Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-11-26

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IS scarce probability of obtaining for AM
one majority Of the peoples votes how the,
Is the difficulty 10 be removed Must W.
not nave recourse. 10 contingent body u
Electors their selection of "a President, tC
oe limited TO the two or three highest candi.
dates on the peoples ballots
We state this difficulty at once 10 our cor
respondent ;and beg leave to ask him for the
particulars of his plan.-That he may under
STAND US still more clearly, we will lay before
MN Il communication from a friend, who has
thrown hrs ideas upon paper at our own re-
quest-There is no opportunity so favorable
AS the present, for bringing Them out. now,
mat the election Of Electors is completed ;
anu now, that Roane has called UP this dis
cussi0n
TO the Editors ofihe Enquirer.
DEAR SIRs: have been so much occupied
since my return from Richmond, that / have
not mad time, until this morning, to comply
WIN your request, as TO my view Of plan, for
the election Ola President and Yice President
VI me United States. Devoted 10 principles,
and ot'men, would have the constitution OF
tnese states, which, am sure was made in good
iaith, administered. in like manner, in all re-
spects for, il there be "A part Of it, more me-
cessary to the duration Of the whole, than ano-
tner, II rs that, upon which depends the cleo
tion of President, and Vtce President on
lie former of whom devolve some of the
most important duties prescribed by the con-
stilution and upon the latter, the duties Of
president IN case of his removal from Office |:
SD tnatthe election Of pice President, may
NOT be less important than the election Of
i>restdenf, and for that reason, they should
ooth be elected, in like manner, by the PEOPLE
ot the several states: look at the present
mode OF election, and it will be seen that, the
people nave, in fact. fnolhing to do with il,
put TO act the part dictated by SOM nf ..h.i.
Representatives, elected Tor other purposes,
ana not for choosinga President, and Vice
President can this be right ? No: for
whoever shall be elected, by such means,
nave to provide for their friends, and not for
me people but, as ii may be necessary, to
Keep the people, under the Influence of their
friends The people then, are mere tools, in
the hands of some Ofther representatives, to
vote, as desired, by them, in one of the most
important elections too, under the constitu-
ton and on which the duration of free go
vernments SO essentially depends for the
surest restraint, upon the executive arm, will
always be found, 80 long as the people are
honest, IN that system, of elections, which
depends on them or on their immediate re-
representatives. elected for the purpose {: and, 10
this end, would with due Difference submit
mat, The Constitution of the United States
should lie so amended, as 10 place the election Of
PRESIDENT and -Pict President, directly 10 the
nands OF the PEorLE. by laying offeach state,
INTO districts, for that purpose, and .yOtiog
directly for them; as now directed, in other
respects, by the constitution; and, at the same
time. voting for one of the most respectable
and well qualified freeholders OF the district.
to take the vote oft, in the recess of Congress
to the seat of the general government and
THESE, TO form, with the other freeholders, SO
elected and met, general committee, fur
counting the votes Of the several districts
oi the states; and communicating the result
to the persons elected. But, in case of no e.
lection, then, upon the spot, TO decide il, by
ballot, in the usual mode: so that Congress,
norany one att, should have any thing TO do
with IT. But, II 10 this mode, there lie an Ub-
Jection because 1.-The great confidence piac-
ed by II, IN the people; | would still lay off
each state into districts, and let each district
vote Tor an elector > and let. The electors of
each state meet, in the recess OF Congress. al
the seat ut the general government az befare
and form only one electoral college
and by ballot, in the usual mode make frs; "a
President ; and then, in ike manner make n
Wee President; either mode would give us
these high officers by fair expression of IN.
sense OF the people. lf there be any thing in
attention, they are under your discretion.
am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,
We confess, that the first mode of election.
suggested In ibis Communication, has an air
OF great piausibility about it. We should
like TO see it thoroughly discussed, As al
present advised" we should be inclined 10
prefer It TO the amendment proposed by
John Taylor of Caroline viz. employing e.
lectors in The first instance, and 10 case Of no
election by majority Of tbeir;v otes, send back
the election 10 them, narrowing down their
choice to The two highest candidates AT all
events, iffhs plan be not as solid as IL is speci
Gus, we shonld wish 10 see its errors exposed.
wiz our friend Rnane undertake the office of
strengthening or coniutisg its provisions But
as preliminary TO this task, we should real
~ wish TO see him examine with all his now
ers OF analysis, the passage from the Fedora.
list, NO. 63, which yindcates the constitution
in providing for the appointment of Electors.
and Tor their meeting in the different states
IN different coliges.-The whole subject, in
u word, is submitted 10 Roane, and we sho uld
be glad to he ar from him AT his leisure.
a Card from Z" Roane'' TO The Editors of Me En-.
quirer.
The Editors have nv s,ncere thanks for the inser-
ton of my numbers. They desire TO know, 10 what
my " specHittfue discussion lends shall answer
Them IN perfect sincerity. But previously they must
permit ne 10 relieve myself from, the terrible charge
of speculation. remind them then. that what is 10
day establishment, was yesterday specuiaiion that
Gdlueo aiJured hrs errors IN the inluis,i,oa that
the Declaration Of Independence on the 9TH july
l11b, WIS on that day mere speculation. Aud snfe
Aa,, thai had The Editors Of the Enquirer visited
Paris With Faust, the, ID ,ctors of the So,bonre
would lIaye burnt them for wizard Was Full on
mad -
now proceed TO answer. by vis, is, TO bring
back The practices under The constitution Of the Uni
ted States, 20 the original design Of those who franz
ed and adopted 1t 10 guard il, from legislative