Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-20
WEDNESDAY,, April II, 1924.
IN SENATE


On motion Of Mr.. Van Buren,, the bill re-
ported by the Idicary Committee, in" ad,ii-
lion 20 an act relative 10 the election nf n
President and Vice President of the United
States" was again taken up for consideration
IN committee of the whole; Mr.. Gaillard in
the char. The amendment offered Yesterday
~ Mr.. Eaton, and those heretofore offered
oy '"r. Van Buren,, were withdrawn, in order
10 give way for The introduction Of an amend
ment, by Mr.. Mills. Mr.. Ms motion was. to
insert three new sections. The first of thes.
sections provides that the electors shall make
n'r certificates of the votes given for Presi-
dent and Vice President that one of these
copies shall be sent by special messenger :
one ny the pOst-oificr, rs at present that ty n
other copies shall be Transmitted, on success
slve days, by mail and The other cory be- de-
posted, as at present, in the Office OF The Dis
trlct Judg. The second section provides.
That live lists Of the electors shall be- prepared
D. the Executive Of each state The third
section Prescribes the penalties of fiue and i'm
prIsonment io be incurred by the special ri es-
s"nger, the postmaster, or any other person,
VINO shall suppress, delay, Ar hinder, the trans
mission OF these votes to the seat of govern
fnent.
MIR. Mills explained the operation Of the Sc
yeral amendments he had proposed. Mr..
Van Buren, expressed his concurrence in them.
N.
veraIly. TIr two first were adopted. without
further discussion. The third, RESPECTING the
penalties, gave rise TO cursory discussion, the
principal part of which turned upon The CUES
ton whether the discretion IN respect io the
qHd7tun of punishment 10 hr inflicted, should
lac left TO the cOnrt or TO the jRrg. Mr. Bar
bnur, who had mnged to strike out L" co,,rf -
and insert Jury," in the bill, supported his
amendment, by rrmarhing, at snm,. length ON
The prOpricty of giving t4.s power To The it,
ry. Mr.. hrhy spoke in IA, or Of vrsting NJ in
IN" court. lie cited several cases in his part
of country, iu which heavy damages had
been awarded, ~ jures, for mere indiscre-
tons. Nrssrs Holmes, Of Maine, and Finday
submitted some remarks upon The proposed
amendment. IL MAS then (, ipct II Yeas O.
Nays 81. The section was then adopted
Inc hr5' section Cf The original bill as re-
ported by the committee, Was thpo read
Sc eral am ndmpnts, in its d. tails, were prn-
posed by Mr.. Mills, and were agreed To- by
the 'coair. The srcond SECTION WAS after
wards read. and rod Il ID considerably. on the
motion of hr. Van Burcn. Mr.. Tayior, Of
va. made some remarks upon the power of
the two Houses of Congress to reject the eIcc-
tnral votes.
The amendments heretofore prnposrd wv
VIZ. Van Buren,, were again taken up and
agreed to.
Mr. Mills then proposed a new section
making it the dug Of The Secretary of State
to transmit copy orfhis act Ia the Executive
NJ zach State, 10 he laid before the Electors of
Il s'dcnt md Vice President, next 10 be
chosen md rrpeaIing aIl acts or parts Of acts.
lnconslstrni win the provisions of this. The
amendment was agreed to.
The details &c the bill were further discussed
by Messrs. Eaton, Van Buren,. Holmes. of
Maine, md Chandler. The further consi
derat'On ~ the bill was postponed ill Friday
next and it was ordered to be printed. rs
amended.
Mr. Barbour gave notice, hat he sbould
tomorrow, AK leave TO introduce bill " foI
Harris"