Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-10


decided upon more equitable principles
that was conceded, aud from the temper ma
Infested by the Senate last year, he had eve
ry reason 10 hope it would, the next question
would he, as To the least objectionable. mode
lie vas not ia, orally inclined To that l,ropos-
ed by the Senator from New Jersey, becaus.
although il provides for the ultimate choice
So lar as 1t respects the relative weights of III.
states upon Just principles, il does moi effect
what he considered az least an equal if not a
Sseater object, the removal OF the decision
from the House of Representatives. Such as
IL was however, coming from the Senator oil
small state, il marked the just and liberal
views which governed his conduct. He would
prefer different mode from that proposed by
The Senator from South Carolina for. altho'
mat contained much chat was desirable, both
IN IT'S principle, and as il respects the weight
oil the respective states in the decision, and
as removing it at all events from The House
oil Representatives, still he feared that the
PROJECT OF sending the question back, under
ne same circumstances, To the Electors, from
iIne u" Time, until they made IA choice, would
ne found IN practice extremely difficult. if not
very dangerous. He would not now remark
ON the circumstance, that this proposition did
not provide for disiricting the states, without
winch he did not hope that the small states
would consent. He presumed that il was in
tended by the honorable mover To connect il
with some proposition for that purpose, as he
nau, IN the Senate, expressed his entire will
lingness 10 do. Under such views of the sub
Ject, he would ask leave To- introduce a promo
s't'on essentially different from those on their
fabie ole which, if not entirely lust, was, he
thought, liable to the few est objections In do
ing so, 1t was proper that he should state, and
ne was quite certain that he would thereby
secure Tor the proposition degree of consi
ueratIon winch IT might not other wise obtain.
'nal the plan he offered was the same in prin-
cipie WIN that heretofore proposed by yene
Fable Senator from Virginia, who was now. TO
Mr. Van Bnrrn's great regret and the public
misfortune, prevented from tending. He SAID
The principle was the same; his own humble
effort had been solely directed 10 the object
oil rendering II more simple in its form and u
reratlon. How far he had succeeded in that
the Senate would Judge, when the subject
came under their pa ticular considerations
Having said this much upon that branch of
the subject, Mr.. V. b. would proceed 10 state
briefly anoiher point in which the proposition
ne offered differed essentially from the Others
proposed. and III which difference was inyuIy-
"a d principle IN the government, as impor-
'ani, IN MS view, as any which had for some
tine been discussed on that floor. In doing so.
II was subject of qualification Ia him, that
TINS principle had no reference To the relative
and conflicting interest of the states in the
'"'eperapS, but looked equally To the welfare
ana security al all. To Il correct understand
Ing OF the. point, he wished tn present. il he
came necessary To take a brief lew of b,
principle upon, and the circumstances under
which, our present form of government was
established. Under the articles of conf,der,-
hon, the. representation of each state in the
general government was equal. Tie Union
was IN all respects purely federal, "a league of
sovereign states upon equal terms. TO RENE
ny CERTAIN detects, by supplying certain pow
ers' tue con 'enti0n which framed the present
constitution was called. That convention. il is
now well known, was immediately divided
lnto parties, on the Interesting question of The
extern oi power II br given To the new go
Vrrnments whether il should be federal or
ndtiondtj whether dependent upon or iadepen-
aent OF the slate governments Ii is equally
wen known that that point, after having seve-
raj Tunes arrested the proceedings of the con-
vention, and threatened a dissolution of the
confederation, subsequently divided the peo-
PIE OF the states on the question of ratifica-
ZION. lie might add, that with the superadded
question OF what powers have been given by
the constitution TO the general government to
the agitation OF which the feelings which
sprung out In the Convention greatly confri-
buted, 1t had continued 10 divide the people of
'h'S country down to the present period. The
party I'D the Convention in favor of a morr
energetic government, being unable to carry.
or, u able, unwilling TO hazard the success of
the pan with the states, middle course was
"p'etu upon. Ihat was, that the government
shou'u DE DeIther federal nor national, but Il
mixture or both. That of the Legislative D.
IL.
sentatives, should be wholly national. and the
other, the Senate, wholly federal. THAT. in the
choice OF The Executive, both interests should
he regarded, and that the Judicial sbouId he
organized by the other two But TO quiet Of
iec'uahy the approximations of the advocates
Tor Tho rights and interest If the st,tes IL
was provided that the general government
Sn"uih he made entirely depend ant for its
continuance, on the viii and pleasure Of The
STATE governments. Hence. If was decided
that the HOpse of Representatives. should be
apporiioned among The states, with reference
10 their population, and chosen by the ppo-
PIE; aud power WAS given tu Congress- to re-
Er'd'f ano secure their choice; independent
VS. "nu bryond the control of the state go
''rnmenis' That The Senate should I've chosen
ny The State Legislatures, and
NAT the choice Of the Electors of President
aud Vice President, although the urincinle of
'he'F superintendent was established by the
constitution, should, in all respects. except
'ne lme OF their appointment and Of their
meeiins' he under the exclusive control of the
legislatures OF the several states The scheme
oi government thus formed was submitted
10 the people Of the respective states, through
TIER legislatures, for ratification. For sea
sou IT'S ratification was warmly opposed in al
most every state. Although me control over
'he choice ut but one branch Of one depart
'n'nt OF ths government, was vested in Con.
Sress, danger to the rights of the STATES WAS