Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-12-19
ALEXANDRIA
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENTS
All WASHINGTON.

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
All WASHINGTON.
December 18.
A bill to incorporate the Columbian
Insurance Company of Alexandria
was readi yesterday; and another bill
was brought in by thechairman ofthe
committee of claims to amend, or
might almost say. of repeal-the bill
past last session authorizing payment
for property lost, captured Or destroy
ed by the enemy. This bill takes the
whole out of the hands of the commits
sion and places the powerofe examining
claims in the war department. 1t was
grounded Oh report from the COM
!mitee ct claims, censuring the deci-
|sions of the commissioner.
Mr.. Pickens's plan for an altera-
ttion in the constitution was brought
this day under the consideration of a
committee Of the whole, on the state of
1.-THE nation, when Mr.. Pickens made
some observations OF the subject, the
amount OF which | viii endeavaul
briefly to give you. He said, that OF
the various operations of govern
lment, there was none that in sound
policy, more impeliously demanded
TO be placed on stable footing and
secured from liability to factuation,
than the right Of suffrage, for by that
means only could it resist the attacks
Iof the arttai and ambitious, and con-
Iscqnently secure the confidence of the
Ipeople; and thus the certainty of its
operation would insure the purity of
It's exercise. Aware that innovation
on heconstitution ought to be avoided.
he endeavOured to Stew that this re-
solution had no tendency to graft a
new principle upon that instrument.
but barely prescribe a new mode of
exercising a long established right
a right that had been often exercised
in that very way before intrigue had
tainted the parity OF election. One of
the great recommendations of this
new Plan was that by making the
mode OF election uniform in all palts
OF the Union. and equal at AL times
it would be understood by ali men in
every section Of the Union, and be
and protected against inroa
by the people. become pernaSaent by
their affection for it, and grow more
respected and venerable from age. |,
would bring every citizen to near
er acquaintance with the candi-
dates and make the delegation o.
bower Immediately from the con-
st;tu9nts to their representatives
Instead Of he!ng, transferred at second
and to persons little OF perhaps net
lat all known to the constituents by a
caucus nomination Of the states, O;
BY legislative or congressional eau
GUS. AS in every state there were a
variety Of sentiments, this division
into small districts would afford to
all our citizens AN opportunity of
EXPRESSING themselves, and give to
every man the fullest means Of
making known his Will: thus jealou-
sizes s. doubts would be extiaglis he'd.
the feelings and sentiments OF the pco-
pie would be ama!gamated. Amino
sites would gradually disappear, and
each be satisfied with the conviction
that he had the full and fair exercise
of his right. Corruption would be
rendered impracticable, whilst every
man was the Immediate disposer of his
own trust and would know the person
to whom he was about to conGde it.
The objection to the plan was, thai