Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-01-16
Congress Of the United States.
SEVENTEENTH CONGREss-2D SESSION..
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1898,
IN SENATE.


The engrossed bill for the relief Of John
Donnelson, Thomas Carr. and Others, and
for The relief of Joshua Russell, were sew
orally read third time. passed, and sent
10 the other house for concurrence.
The resolutions offered yesterday by
Mr., Lowrie and Mr.. Noble respectively,
were severally tsken up and agreed 10.
The bill to abolish Imprisonment Tor
debt. was taken Up, when
Mr.. johnson, of Kentucky, submitted
some amendments in addition TO these Of
fered by Mr.. Van Buren, J.; and then all
the amendments were orde red to be prin.
next.
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Dir. Taylor, of Virginia, rose to ask
leave. OF which he yesterday gave notice,
to introduce resolution proposing 40 a..
mendment "a the constitution OF the UnI-
ted Ssies Mr. +. prelacsd his motion
with few remarks, He adverled to the
circumstances which led 10 The former a
mendment Of the Constitution in rfia!ion
io The election of President and Vice pre-
sidrnt OF the United States, by which it
was required that the person should be
designated for each office by the electors
he described the evil which that amend
meDt was Intended TO cure, aud said that
if It had been forseen that the evil could
occur 10 a different form, the remedy
would have been extended 10 meet it.
Mr. T deprecated an improper issidous-
ness in Recurring to ihe Constitution, eI.
Their for instruction or for us improvement.
If ever the time should arrive when il
would be considered as vain or ridiculous
to do so, the powers of the constitution
would become RENTED, and merged ~
legislation and precedsnts; aud We should
gradually return 10 the spirit. the princi-
pies, and the practice, OF the british 60
VeIRDeht, where precedent and legislation
controlled every thing. Mr. /. inculca.
ted, impressIvely, constant attention 10
tie constitution, the practice of testing
every act offegislatIon by it, and vigl.
liant care not Onfy that its powers should
be vigorously exercised, but that ii should
be repaired and improved whenever The
public good shouh require il TO be done
II all appropriation OF money, he argued,
were necessary TO repair a public road, il
might be said with equal propriely. that
an appropriation Oi attention and care
were necessary 10 keep the constitution ia
repair. inatleDtion 10 that, he said, would
produce in il burrows and dilapidslion,
and would brlng il iato the same disuse,
that neglect would cause in public road.
Mr.. L. alter other remarks OF the same
characte and to enforce the same gene.
raj sentiment, went on TO say that wben.
10 he.
tstraled to be general with the people,
they ought to BIZ attended 10 and pul III
practice. II was manifest, be thought,
hat this was the case in regard 10 The
present mode, in the last resort, OF elect
ing the PIesident Of the United States,
ard that the people universally deprecated
the election Of the President by the house
Of Representatives. Thinking so, be had
sought TO provide remedy, and theret. re
asked leave 10 introduce the follow ing joint
resolution
kesohea by sse Senate and House ot Repre-
Tentattres Of the United States Of Ans,aca, t,vO
| thirds IT boh Houses c0nca,yIng, That the
| following amendment OF the Constitution CT
the United States be proposed to the Legisla-
tara of the several states:
The electors of President and Vice
President shall meet on The - day OF
-n.xt pre-, sding the expiration of the
time toi which the existing Presiden, may
have been appointed, vote for President
and Vice President, az cording to the con.
stitulion. and make two Ilsts oil all, persons
voted for, TO be signed and certified by
them !: one 10 be delivered sealed to the
President oil the Uni ed States. within -
days thereafter, 10 be opened and eYamin-
ed by him; and il it shall appear thai no
person has received the votes OF a najori-
ty OF the electors appointed, the President
Of tbeU States shall forthwith, BY proc
lama o., and also by notifications 10 the
Executives OF each slate, publish the NUN
Der OF votes given TO each person as Presi-
dent. wherru upon the said electors shall a
gain meet on the - day OF - next
succeeding their first meeting, and vo,
Tor one OF the two persons as president,
who shall have received, at their first meet
ing. The greatest number OF votes Tor that
ONCE or, IT il should happen that more
persons than two should have reet wed the
greatest rumber and also al equa
number OF votes the said electors sha.
vote for one OF them as president! The