ask
aur neiehbors Of Maryland to examine
tse;;r constitutions, as we are doing our
avn I? to bring lis provisions to the test
0f minciple as we'll as experience .--anu
q amend what is so glasingly contrary
n the spirit Of cur government &?
Search every state constitution in the
vniou, and we venture to assert, that
there is no feature, in any of them, so
grossly detective as the Senate OF MARY
Iand-itpresents these three very capital
errors:
lst. In all the rther states. both of the
legislative branches aae. appointed orr
g;nalIy and directly by thu people. 1t is
they who are to make the.oflicers, who are
10 make their laws. But in Maryland,
the power ef the people is transferred 10
abady Of electors, who are appointed by
the people TO appoint their Senators.
sl. In every Other state, Whenever any
vacancy occurs 10 either branch of tie
Legislature, the question goes back again
10 tie people, who FIJI the vacancies, aad
subsequently, appoint their law-giyets-
fEIear! Hear! Z But the Senate Ct sla-
rylaud has the odious privilege of filing
I'D ats ogvn racaacieS.
Sd. The longest term for which any o.
Their state senate selected, IS four years.
But that of Maryland is chosen for FIVE
years.
Thus, here is in fact erected in the
heart of Maryland, little. oligarchy, net
directly flowing from The people: Dor sub
sequently purged by them as vacancies
may occur; But choosing It's own c,ea-
lures, continuing It's own principles, and
thBarting perhaps the will OF the other
branch, the immediate representatives OF
the people, for FIVE years toee,her.-
(Flear! Hear , Let the sentiments OF
the people undergo any revelation in that
period, let them be ever SO much thspos
ed to discard the principles and the pdr-
tywhieh brought the senate into its seats.
the wish is urayailins the incubus rides
them for fire years Hear Hear the
party will be sure to select its own crea-
lures, and consult IT'S own wishes. Is
it consistent with the first principles Of
representative government, which is the
will ofthe majority All that the aeo-
pie can do, when they disapproye Of the
acts Of the senate, is to choose a house of
delegates, who NAV thwars lis proceed
ings. CtIear! Hear Maryland can
scarcely be tranquil. while this blot re-
mains. Every FIVE ysars-She prize to be
won is too rich not to attract the mast ca
ger contests improper means will be
used to secure it; such, as we are toid.
the bribery ami corruption, which Fave
just been empIoysd by the, federal pas,,.7
to secure their Success.
We earnestly pay then to look int
these defects, and cure them, before they
eat with the malisaity Of a cancer into TIE
heart of the po'ly polite. Experience.
the principles of the republic, require it :
give light 10 The people, and the people
themselves Will demand it.
After the aforegoing speech was con-
Guided. In which, tie orato- proved his
point much to his own satifactioa, a
member OF the Stanton committee rose.
and proceeded to answer the honorable
member from Virginia point by point.
He said, that being unaecdstonied Ia
speak before so respectable body, he
should use the words Of the report of a
committee from Stanton, Virginia, OF
Which he was one. He advertcd to a
memorial latslv drawn up by the staua
ton mot Ha,tford1 Convention, & found
that three ffths of the territory of that
state, with population of sl2,0S6 souls,
Or at least bodies. chooses only four sena,
TORS to the state legislature, while the O..
Their two fiFths of he territory, with a po-
pulatloa 1T 1917. chooses sixteen seua
tGs.-EEp. REPUBLICAN,.
P,n1,,,oNn Sent I6