Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-20

tPrcs'dt O the u. ). The gentleman from, Maine had
lac feared, uttered a solemn and awfal truth when
he said that the time had passed for amending the
constitution, and that IL could be broken with
facility Than 1t coald be amended. Mr.. J. said, he
should be more arp ehensive OF the truth OF this be-
liei, ii tbs spirit at opposition should apply TO
| amendments which proposed TO vest the People of
this county with the exercise of the grea, essential
| principles OF seii-government principles upon
| which he conceived the prosperity, happiness, and
perpeiuiiy, OF our zee institutions prinrpally de-
pended.
IT. in the infancy OF republic it. in the frs,
year oil our poIiIcai jubilee, discovered this
opposition, what might we expect in mature age
lie said, our frat political jubilee commenced the
itb OF July last. Il j. wa tie hftie Ia year OF our
| Independence. For his part, he said lie ne, er
wanted 10 see any friend OF his called upon, a
MEMBER Of Congress, TO vote for the President and
Vice President OF the United States for the world
vas invidious, and no matter what purity Members
could boast oil, even ii they Possessed the purity o.
angeis, their vote, In many cases, would maxi
them obnoxious TO inpuiations. This was one
reason why he was in flvor fthe proposed amend
ineni, an amendment proposing that, in no went,
ma IN no contingency, should the dnty OF clecns
devo!ve upon Congress, or eilher House. His
sire was, by such amendment, to place the Mem
oerS OF ongress not only beyond temptation, but
oeyond suspicion. Fill then, he looked IN vain tor
which should always exist among those associated
Tor The rame great object, of giving laws and ries
OF conduct and action In a free people In vain he
expected 10 see President elected by Congress,
'aed as the President OF the nation and, finally
TIL TINS right was exclusively vested in the people
| or some otner agents than Congress, we should
aever Members voting Tor and against me-
sures proposed by the Administration without be
ng charged with being partz ms ON the one hand !,
| 1r opponents on the other. If we have any pol I.
Cal principles and maXims, Mr.. j. said, in which
| we al concur, lie thought it was, or wouli be,
| admitted by all, that wherever il was practicable,
tie People should lie vested with the exclusive
right oil choo,ing men to rule thern.' 1t was
as practicable Ia his instance, he thou hi, as it
To elect Representatives 10 Congress. And why
not give the power The gentleman from New
Jersey seemed 10 doubt It's practicabiiy. This
Mr. j. regretted very much he tho ght the gen
tieman had given timely caution how we com
mitted ourselves on any propositions and at the
same time expressed his conviction that the pro-
posillonto give The exclusive right TO the peopl.
could not lie realized. Mir. j. regretted lhs tie
more, when lie recoliectcd the long services, the
general attlnmehs, and the democratic principles
Ut the worthy Member from New Jersey For
his part, Mr. j. sad, lie should pursue undevi-
asiHg course in this matter, and that would he TO
vest in he People at Inc polls the right exclusive
y, undeI all contingencies, to cleo the President s.
Vice President OF the United States and if no
could not obtain thai result, he would give suce
votes as would more neatly bring the pc. to the
exercise OF the People, and in event TO the
! pow er in Congress.
The question taken on Mr., Haynes amend
| ment and carried.
| Mr.. Cobb then rose and said that, without enter
Ing into the inquiry whether they could strike out
mode for the election oil President and Vice Pres-
dent, without the Intervention of either branch oil
| , he nj alma
o another point ITS OBJECT was 10 instruct this
same committee 10 Inquire into the expediency OF &C
| amending the Constitution as 10 prolibi, tie ap-
I poinlment of any member OF Congress TO any Office
Of honor trust under the United Safes during
the term for which such Senator or Representa-. iv,
should have been elected. Ii this amendment were
.doped tine evil would not be great IN referring
4, me election President the decision OF e.thel
Uranch OF Congress-. While he mad The honor q
~-.--- % tho other liz =
submitted a similar proposition, and though ther,
vas OF sufficient vo,e TO carry througiI he hat
tie consolation OF knowing that the v0le IN IA o
o 1t was very respectable lie thought there coul,
DE no better time tLan tne present 10 renew 1: 4
PROPOSE ion. l. The committee could no. devise
node by hich the election could be effected it'll
out the interPosltlon OF Congress, then II became
the more proper TO inquire whether they should 30
emove from those on whom the election mus
| olive all temptation That might bias them In
sations the fact oil how far any member o.
ong' might be influenced by the hope oi Office
III voting : bui ever, member would see from "A,
aiiiDly OF human ma ure, that II almost I'M
possible for msn some .imes not to he influenced
| hlr, said, he wished 20 cut OF every thing tina
cud empt a man, and eHtIrely destroy all hope o.
lice, ana Ill impltaion whether they should vote
right or "rOng Mir y. concluded by moving an
mendment 10 the resolution, corr responding tc
| he died IN hi. marks and
Tie question being pu on .Hr. rs amendment,
II was agreed TO, mem. con-
.dr Macoa said, he still lhouglIt that, instead oil
referring 10 the COmmd1ee separate and distin,
pGoposltiOus 1t ould lie be TO commit the whole
subject OF the cleo oil President and Vice Presl-
dem OF the United States, tina, lie committee might
devise and report SUCH pan a hey should ih.nk
Jes, 10 ayOid he XisGE evils, and secure The ben
ents " hcn we're deemed desirable IL the mode OF
ele ing those ofnceFs. lie, therefore, moved the
following substitute for the resolution, and the
'evefal iinendmeai- aiTeady adop ed, VIZ:
" That a Select Committee he appointed, who
shall inquire mo the expediency oil 20 amending The
Cons' ution, in the cleo ion OF President and Vice
President the United States as to attain The bes
NOS, preiertble, and safest mode in regard 10 such
elections"
Alter some conversation to the expe1iency OF
bis general reference preference 10 I. PROPOSE
ions previously offered, bet" Messrs. Holmes,
,lacei, johnson OF Ky. and Cobb,
MIR. Macon's motion agreed 10, and his
amendment ad pied.
Mr. Van Buren,, then said that this was a SUBJ
Ject on which great diversity Of opinion had exist
| ed, manifested both at the las session. and AT
present, by the number Of propositions that mad
been offered. 1t was from this consideration that
! ne thought larger number should compose the
committee to whom the subject was now 10 be re-
erred, than usual, and therefore he should
l an that min hs oh