Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-22

(I1.) Ga INC 20th Feb, lary, 1924, The committee
OF elections made report unlavorable TO John
Bailey, who had been returned member to thai
Congress. Mr.. Bailey seat was contested, {" be-
cause at the time at which he supposed TO have
been chosen, he was not an mhabiiaut OF Nassachu-
| set,-." To fix the true meaning OF this word, as
used in the G. u 5. the report refers 10 The Journal
OF tie FedeCal Convention; TO the Constitutions OF
Massachusetts,, aud New-Hsmpshire, and it says
that, - These constitutions were formed by
tons in which were many ol the mosVlearned, and
praciicai StotSmen Ut tiat day, and the declara-
| tons which they contaiH OF the manner in which
| ihey intended the ,cord inhabilant should tie un-
derstood, ought to I've considered a. settling con
! clu>veiy its true and legitimate meaning." (IS.)
| Now 1 shall shcw, by and bye, that the terms
in the clause OF the Constitution OF the United
States. relating to electors, is borrowed from
tie |th article OF the confederation, and The ex
ten, OF power conveyed TO the legislature, by
this article, will be completely shewn by refer
ence to the same constitutions, aud in this way al
| ter the example set me by the House OF ReDresen-
! taiivcs shall be enabled to settle conclusivcly
thc true, and legitimate meaning of this clause thus
borrowed from The articles OF confederation by the
same learned and practical statesmen Of that day.
The sources OF cotemporGneOus exposition to-
which we thus fortunately yeIer ed, by these
great and practical statesmen, when they expounded
the Constitution OF The Unicd States o. ese grest
occasions are the following Is. Johe deciara
tons and knowledge Of the members of The Fede-
rGIConCeniion I'd. 10 tie Journal oi The Federal
| Convention 81 To the discussions which prece-
ded IS ratification, ard TO the declarations of The
practical statesmen OF that day as recorded in au-
thcntic hisorN particularly in the tederaiis, Ihl>
| 10 the debates of the conventions " hlch adopted
the constitution in which shall see the ,erIara-
| tons OF members OF the Federal Convention and
OF other p'acical statesmen of that day 9Th. To
The arllc.es oil confederation and the constitution
OF states lormedoy practical statesmen OF thai dun
We shall not examine tie e different sources n
the order set down, but shall refer to them as oc-
cason shall call for. Iii, believed tina, there nevcr
has, and certainly arise a case, in " hicr
coiemporJneoJs exposition ought 10 have and will
nave more weight, than in this. The greet bod,
Oh the people DO not possess the skill of special
peaders. - Poor people do not unders ana techni-
cal 'erms. Their rights ought to be secured l.
language OF which they hnotc the meaning ~ And
t Is 30. Ibe constitution bears no resemblance To
acts OF Parliament, oil Co gress and State Lcsi-
| ureS. II was made for The people, aud to SECURE
heIr ioeries II Is totally unlike the manufactures
| OF the special pleade.s, which none, but Tie dea
les IN The ar, can comprehend: and then mt
Gltcays.
Lee u, first, have recourse 20 the declarations
81 ne members OF the Federal Convention. berau.e
~ these ruiy grea! patriots The people OF the n,e5
! N''~ 'A'' the
declarations oil these statesmen, of the manner il,
which they understood their own production mus,
| obviously have had great weight with the peoDle:
PARTICULAR ii tie friends aud foes 10 the consti,u
ION united in his cons'ruc ion. The authority of
tNe eder"I IS 20 complete in this point that shall
onhHe myself to this " complete commentary.
on our constitution.
! The Federal Convention rose on the 9TH Sent
1857. Tie constitution submitted hnnedia, civ
10 tue people, and 1t is believed that no subject
presented TO the American people, ever underw eut
so critical, so animated, and 80 extensive am ev-
animation before them. The importance Of the sub
jeci required IT, Men of al professions engaged in
Inc discussions; the members OF the Federal Con-
venton Wee referred TO, in order 10 exnound it,
me'ning: men OF the most exalted characters and
distinguished abilities ambition, of seats i,
the conventions. which were TO nee, i'm The follow
| in% spring, and determine tie fate OF America
o the friends and foe, equally, cons dere the Is
seh''ai hoerieS oil tie people 10 depend on it, adop
''on or rejection During this of grea' public
! eN iienent, Air NJ Olson, and Mr.. Hamilton DO b
mo dIs,nsuis ed members of the Federal owen
ton, IN conf ction with another DISTINGUISHED
citizen Mr.. Jay men In whose UerGcity n eleya-
''oA o character file people placed AID stU place
tae 'ghest confidence, published in Il e .,,y-paaer
OF the q, in the face OF all The members of IN.
edefai Convention, the celebra ed numbers of The
| FederGHsf. ''''
| obscure
writef, 10 attempt o add any thiny TO vvta, h.. .
been ii OF the value of these numbers or rho H. 10.
ais bit this much toW s0y a. one of the peonle
| INA tie solemn wIitGen declarations of s,.cb men
| made ;nder such circumstances, outweigh in n, -
es inallon, the opinions oil those lie i-lafures no
al he hrs. election OF Washington were (perhaps)
| anofan.l w,llIn, 10 take to themselves that yybc
| tie people had oeea led 20 1eiieve ihey hal reser
I'd o ,hem'e e.. 3 oher consideration too. With
! axe 'Om e ':mOn, dcrive ell from thee l.,-
! l'i'reS i, no ne" system was 70 I've mn II,
| peraton, and 1t is not wonderful. that three. oYt
oi thirteen should have AXE. 10 the,useIse s tb.t
/ when S'n aiiesily eAcreases their mean. of seJc
| 81 andzeueof.
The conrea ion Of Yirg ia, which adopted the.
constitution for .lal siae met on the I'd of I me
ID HE COW en,ions in The other states, duripo he
| pring and summer OF tina ,ear So hat he peo-
pie had the coas ruiion before them, accomp,nied
b. these solemn docar tions OF The most lns,rious
men for the pace of seven months. VIVA, are
these declarations?
No LIN. and TX Of tie Federali,t purport 10
ne '' con'ern'ag the regulation of eiecf;Jns.''
Ia numbe' TX. . The Hotee OF Rerr, e,tatiye-
! neng o ne elected immediaiciyby he people: the
senate b. me Sac Le.Itla-ares: The presiIe,t
! 3 ei"c or~ chosen FIR that purpose 6y tie peo-
! PIE (Zo) he lgalihca ions OF the persons VINO
choose or be chosen. - has been rem ed ,ro
another otc'sion, are dcfRed, and fixed III he con
-iiiriion, X are unalter,ble b the legislature" N,
LAiF. The po" er ofmaking treaties is an import
ant one; ard 1t should no, be delegated but in such
mode, and with such precautions as will afford the
hSh"s security, that it wi" be exercised by men
lie best qualified or he purpose and in the man
e. mo- conducive to the public good The con
FeHio' appear TO have been attentive 10 both these
points 'hey have directed the President TO be
chosen by select bodies Of electors 10 he depu.ed
gE h ,In I.rf hot