Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-01-22

} would procrastinatc Il decision on this cues.
ton. The proposition which had received til.
sanction ut many states was III the same
shape as that now before the Senate. lie pul
ut To the gentleman whether, by the course
which he proposed he did not risk the princi-
pie for the sake of the detail, SC.
Mr.. LroYD said he felt himself obliged TO
persist in his motion. 1t has always been one
OF the first maxiIns of his political life, to place
elections and power in the hands of the peu-
pie. In his own state, (Maryland,) the cleo
ton of Electors had always been by districts.
He was not disposed to take from the people
of that state, or of any state, /. particle Of
the power which they had heretofore cxcrcis-
ed, aud was therefore opposed to placing the
election of any part Of the Electors, even of
two for each state, ut the discretion of the
Legislature. He wished 10 establish not on
~ uniformity of action aniong the states, but
also an uniformity in tie principles on which
they were TO act. 1t was a curious sort of u
Uniformity to say that the Electors shalt be
chosen by districts but forty-eight of them
shall be chosen by the State Legislatures.
He did not know, lac further said, how an ar
ranscment of this sort would accord with the
convenience of the States. Tho time for T.
lection of the two Elector. fur each state
might not correspond with That fixed for the
sii'ings of the Legislatures, &sc.-siIce, ac-
coiriing to law, the elcctinu ofthc Electors
mast be made within 81 DAYS of the lst De-
cembcr. This at least deserved examination
and inquiry. Mr.. l.. dweltfor some time on
the importance TO the full success of tie prin-
ciple' of this amendment, that it should be
made to conform wholly TO its profession of
uniformity, and expressed his regret that the
gentleman from New Jersey opposed his mo-
ton for re-commitmrnt seeing that they
agreed so entirely in principle on this suo-
ject.
| Mr.. DIcKER5ca suggested that there would
he no difficulty in each state providing that, in
each district, when voting for M elector t,;r the
district, the people should also vote fer the
two electors which are To he chosen for the
whole state. lin This way, the difficulty which
the gentleman unprecedented might be readily
! avoided.
! MIR. HoLMEs, of Maine, quoted the consti-
! tuition 10 s!lcw that Congress had already the
power 10 prescribe day for the choice ofclec-
tors, and 10 make the same uniform throughout
Inc United States. As To the day for tho
meeting of the Electors, the Constitution was
impcrative,bi,t IL discretion was left with Con
;5ress as TO the time for the election of Elec-
tors. He thought it would be entirely safe
still 20 leave that matter in the hands of Con
gress.
MIR. OTI5 perceivng, contrary 70 expecta-
ton, that the minds of gentlemen were not
fully made up on this subject, moved To post
pone the further consideration of the subject
until Tomorrow, Ia give gentlemen time.
This motion, however, he subsequently, with-
! drew.
Mr.. LowRIE said, the Debate to-day had
heen wholly on that part of the resolve W hich
relates to the election Of Electors of President
and Vice Presdcnt-i,Dd the separate proyi-
III
sentailvcS To Congress appeared to lave been
! wholly oyrrlosked. II was certain, he said,
that Congress now have the power to direct
/ the mode of electins the latter He did not
mean to debate this subject hut he thought
| gentlemen ought tn look little further into
that part of the subject which had not been
touched upon; and with that view moved 10
postpone the further consideration of the
subject until Monday next.
! Mr.. DcKERsoN said he thought he could
obvialc the difficulties of the gentleman
from Pennsylvania on this point on other
points, be knew he could not, for he under
stond very well what point punched. The
origin oft!lat provision ofthe constitution to
which The gentleman from Pennsylvania had
referred, was the fear of a REFUSAL ON the part
OF some of the states, 10 send Representatives
To Congress. But, the time having passed
when any such danger can be apprehcnded,
that part of be constitutions Mr.. d. said, might
be regarded dead letter. IL is true thai
Congress yet had the Forer, but he denied
liza, it would ever be exercised. Congress.
could not command the State Legislatures &c
district the States, and Congress could not it.
sell have the necessary Knowledge 10 justify
It's undertaking 10 du il. And, if the states
or any of them were 10 he districted by Con
grcss contrary To the will of the people, they
would consider it degradation, and they
would not submit TO it. Large states mus
be divided into districts, because they cannot
without absurdity attempt to vote a genera
ticket for members Of Congressman srpal
states, he thought, Ought TO be required to dc
the same. He asked the gentleman from
Pennsylvania whether IL WAS not decided,
for the interest Of the state which he repre-
scnicd that this amcnd'nc should be adopt
ed, sc. aud concluded by expressing his hope
that the gentleman was now satisfied Oh tli
. head.
, Mr.. LowBIE said, nc was satisfied of th
pfopriety of his motion for pOstponement; fo
Vt he understood the argument of the gentle
man, il cut both ways. One of Mr. LIS oh
liections To the proposition for districting III
states for the purpose of making these cleo
tons, was, that il proposed To- impose upoI
the Legislatures duty which they could moi
. be- able To perform. He wished the further
consideration of the resolve TO be postponed
for few days, TO give time TO examine it.
The question was then taken on the propos.
ed postponement whent there were
n For the posiponcment I4--Aganist it ~.
The VICE Pm EsIDENT declared himself d
. gainst the postponenent.
Mr.. CHANDLER moved to amend the reso
r luton so as to provide that the two elcctor,
: who are to be chosen from each state (in 'ad
{ ditiOn to those severaIly TO be chosen from tn