Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-02-17
bly, communicates the correspondent
emotions in the minds of his hearers.
From the Albany Daily Advertiser.


If the whole people oil the State of
New-York could be in this city at the
present moment, they would see with
their own eyes such plain evidence of
the conspiracy to defraud them of their
own rights, in the election of President
of the United States, as would kindIe a
fame to consume those who are engaged |
in the base attempt.
The debates on the first TWO days of
the session OF the legislature, showed |
plainly enough that it was the design OF
those whom the lunto have appointed |
leaders or managers, in the House of
Assembly, to throw impediments in the
way OF the passage of Mr.. Whea,on's |
bill for giving the choice oil electors to
the people.
On Thursday, the Speaker named
his committee TO consider the subject.
With how much impartiality and regard
Tor the character Of The house, we leave
to the public to Judge. The Chairman,
(Mr Fiagg) did not call the Committee
together until Monday evening, thus la
king five days and four nights to drill,
and to get instructions from the lunlo OUT
OF doors. On Monday evening COM
mlttee met, and after sitting eractiy
three quarters IF an hour, adjourned to
meet again on ednesday evening. AS
The committee sat with open doors,
number OF The members Of both houses
OF the legislature were present. AMI We
are thus enabled to give the people an
account Of the conduct oil some vi their
representatives.
The committee consisted OF the FOL,
lowing gentlemen: Mr.. Flagg, Mr..
Wheaton, Mr. J. Finch, Jun. Mr.. Mulet,
Mr.. Van Als,yne, Mr.. BeIlenser, Mr..
| brown, NJ. Bowker and Mr.. Els: on
Their assembling, the CHAIRMAN Mr..
Flagg) stated the matterreferred to th, m.
and alter some desulory conversation,
IN which ii distinctly appeared that those
VINO had been so eager in The house TO
raise this com bittee, has no definite pro-
position whatsoever to submit to il on
the subIec. oi giving TO the people the
choice OF electors. Mr.. Wheaton stated
that as No gentleman seemed disposed
aud that as they would be most likely to
arrive at speedy termination oil their la
oors by an orderly course Of proceeding,
he would pfler tue following motion:
" ResotOed, a the sense of this com
mittec, that The right o! choosing electors
lof President and Vice President OF the
Unlted States, ought TO be vested IN the
people OF this state, BY law to be pass
ed at The present session Of The legisia-
uure."
The question was taken on this resOlE
ION, and carried in the affirmative, Mr..
Van A'st,ne, (oi Rensselaer, only voting
IA the negative.
! Mr.. Wheaton then offered the follow
my resoln'nn:
/ RESOLVED, That such election ought
to be by general ticket"
Mr.. Flagg proposed an amendment,
to add the followirs words: sand thai
a m1ority 9faH tie notes snail be ne
ce8sary TO make choice."
Mr.. Wheaton stated that he should
not strenuously object to any report The
majority OF The committee might think
HI 10 make, in order tina. the bill Nigh
be again brought before the house. b.
he would only remark that the proposed
amendment, iii ii should prevail in the
house, would probably defeat the bill, as
ii had been the constant usage of the
state 10 choose by plurality. There
would not be llrne in the thiriy-four days
preceding the frs "Wednesday of De.
cember, 10 order new election, in case
the FIRST did not result in choice by a
majority of all The votes SO that the vote
oflhe state would be thus entirely lost.
Mr.. Finch, of Orange, also made some
iperli;ent remarks 10 the same effect, and
generally the 81 ject, when Mr.. Mullet,
lot Chatuagua, moved to adjourn until
/ Wednesday evening
Mr.. Wheaton expressed his perfect
Willingness to adjourn until the mex,
morning at 9 O'Clock, aud to Sc, until
the house met at | and then TO NEE,
again al z, and work undl 10 o'clock or
later, if gentlemen desired il. He said
the people had sent them there TO labor,
and he protested against the spirit Of
representation which had been manifest
ed. Mr.. Mullet said they were sent
there, not to work but to deliberate. Mr.
| Wheaton replied, that that was the time
ard place 10 deliberate. The motion to
! adjourn prevailed by majority OF one.
Tomorrow evening the committee will
meet again; how long the house will
thus permit them to ,rifle with so i'm
lportant subject we know not But of
this much we are quite certain, that the