Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-30
Eighteenth Congress !.
DEBATE
On tie ainendasents to the Constitution
IN SENATE.
TUESDAY, March I8. 132

On motion of MIR. Rayne, the several resolu-
lions proposing amendments to the Constitution,
an relation to the election of President and Vice
President were taken up. Mr.. Barbour was
called to the chair.
MIR. Mills moved the indefinite postponen,ent of
all further consideration of the subject. After
somcfew preliminary remarks by othermembers,
the amount of which has been given in our pre-
vous reports of debates on the subject,
Mr. King, of n. Y. spoke in favor ofthe mo-
ton to postpone. The Reporter was then, as he
has always been, during the present session, un-
able to hear the remarks of this gentlemen with
sufficient distinctness to report them fully and
accurately. Mr.. Is. was understood as being
opposed 10 any amendment OF the Constitution,
upon the point .roposed by these resolutions
He was in favor ofretaining, in the hands of the
nall states, the poEor which they possess in the
election Of President, when that election results
to the House of Representatives. He consider
ed that power congcnial to the federative cha
racter OF our government, and as having been
the fruit of that happy spirit Of concession which
led to the formation and adoption of our present
constitution. He held this right to be as sacred
apart of the constitution, and as consonant with
the genias OF our government, as that of the
small states to representation in the Senate e.
quail to that of the large states. He thought the
situation of the country, at this time, did not in
vite such change the constitution as was pro-
posed by these amendments and that, If made
it might prove to be dangerous innovation up
on the peculiar character of our government
Mr.. X. then proceeded, as we understood him,
to advert to powerwhich he considered as fore
boiling far more danger to the country than that
of the election ofPresident, in the constitutional
form, by the House of Representatives. great
central power, which might avail itself of all the
means ofparty spirit, ofintrigue, and corruption,
to effect its purposes. He alluded to the prac-
tice of nominating candidates for the first Office
III the nation by Congressional caucuscs, sc.
1--WE have some expectation of being able
hereafter, to presentafulle report of Mr. Kings
observations
Mr.. Smith, of Maryland, was in favor OF some
amendment of the constitution, in order to esta-
blish an uniform mode of electng the President;
and the resolution now before the Senate would
only go to produce that effect. He considered
it to be the true meaning and intent of the con-
sttution that the election should be made in some
uniform mode, throughout the states, and, if it
were so, the choice would not frequently come
to the House ofRepresentatives. 1.-THE present
provisions OF the constitution were suffered to re.
main, he did not see how we could ever have a
President and Vice President elected by the Peo-
pie. Such an event would be morally impossi-
bic. lie believed it was in the spirit of the con-
stitution that the President should be elected by
the People ofthe United States. Now, if an a.
lnendrnent was proposed, which would increase
the probability of an election according to the
true spirit of that instrument, why should it not
be adopted? In those states in whichthe choice
OF Electors is made by the Legislature, there
have been repeated propositions to change the
mode of election, on the spur ofthe occasion, to
favor the views of particular candidates. Chan
ges of this kind, Mr.. S. believed, had been pro-
posed in Virginia. and in New York, in order to
affect their elections. In New York, the MEM
bers OF the Legislature had been subjected to
scorl AMI contempt, for not altering the mode of
choosing Electors, to meet a certain exgency.
Mr.. s. said, ifhe had been a member of that bo-
-dy, he certainly should not have voted for such
change, under such circumstances. He thought
the nlodeofelcction, whatever it might be, ought
TO be uniform in each state, and throughout the
country.
The resolution proposed by the gentleman
from Missouri, had been taken up, and partly
discussCt and, Mr.. S. said, he did not know
why it should not be further considered. He
had never listened with more pleasure, than to
The arguments of that gentleman, in support Of
the plan he had proposed and, as other men,
bers had ntinated their wish to reply 20 those ar
guments, .Wr. Smith was willing they should
have the opportunity to do so. When the speech
ofthe member from Missouri came to be printed
a3 it probably would be, and as it richly deserved
to be, he wished to see the arguments of those
who were opposed to that gentlenan's plan also
prnted-that the public might see, and Judge, of
the reasons urged in its support. As to the prac-
tice ofholdng Caucuses, to which the gentleman
from New York had alluded, it had long existed
in this country. 1t was no new thing here. 1t
hal been adopted on great many important oc-
casions-it had produced great many good eff
fects. .Mf. $. believed the first embargo was
agreed upon in Caucus. Every one had right
10 tue exercise Of his own opinions and princi-
pies, on that subject. But, Mr.. S. said he con-
sidered the present question to be upon the pro-
rrlcty of Establishing some unifornmode Of elect
ingthe President and this, he thought, ought
to be done.
Mr.. Van Buren,, Of New York, said, that il had
not been his intention to add any thing to the
remarks he had heretofore submitted on the mo-
ton now uu1er consideration, but some expla-
nation on his part had become necessary. 1t
would, he thought, be injustice, as well to his
constituents as to himself, tosufer thelnew views
which had been taken of the subject by his bo-
norable colleague, to pass unnoticed. In dis
charging the duty thus imposed upon him, he
woud-not increase the excitement which had
been manifested, by giving any latitude TO the
discussion which the occasion did not call for
No portion ofthe time of the Senate would be &C
cupiedby him, in discussing the coustitutionality
of Congressional Caucus nor in considering
any ofthose nice distinctions which challenged
respect for thc proceedings ofConventioDs of one
.desc%pt7p, and denied it to others nor IN de-