Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-12-19

Alabama, Legislature
Missouri, Legislature
Ever, choice made by the state Legislature, p.u,t os
course have been 10y General Ticket.
In these States. by the People ut laue
aid the others one for each Congressional District
From this statement, il appears that,
III ninc STATES, The Legislatures have pre-
scrlbed thai The Electors should be clio
sen by themselves or their successors,
and that they have accordingly been SO
chosen. We 90 not enquire whether This
exercise OF power by The Legislatures
was al first strictly rcconcileablc with the
inIunclions OF the constitution. In has
been acquiesced in, and will never be
contested until Tie presen, form of The
constitutional provision in this particular
he amended. In nine other states, the
Election has been matteby General Tick
ct, but that ticket has been chosen by
the People. In The remaining sir states
only have The Elections been made by
Districts. being The manner most analu-
gous TO the general usage Of our couatry,
most consistent, IL appears Ia us, With
the spirit of The constitutional provision
on this suhject-and, we may add, which
was originally departed lrom with view
To some particular object rather than io
any general principle the first example
having been initiated By others Reluctantly,
and bui IN self.defcncc There are other
IRcongrui'ics ~ the mode Of elections for
Electors, particularly in the mode OF fill.
ing vacancies where Electors are absent
on The day prescribed for the assenblaae
ct the Electors i'll each state. Thus, IN
Virginia, where the People elect, four
Electors i'll tue place of abseptees were
chosen by the Legislature ; in Massachu,
| sells, where also The People elect, two
were chosen by the other Electors in
another Slate, where TOO ihc People cleo;
The Governor appoints to supply vacan.
cies occasioned by death or ABSENCE
These anomalies necessarily result from
| the present prescriptions of the Cousiiu-
| lion. They seem 10 demand an amend
meni TO make the mode of election uni
| form.
Ii an amendment is ever 10 take place
to thai part OF the Constitution, now is
the accepted time. Now is the time
when such an amendment can have no
bearing on amy pending election, aud tie
question on il can be decided on princl-
pie and OH lis own merits only. Ii we
consult the text of the Constitution IF
we consuli the reason of the case, or
view II lii reference 10 the habits of the
people; nay, Ii we look at the contempO>
rsneoES exposition OF Tire Constitution bv
IFS liehtemed'iramers, we cannot doubt
That II VAS intended thai The eles lion Of
Electors should be made. not medaiely
by The State Legislatures, but immedi-
aiely and directly by the People then
| selves. This construction having been
| departed from, arr amendment OF the
| Constitution alone ram restore it.
They, the Conventional have net made the appoint
mem % vi p MIGHT rIG'H to GfPs on ~ soe, q
their votes bat they aye referred it first instance TO
an nediate net q ne p,9 Of AtneiicH to he eaerted IN
making the apPuinment."-Ihe red raga, No as.
[Nat. Intel
Test Oath.--Mr. Kennedy in The MARY
land Legislature, has called The attention
| OF members to the numerous oailis which
they are compelled 10 take by the Con
| siliniiOu. Que Of them hp said, +" was
particularly insulting aud disgraceful 10
the ireemen of, MaryIan and ought 10
be bloited from the Constitution, and
which is i'll tie following words " do
s'cc0r that do not koM myself Jound in at-
iegiGmce 10 the King Of Greut B,itam.' -
The treemen of Mary land, Mr.. X observ-
ed, do not hold themselves bound iH AL
ieglaHce 10 any earthly sovereign whate.
yer. They arewiIlpg, If neceAeary to ab.
jure the Holy Alliance, and 10 swear etrr-
nal hatred TO Royaliy. He therefore
asked leave 10 hriug in hill respecting
oaihs Of office, and 10 repeal certain paris
of ihe Constitution. Mcssrs. Kennedy
BowieS. Wilson, Key. and HayUard. were
| appointed committee 10 bring in iht
bill.
While on Tie subject of Test oalhs, we
cannot avoid referring TO che proceedings
OF the Massachusetts convention nov ia
session, aud 20 observe with pccnlia;
satisfaction. the temperance, wisdoal ant
fespectsbility of That honorable body, il
all the discussions which hav, been agi
ia,cd: TO observe with hat firmness ans
respect they approach The constitution
Of ibclr STATE, remOdelliuS IL ~ suit the
times and The wishes Of The people. Til,
discussion OF religious tests. has beer
peculiarly INTERESTING aud abOlishiu.
lkusr lesis eNhibils Tie good sense anC
l.bera.lly OF Tie convention. We wcT,
much pleased and edited by il,e specche
delivered on tie occasion, bat rs nont
( more so ihau by The Rer. M. DfaDs
against continuing ile oath, "IAat tie,
btitcre tie Cbristion Rcbgiop, md hare
firm persuasion ef rs truth The Rev
gentleman, alter many pertinent and pi
ems remarks, tending 10 show ilie inpro
pytciy Of c0cTcng mans conscience
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