Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-02-27
CONGRESS-
Tuesday, February IL.
SENATE.

the national road from Wheeling to
the Mississippi river.
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
Agreeably to the notice yesterday
given, Mr.. Smith, of Md. asked and
obtained leave, and introduced the fol
lowing joint resolution; which was
read and passed TO a second reading:
Resolued by the Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United
States of america an Congress as
sembled, tauo thirds of both Houses
concurring, That the following
amendment to the constitution Ofthe U.
States be proposed to the Legislatures
of the several states; which when rati-
fled by the Legislatures ofthree -iourths
of the States, shall be valid, to all in
tents and purposes, as part ofthc said
constitution:
That Congress shall have power to
adopt and execute system OF inter
nal improvements, confined to great
national purposes.
Sundry bills, heretofore referred to
committees, were reported without
mendment.
Mr.. Vanburen, from the Committee
on the Judiciary, TO which was refer
red petition of the Massachusetts
Directors of the Association called the
New England Mississippi Land Com
pany, made a detailed report thereon,
adverse to the prayer of the petition,
which was read and ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. Eaton, from the Committee on
Public Lands, reported bill, to com
mute the pension OF Lieutenant Alfred
FIournoy; and the bill was read.
The Senate resumed the cOnsldera-
~tion of the bill to regulate the CONNER
ciaf intercourse between the United
States & certain British colonial ports;
and after some further discussion ofits
details, and some amendments there,
of, the bill was ordered to be eDgross-
ed and read d third time.
AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
The Senate then resumed the con
sideration of the proposition of Mr.
Tay lor, of Va. to amend the Constl-
tuition of the u States, in regard to
the election of President Of the United
States, together with the substitute pro
posed by Mr., Dickerson, of New
jersey.
Mr. Dckerson rose and addressed
the Senate in speech OF more than
two hours length in support OF the
proposition he had offered, IN prefer
-encc TO the amendment offered by Mr..
Taylor. When he concluded,
Mr.. Holmes, of Maine rose and
adverted to the difficulties which stood
in the way of any amendment what
ever of the Constitution-having first
to be approved by two thirds OF both
Houses of Congress, then by the Leg
islatures oftwo thirds of the States, a.
mounting to eighteen in number; but
Notwithstanding these discouraging OBJ
stacles he observed that there was
defect in the Constitution not hereto
fore touched on or pointed out bv any
of the gentlemen who had spoken on
the subject, which might be produc-
tive hereafter, if not remedied, of the
greatest mischief; he referred to the
want of some rule in the Constitution,
to provide for the occurrence of con-
tested election for the office OF Presl-
dent of the United States. The Con
stitution had pointed out mode OF e
lection, in case a majority of the cleo
toral votes were not given to any one
person-this mode was an election by
the House of Representatives; but sup
posing circumstances should arise in
this last resort, which should create a
disputed and unsettled election, we
should, in such case, said Mr.. III.
be at sea in a tempest, without chart
or compass, and this defect may
prove TO be a rock, if not removed,
on which the liberties of this country
may be wrecked. Under this impres.
sion, discouraging as was the pros
pect Of the adop ion Of any amend
inent, he was induced to offer one,
which he would take another oppor
tunity of discussing, as well as the
other propositions on the same subject
before the Senate. MIR. III then sub
mitted the following as an amendment
to the original resolution:
ReSolUed By the Senate and House
Of RcPr escntatiueS Of the United