Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-26
IN SENATE.

not be delayed single moment.
IN SENATE.
MONDAY, March 90, 1924.
Nj. J0!iisra, Of Kentucky, gave notice that
he should, Tomorrow, ask leave TO introduce a
Joint resolution authorizing the President 10 pur-
chase Portrait OF Washing on.
N.Y. Lowrlc submitted n resolution OF the I.e-
gisiature of the state of Pennsylvania, instruc-
ing the Senators, and requesting the Represcn-
tauvcs, 10 oppose the imposition, by Congress.
ofa tax on sales at auctions.
Ii:e unfinished business of Friday last being
'hc consideration of the resolutions proposing
amendments 10 the constitution, in relation to
the election of President and Vice President
was again taken up. The question was upon
MIR. .Mills' molten to postpone tic whole subject
iadefnieiy.
Mr.. Diclcrson SPOKE, at considerable length
IN favor of amending the constitution, SO as to
provide that the Electors OF President shall be
chosen in districts; and this he thought could
only be brought about by 4 spirit OF mutual
concession.
Mr.. Taylor, of Virginia, replied to Mr. Dick
erson. He was opposed to the distributing sys-
tom, as contravening the federal character of
| our government, and destroying the moral and
geographical Independence of the states. He
| spoke In favor of postfonelnent, as the present
deration Of these amendments.
Mr.. Mills stated the views which induced him
to move for the indefinite postponement ofthis
subjcct.-ifc had believed that it was quite i'm
possible to act upon these resolutions at the
present session; tiiat the public sentiment was
not yet prepared for sny amendment On this
subject, and that sufficient number Of the Sc
nate, to CARRY any one of these amendments,
| could not be induced TO vote for any amend
mcnt. He thought the present was not the best
| time for the consideration of the subject, and
| that there were so many and SO various promo
sitions, that no one Of them would be adopted at
present.
Mr.. Kelly rose to address the Senate AT
ter making n few remarks in answer TO obser-
vations which had been made, on the former
| discussion Of this question, in relation to the
Congressional caucus, Mr.. X. was called to or
derbythe Chair. The president stated lis opinion
that the debate had taken a much wider range
than ought TO have been allowed, and expressed
the positive feeling of its duty to confine tine
discussion to the immediate question before the
Senate. Mr.. Kelly SAID, it was his intention to
have replied 10 some of the opinions heretofore
| expressed in debate in favor of the meeting al
luded to-but, as the Chair had decided that it
was not in order 10 do SO, be should submit to
the decision, and take his scat.
Mr.. Barbour, who was in the Chair when
|
duty TO explain the reasons which had induced
him to allow a wider latitude to that debate,
| than had been indicated TO be proper by the
| Chair, at this time. 1t was in conse1uenccoi
his peculiar situation, in connection with that
meeting, that he had introduced its discussion.
He considered {hat it was better that the liber-
| ~ of debate should be sometimes abused, than
| that should be curtaed--the more espccial-
| ly, as every gentleman stood answcrable be-
fore the country, foi any remarks he might
make in this Senate.
| Mr. Hayne made some observations in reply
| to the arguments Of Mr.. Dickerson, to which
the latter gentleman rcjoned.
| Mr.. Branch spoke against postponing the a.
amendments, on the ground that the present
mode of election Of President was subject tt
many and very serious objections; and that, as
there was no limit to TIC present session Of Con
gress, there was ample tine for a full discussion
of the several propositions 10 amend. He wa
in favor, as we understood him, of sending thu
election back to the Electors, when not made
by theBl in the first instance. This would place
the election beyond the sphere of Executive
contamination, and in place where mutua
interchange ofgood Offices could not take place
| between the electors end the elected as mirn
be the case lii tlie election by the House OF Re
representatives..
Mr.. Macon made some explanation of a re
mark which he had made in the previous dis
/ cussiOn.
The question was then put, on po:tponip.
the whole subject ind,fniteiy, and decided j,
The affirmative, 30 to Is, as follows.
YEAS--Messrs. Barbour, Barton, Bell
Brown, Chandler, Clayton, D'WoIf. Eaton, Ed
wards, Findlay, Hayne, Holmes, Of Miss john
son, of Ky. II. Johnson, Of Lou. J. S. johnson
of Lou. Kelly, King, Of Alab. King, of n. Y
Knight, Lanman, Lloyd, of Mass. Mills, Palmer
Parrott, Seymour, Talbot, Taylor, Of Indiana
Taylor, Of Virginia, Vpn Dyke, Williams-3o
| NAYS-Messrs. Benton, Branch, Diclerson
Elliott, Holmes, Of Maine, Lowrc. Macon, NO
bic, Rueglcs, Smith, Thomas, Van Buren,
Ware---13.
On motion Of Mr., Mills, the Senate then pro
ceeded 10 the Consideration Of Executive bust
ness. and, Immediately after,
Adjourned ill tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
, MIR. McIane, from the Committee Of V-ay
! and Means, TO whom was referred the hill Groi
the Senate, ''lor the relief Of Samuel white.
reported the same, without amendments
i Mr.. Little, from the Committee on Pension
7 and Revolutionary Claims, made an unfavors
bic 'eeori an e. g.'ton Of Georsc ". Wont