Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-20
[yoL. L. No. Is.

three new sections. The FIRST o., these sections
provides that the electors shall make five ccrti-
hcates of the votes given for President and Vice
frcsiuent; that one OF these copies shall be sent
oy special messenger; one by the post-c flee,
as at present; that two other copies shall be
transmitted, on successive days, by mail; and
the otiior copy be deposited as at present in tho
ofce OF the District Judge. The second sec-
tion provides, that five lists of electors shall be
prepared by the Executive of each state. The
th!rd section prescnbes the penalties of fine and
Imprisonment TO be incurred by the special mes
senScr, the postmaster, or any other person.
WHO snail suppress, delay, hinder, the tianis-
s!or OF these votes to the seat OF government.
Mr.. Mills explained the operation of the sc.
ycFai amendments he had proposed. Mr.. Van
burcn expressed his concurrence in them.
The question was then taken upon them. sever
any. he two first were adopted, without fur
tner discussion. The third respecting the PEN
aiies, gave rise 10 cursory discussion the prr.
| cipaf part Of which turned upon the question
whether the discretion, in respect Ia the ouon
t'Hn OF punishment to be inflicted. should be left
% inc court, or Co the jury. Mr.. Barbour, who
haa moved to strike out court, and irsert sju-
'y' IN the OIL supported his amendment by
renlarking, at some length on the prooprictv Of
giving this power to the jury Mr. Kelly spol,e
IN favor CT vcstng in the court. lie cited Sc
verai cases, IN his part of the country, in which
heayy damages had heen awarded, by irlries
formere IndiscrctiOns. Messrs. Holmes of NIaine
and t'indiay, submitted some remarks upon the
proposed amendment. IL was then rejected
Yeas D, Nays 81. The section was then dior
ted.
The first section Of the original bill, as report
ed by the committee, was then read. Scvcra,
amendments, in lis details, were proposed BIZ
Mr.. Mills, and were agreed to by the Senate.
The second section was afterwards read, anil
modified considerably, on the motion ofNIr Van
Buren. Mr.. Taylor, DIVA. made some remarks
upon the power of the two Houses of Congress-
TO reject the ELECTORAL votes
The amendments heretofore proposed by Mr.
Van Buren,, were again taken up and agreed
to.
Mr.. Mills then proposed new section, ma
king it the duty of the Secretary of State to
transmit copy of this act to the Executive of
each State, TO be laid before the Electors ofPre
sident and Vice President, next to be chosen
and repeating all acts parts of acts, inconsis-
tent with the provisions of this. The amend.
picnt was agreed to.
The details of the bill were further discuss
ed by Mrssrs. Eaton, Van Buren,, Holmes, Of
Maine, and Chandler. The further considera-
ton q the II was postponed till Friday next;
and g as dS6cred TO be printed, as amended
MreBarbonr gave notid3l that he should, to-
morrow, ask lcye to introduce a bill sefor the
relief of Nimped Farrow and Richard Harris.s
The bill ''for the relief of Hezekiah Langley
| and Benjamin NJ. Belt" was read the third time:
but, without taking the question on its final pas
sage,
The Senate adjourned I'll tomorrow.