Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-12-17
UNITED STATES SENATE
DECEMBER Is.
Mr.. Kane submitted the following

nESOSce0, j hae % inuch VI TIC ffeslQents
Message as relates to the erection of monu.
mcnt TO commemorate the grcst events Of the
military and political life Of General Washing.
| ton be referred to select committee, and
| that the said committee have leave to report
BY bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Johnson's resolution on the sub
iect of the Judiciary was taken up, and
| after some observations by Mr.. agreed
to.
The resolution submitted yesterday
| by Mr.. Benton, calling for information
| in regard the leases Of lead mines, &c.
was taken up and agreed to-,
The Senate then proceeded to consi-
der the resolution, submitted yester.
day BY Mr.. Benton:
Resolued, That Select Committee be ap
pointed, with instructions to enquire into the
expediency of amending the Constitution Of
the United States, so as to provide for the
election of President and Vice President, by
direct vote Of the people, in districts.
Mr.. Hayne was rejoiced to see that
the gentleman from Missouri had thus
early called the attention Of the Senate
to this important subject; but he tho't
he had not made the enquiry sufficient
ly extensive; he had confined it merely
to the mode of election; but Mr.. Il.
thought also an attempt ought to be
made to secure the election Of Presi-
dent Of the United States from the in
tervention of the House of Represen-
tatives; and he therefore moved to a.
mend the resolution, by adding the
following:
"And that the committee be further
instructed to enquire into the expedi-
ency Of SO amending the Constitution,
as to secure the election Of President
and Vice President Of the United
States without the intervention Of the
Senate or House of Representatives"
After observations from Messrs.
Macon, Dickerson, Hayne, Benton,
Holmes, Of Me. r. NJ. Johnson of Ken.
in which they all concurred in the opin-
ion, that it was necessary some altera-
ton should be made in the Constitu-
ton, so as TO prevent hike occurrence
to what had recently taken place The
object Of the mover and the gentlemen
who took part in the debate. was to
Illicit information and ifpossiblc, RENE
the evil complained Of
The question was then taken on MIR.
HAYNES amendment and carried
MIR. Cobb then rose and said that,
without entering into the inquiry whe-
Their they could strike out a mode for
the election Of President and Vice Pre-
sident, without the intervention Of eli
Their branch Of Congress, he would Of
fer an amendment that went to another
point: its object was to instruct this
same committee to inquire into the ex-
pediency of so amending the constitu-
ton as to prohibit the appointment OF
any member Of Congress to any Office
of honor, or trust under the United
States during the term for which such
Senator or Representative should have
been elected. If this amendment were
adopted. the evil would not be so great
in referring the eIectionsof President
to the decision Of either branch Of Con-
gress While he had the honor Of be-
ing a member Of the other House,. he
said, he submitted a similar PROPOSE
ton, and though there was not a sufi.
Gent vote to carry il through, he had
the consolation Of knowing that the
votein favor Of it was very respecta-
bic. He thought there could be no bet
ter time than the present TO renew the
proposition; il the committee could not
devise a mode by which the election
could be effected, without the interpo.
sition Of Congress, then it became the
more proper to inquire whether they
should not remove from those on whom
the election must devolye, all tempta-
ton that might bias them in that cleo
ton. He would not make any obser-
yations as to the fact of how far any
memberof Congress might be influen-
ced by the hope Of Office, in voting; but
every member would see, from the fall
libility Of human nature, that it was al
mos, impossible for men sometimes
not to be influenced: Mr. G. said, he
wished to cut off every thing that
could tempt a man, and entirely de-
stroy all hope of Office. and all impu-
tation whether they should vote right
/ or wrong: Mr.. c. concluded by moving
an amendment to the resolution, COR
responding to what he stated in his re-
marks; and
The question being put on Mr.. C's
amendment, it was agreed to, mem. con.
Mr.. Macon said, he still thought
that, instead Of referring to the Com
mittee separate and distinct PROPOSE
tons, it would be better to commit the
whole subject Of the election OF Presl.
dent and Vice President of the United
States, that the committee might de-
wise and report such plan as they should
think best to avoid the existing evils,
and secure the benefits which were
deemed desirable in the mode OF elect
;nr those officers. He therefore moved