Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-09

without iulcrum-IIere Mr.. X. was CnlIed r.
oruer by the Chair. The President said. tba
IN ms opinion, tie debate had, on the forne,
uays, assumed much wider range than tn,
strict rules or order would authorize-hc hin
sen was not then in the chair: and that he con
Su IL 10 De ms duty, at this point, to confine
me discussion to the precise question before
inc senate. MIR. Kelly said, it was his intcn
,io'i 10 have replied to some of the opinion,
heretofore expressed, in debate, in favor of the
meeting alluded to; but as the Chair had deci.
ueu Ina. IL was not In order to do so, he should
SUBMIT to'the decision and take his seat.
| :. W.T. barbour, who was in the Chair when the
is.uss'oh alluded to commenced, felt il his
10y !" explain the reasons which had induced
| ~ " allow wiuer latitude to that debate than
hau ceen indicated to be proper, by the chair. ..
this time. 1t was in consequence of he ~.
mar situation, in connection with that me tine
tiaat he had rcfrained from calling gentlemen 10
oruer, VINO had introduced its discussion. He
considered that 1t was better that the liberty OF
ueoate should be sometimes abused, than that II
should be curtailed-the more especiaIIv as
every gentleman stood answerabIe before tbe
country, tor any remarks he might make in this
Senate.
After the lapse ola few minutes. and after
ahothcT gentleman had risen TO speak. the Vice
PRESIDENT observed, that the gentleman from
Alabama was entitled 10 the floor, if he chose to
progress MIR. Il. then rose and observed that
he understood himself to have been deprived
OIL the hoor, by the decision of the chair: To
which the Vice President replied. that the me-
rits OF the question before the Senate might be
discussed, and that the gentleman might pro-
gress' Mr. IL. then observed that he woulJ NOT
attempt TO evadc the decision of the chair. and
that II he could not be permitted to reply to DO
liticai doctrines preached here for home con-
SUMPTION, he had no wish to sneak
Nr' Branch, of n. Carolina asked the induI-
gence or the Senate for the purpose of submit
ing, lor their consideration, few THOUGHTS in
relation TO the important subject-matter under
discussion. He said il was due TO the state he
mad the honor in part TO represent, for him to
support the amendment to the constitution
winch proposes to establish an uniform mode
for the appointment of Electors of President and
VICE President, and to himself, to oppose the
indefinite postponcment of the various PROPOSE
tons now pending, With the sentiment of the
Legislature of the state, be most heartily concur
red.
In entering on the subject he said that he
should endearor to conform to the decision of the
char and that hewould not Intentionally bring
INTO discussion, matter foreign from the true
question before the Senate-for he firmly be.
iieved That the decision of the presiding officer
was correct, and ought to be enforced.
1t would become necessary for him. however.
TO anInadyert on the constitution, as ii is at pre-
sent, and to call the attention of the Senate TO
The pcrnicIcus practices which had obtained
and grown up under it which threatened ulii
matcly, TO subvert the liberties of the people.
1t was the duty of an able surgeon to probe the
wound 10 the bottom, that he might be the bet
ter enabled to devise and apply an effective
e:nedy.
1t would not bc.dcnied, he said, that it was
the intention Of the convention which framed
the constitution, TO give to the people the cleo
ton of their Chief Magistrate. But what have
we been told by my highly esteemed friend
and colleague, (Mr. Macon,) who is Certainly
high authority Why that the President had,
since the days of Gen. Washington, 5ee;, aAyays
elected ty Congress.
This, said Mr.. B. is a most alarming decla-
ration, and surely it becomes necessary that
something should be done to prevent that from
taking place in future. The constitution pro-
vides, that the President shall be elected by the
People, through their electors but we find that
a plan has been found out, setting aside this pro-
President is to be chosen and the
people are to be alled upon, only 10 conform to
the will Of their rulers. Now, if these uncon-
proceedings are to be continued, and
the President hereafter is to be chosen by
Congress acting an caucus it is manifest that the
constitution will not only be practically altered.
abuses and corruption. Wewill soon find that
thc President will be chosen only by means of
intrigue and management with The Members of
Congress
Is not the mischief. therefore, abundantly evil
dent, Either make some alterations, so as TO
give efficiency to the vote of the people, or let
them no longer be deluded with the faliacious
idea, that they exercise the power themselves.
1t is not worth while to disguise the fact from
ourselves. We all see it. Indeed, it must be
manifest to the most superficial observer, that
the different departments ofthe government,
instead of acting checks on each other, are
naturally drawn to play into each others hands;
particularly the executive in Congress. The
gentleman from New Jersey, (Mr. Dickerson,)
to whom have listened with much pleasure
Fhas failed to assign any reason why it IS unsafe
TO return the election to the electors. | rnust
therefore presume, said Mr.. Il. that none ex-
lists.
Let us, then, said Mr.. B, throw off this u
surped authority, and return to1he people the
rights of which they have been wrongfuy shorn.
From whence do the members Of Congress de-
rive The power To- elect the President of the u
nited States? l hazard nothing, said Mr.. Il.
in saying that the power is not to be found in the
Constitution, and thai it is, consequently, an en-
oroachment upon the sovereignty of the people:
The more alarming, inasmuch as it is exercised
in the corrupt atmosphere of Executive patron
age and influence. Make me president, and /
will make You a Minister, Secretary, or, at
all events, will provide you with COOL birth,
suited To- your want, if not 10 your capacity
And thus we shall barter away the rights and
privileges of the people at the expense ofthe best
interests Of the country, and the charter Of our
liberties. The mischiefis abundantly manifest.
Let US moi, then, turn deaf car 10 the sdnoni-
tons Of duty, and the voice of IN enlightened
conmrnifv. but raihcr LEI us haze magnanil1,itr