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

of repre- entatiyes, depuiea from the society for
the s,asle purpose OF making the important choice.
"All these advantages will be happily combined
in the plan devised by the conv ention, which is
that each state shall choose a number of persons
as electors" (2l)
No. LXXFII q" We have now completed
survey OF the structure, and powers of the exect,-
i've department. The remaining enquiry is--Does
ii also oombinc the requisites safety ia the repub
HcGn sense? Il due dependence on the people /;
due responsibility The answer o this question
has been anticipated in the investigation OF it. other
characteristics, and Is satisfactorily deducible from
these crcumsan the election of the President
once in four years by persons immediately chosen
| 6y TIE PEOPLE for that purpose"
These solemn declarations made, at the moment
when the people had the Consultation in their hands,
and while then were selecting their conventions.
were not whispered - in a coner,' but renal ed
II Is believed, uncontratc,ed by Washington aud
every other member Of the Federal Conv ention. II
this be the fact, we have the concurrent testimony
OF tue foes veil the friends OF the constitutions
that - the people are 10 cho ise the electors"
| With these unequivocal declarations, in their
hands the people, " as Defined" elected their
vsii0us State conventions. That of Virginia met
on the I'd Juac, lTSS, at Richmond In this con
ventlon we ind Jdmes Madison; George .Mason
OF Gunston, George u ytae, Edmund Randolph
| AID John Biair, who had been meolbers OF the
Federal Convention at Philadeph only nine
months before; and surely such men these knew
well The construction placed tina; clause, which
decl,res that, each state shall appoint eIectayS
by the convention which framed il. The facts
which, am about TO bring in aid OF this declaration
o. the Fedetali>; - part OF our history. ca
Facts are stubborn things. 1888, lth June, Mr.
| Uyfhe in the chair Mr.. Geo. Nicholas sa,s
. The best writers government agree that in
repabiic those laws which fix lie right OF suIraae
4 \ D.. .r.I-
II Is left uncertain ia tuhom the RIGHT OF suffrage
is to rest, or UahaS placed that right ia i,mprO-
per hands, shall admit that il is a radio del, CT
| But IN this plan is fixed rule Tor dcte rmning the
| qualification OF electors (23.) 81 Our feieral
house Representatives will be able 20 oppose wi,'i
success all attempts by President only cho-en
| To- four years by the people" (2i.)
| Friday 7th June, Mr. Wythe in the chair, Mr.
| Hladison says, speaking OF the con titution--
- ou!d Ill the states dopt it. it will be ,hen
government established bS the thirteen states OF
| America, not through the nterv enton of the Lee
slsiai9res bu, by lie People Gtlarge,'' (25 )"rhe
| member, TO The national house o. representatives
are 20 be chosen by the people at large, in pro-
portion 20 he numbers In the respective districts.
| ~ hen 10 The Senate, its members are
cleo Ell b. the States in their equal, and political
capacity; but had the government been con,pietely
| consolidated, the Senate ould have been chose
by the people IN their Individual capacity in the
same manner the members oil the her 10 use''
| (26)
Tuesday, 10 h June, Mr. Uyythe in the Chair
| i2D Edmund Randolph. g How is the z, es
! dent elected! BY the People-on the same da
hIoushoIt the United SateS--by those whom a. e
people please. Who are your representatives,
| They are chosen by The people for two years.
| Who are your Senator's? They are chosen b. the
| lesIelatures.' Mr.. Nicholas says. - The consen.
o. the President is very great security. He is
elected Jy tn People at large. (2S)
Friday, tie 18th June, Mr. Wythe in tie char
Mr.. Madison says, " The people at large
| choose those tvtO elect the President '(29) Mr..
Nicholas. The President How is he elected
lie is elected b. electors chosen by the people
| Ia proportion to their numbers , 1907
Saturday, iI,h June. Mr.. Wy.he IN the chair
| Mr. Madison lays, " 1t was before remarked that
Ut difference should take place bet ~ cen the two
houses, about the time OF adjournment, the Presi-
dent could still determine il: From which no dan
ger Gould arise, as he is chosen in q secondary
degree By he people" (9I)
! tuesday. lIh Jure, 1888. Mr.. Wythe in the
chair. Governor Randolph in reply to Geo Ma
son. Both members of the Feie.al Convention
! which framed the constitution MIR Wylhe ano
| ther member OF that convention in the chair. liz
The presence oil James -Madisol participating r.
this very part of he debate. Randolph saws. :, Hg
electors must be elected 5y the people al large
(S2)
"Wednesday, 18th June. George Mason saws
| mould not be 0ace out Of -fJty that he Oh.
Pres den tcOutd be chosen Gy them ttbe people)
W me Just instance, besa a majority t the
who!e nrmLer OF votes required. (3S) Nj,
| l.oii-on in reply to George Mason {" The choice
! Of the p6OPie ougnt ne attended TO- PERHAPS if
would De Iound lmpraciicable 20 elect him Inv che
ann ed ate Suffrage, oil the people HiSteGd This.
tie Peopie choose The eiect1ys'' (34) dr. Mich
| olas IN reply obiecuo from afr Gravso,
Ever treeho'de' Inning right to Uote for
; President By the Hterp0Sstion Of electors. he
VIII attend 10 their interests. lhis is sufficient
check."(85)
Do the Journals of the Federal Convention cor.
| rOb1rae these solemn declarations of members Of
that convention! Declarations published TO the
people before hey chose their conventions: assent;
ell 20 by ALL repeated in the state couvenfions i
mem e. OF Ae Federal Convention both friends
and foes 10 lis adopt on. lie il be remembered
that ihe-e Journals were published till 81 wears
alter he rising (36) Fl that convention ard ibev
completely coTOborae that vi ich required nooe
| When we lose Our confidence in such men wee,
| contde IN none. Faith in our fellow man must
k It's fight from earth. After the declarations
OF these iusirious that 90 the reorIe are
to choose he electors" thus plainly sbeicn. il
there be any ho hall have the hardihood 10 "a,
that they have fa,ifed themselves for these llIus
lrIous patrios, snail say SUCH in the words of
the great Condo 10 ,he Cardinal de Reiz:
" CeS c0qitins nous font ptyier ct air. coy,y,e
its auTo'e"t fat cue me0'es a ROtre piqce''
ROANE.
Sept. sth, 1925.