Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-12-20


me prompt transaction Of the public business of bis Of
fee
Many other resolutions, unnecessary for us TO detail
were accepted; aud the Speaker had announc
ca The orders OF the day" Mr. McCoy's for adj
JouInrnent prevailed
Thursday, December 49,
SENATE
ne Senate proceeded To consider the following re-
Solu'ion, submitted yesterday b, MIR Benton
Rtsoiccd, That a Select Committee be appointed with
instructions TO inquire the expedency of amending the
Constitution of the United States So as TO provide for the
election of President aud Vice President by direct vote
oil the people, in districts
MT. thyme was r,joiced TO see that the gentleman
from >souIi had thus eaiiy called the of the
senate TO t'S important SUBJECT but he tbough he had
not made e inquiry sufficiently extensive; he lad con.
hned IT merely 10 the mode Of election; bu MIR H.
thought an attempt ought also to be nae to secure the
election OF President of the United States from the IN
'e''entIon Ut he House of Representatives; and he
therefore moved to amend the resolution b\ adding the
following.
And that the committee be further instructed TO inquire
mo tie eNpe"''hcy oil so amending Tho Constitutions
secure the election of President aud Vice President OF the
United Stalas without the intervention of the Senate O,
House of representatives.
Hlr "Hacon said That 1t would be wise in adopting
resolution of this Kind give the committee all the
latitude that could be given that they might examln.
the subject in every particular and make, tie inou,
as broad as possible He had not, he said 50 much
faith IN elections as he formerly had, and should like TO
III aI was do,
feciive, II II was possible 10 do il.
Alr O'cherS0a said highly desirable that the
president and Vice President should be elected It'll
GU the 'nieipson OF the Senate House of Repre-
SehialiVts; bui II was question with nm whether #
coa'd he completely effected lie did not think the
Constitution could be amended as 10 prevent # some
ihe or o!her and undesUme unforeseen CO ,tiagen,y
uie eIec'lo" Coming TO the House Of Representatives.
Ii any rloic h been devised bad not ven been sh,,y,
10 mem. II was hardly G. that the members
should Commit thernsehe, ibis puInt thus caIly on
preliminary propositions and he should therefore vote
against the resolution.
Alr HGyae sad the proposition merely pronosed an
inquiry he ger sIuai allowed It was expptlient that
should be done aud by voting The INQUIRY he would
No IN any way commit hinscli.--fhe oni, object was
Tor the Committee to aseJn whether the proposi,Ion
contained In the branches of the resolution could he
carried INTO eject This what had been done IN
long tfe last session proposition " as submitted
s'tlhiar To that submitted by the gentleman from
N'sSopri, bct III positive shape for an INQUIRY II
vas iei rrcd 10 committee and variety ol uropcsi
u's tii"t were made on the subject were refer.
red TO the same committee; and if the gentleman from
New jersey should W sb To submit any proposnn nun
sen h' Should DE perfectly willing il should accoinpa
ny tins resolution To committee
hi Benton said taking deem interest =, ,I;
subject, lie should be glad that any ;le,ar j.; L
House veho had turned his attention to the suh;e, 5
cE'u suggest any mode that promised Ge beneficial
would submit hls resolutions which should he rei,.r- 80
inc same committee with the resolution ha had sbrni;
LED. whatever committee might be charged yi il thi.
subject he should feel obliged 10 any gentleman t
would con'Tihr'e any thing that would tend to turn The
attention OF the committee to it. He wished the ro
position he had submitted should have an cyln,na ion
Since II resolved nothing and committed nobody If vas
perfectly innocent and harmless in It's present shane
rs TO The amendment Of the gentleman from South
pa' 1t only tended TO enlarge the field Of inquiry and
he could not OBJECT 70 that any other
was calculated 10 promote that end
mr. tfoEReS OF Maine SAID he generally voted !,
tavor {" resolutions OF inquiry on almost every SUBJECT
Out lie mad not much confidence in amendments of mo
constitution, OF any kind, lie thought the time was
gone by for amending the constitutions and erIans #
was wen that 1t was SO. 1t was Tor them 10 break
II ten tunes than 1t for them 10 anne NJ, II once. ,3
II u'&y tined TO mend only those places ,vher. rn,
ad broken IT. they would have enough to occuoy ,em
Tor considerable time. He SHOULD ot vote for fa o
soiuiioh u'!cr the expectation 4t much would be done.
' nc was VIKING That an inquiry should be made He
was moi ~ iaYcr of the measures OF either Of the en,i
men Dat he should vote III favor of the amendment +,
tHc resolution, and then for the resolution no .nnpoJ
h't H. "H' 0hnN't, OF ky said he was happy to fad
'hat inc proposition TO appoint committee embraced ,
sPec'hc proposition 10 amend the Constitution relative
TO Use choice {. President and Wee President of the
Ohited States. The gentleman frf,m Maine h.d ho
feared ut'erei solemn aad ayful truth when he said
'ha ne time lad passed for amending the constitution
ana That 1t cculd be broken With more facility fo :,
conid be amendei. Mr. J. said lie should he marc ~,
pFeens've OF the truth Of this belief if this spirit of an
P"Soh 9Ilouli apply to amendments which Droposed +;
'fs 'he People Oi this country with the exercise of tho
49, 'e'i''' F'''C'peS O sell government;
upon winch he conceived the prosperItr bsnn;nas I
p'TPe,p,ly OF cur free institutions principally depended.
H. IN ''ie infancy OF ou Republic; if, in the fist year
OF our political Jubilee, discovered this o6oosiy;on
"h"t r,lght we expect in mature age? IL. said orr
rsl political Jubilee commenced the lth Of July last
his was the fitch year of our IDdenen5enco' ~
ms pat lie sad he never wanted to see any friend of
MS ca'i'd upon, rs Member Of Congress- TO vote for
INC fr' !eD and vice President of tie I,,ifod St,,
Ir NE world " as inyidous, and matte. what purty
Han6as could boast Of even ii tiicv possessed tic %
riy OF angels, their III many cases would naI
them obnoxious to imputaions. rhi, was one rcasor
WY he was IN favor of the proposed. amendment, an
enoIneht proposing that, in event, and in TO con
urgency should the duty of electing deyove upon nm
gross or either House His desire was by such amend
heht' TO place the Members of Congress not only he
yoIa lsmP!allon' but beyond suspicion Till then ne
'oohed IN VAIN tor that harmony, concord and aIec,5
a'e ieengs' which should always exist among nose ,s
located for the same great object Of giving laws and
rules OF conduct aud action TO free pcotle In vain
ne expected to see President elected b. Congress
right was exclusively vested in tbe people or some o
CT agents than Congress should never see nenbcr