The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-04-06
NineteeMth Congress.
amrn0ment of the Constitution
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
March IL 1896.

IHe loHoWlng resolutions, proposed by
mr. M'Dutiie being under consideration,
in Committee of the Whole
Resolved, That for the purpose Of elect
ing the President and Vice President of the
thited states, the Constitution ought TO be
@,henaeu III such a manner as will prevent the
election OF the aforesaid officers from devolv.
wing on Congress.
"Resolved, That uniform system of votino
by districts ought to be established in all the
states, tho number Of districts in each state
10 equal the number of Senators and Renre.
sentatives, to which such state NAV be enti
Tied IN Congress, and each district HAVING one
vote.
"Resolved, that a Select Committeo bn
appointed, with instructions to prepare and
report JOINT resolution embracing the afore.
said objects"
MIR. PEARCE, Of Rhode-Island. rose.
and addressed the Committee as follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: When the Commit
tee consider the situation in which | am
placed, IN consequence Of the absence of
my iriend and colleague, whose voice NAV
not be raised on this question, Il hope in
ms, however, may be mistaken when
they consider the necessity which has de-
Folved on me, of sustaining alone the in
tereSt of the state represent, protracted.
rs this debate has been, and exhausted as
their patience must be, may not ask for a
share OF indulgence in the remarks 7 shall
submit Ihe question now under Discus
sion, consider of great Importance to the
srhaii states, and to none more than the
small state have the honor TO represent.
and IT, consequently, should ask for al
the indulgence that has been given to oth-
.a. Ill
one? Pardon me, then, for the little time
shall consume in contending, pro a,Ts et
.focts, for the rights and interests, political
force and power of the small states for
those rights, without the exercise and en-.
Joyment Of which, they would become po-
htlcal cyphers, without weight, and with
out influence.
will, in the first place, call the atten-
ton Of the Committee to the propositions
that have been submitted. twenty-onc in
number, all differing in some respect. to
show that if amendments are called for,
there are but few in this House who can
tell what they are, or how they should be
made. In discussing these resolutions. we
find gentlemen from the same state, uisa-
gree i'll relation to them. The colleague
Of the honorable mover of these resolutions
would not 60 with him but half his Jour-
ney, and left him, whore his services, rs
should suppose, were the most required.
The two gentlemen from Virginia do not
agree, nor do the two gentlemen from
North Carolina, in the amendments that
ought to be made, or which it is now ex-
pedent to make. As yet, the honorable
mover has received the support of one
honorable gentleman from North. Carolina,
and one from Tennessee, (Mr. Polk.)
who last addressed the committee. If
we refer to the number of resolutions, and
the variety of opinions, it s clear there is
no unity of sentiment on the subject, and
if gentlemen bring here the sentiments Of
their constituents, the people would appear
10 be as much divided as they are. If un-
der any circumstances, Mr.. Chairman, a.
mendments were. or would be necessary,
(and do not think they would be under
ANY, | should contend, that existing cir
cumstances, and the present time would
not justify any amendment whatever. 1t
appears to me, that many Of the PROPOSE
tons have grown out Of the late Presiden-
tial election, and they are made III refer
ence to another election, and perhaps to
the election Of a particular candidate,
they arc prcdicatcd upon the supposed en-
istence Of an evil, as to which, there are,
in the minds of many very serious doubts,
and taking it FOR granted that the evil has
existed, nothing viii satisfy gentleman but
an amendment ofth constitution. Prop
ositions g. this kind, created or produced
by these imaginary evils, are not new in
-he hJstary Of our government: they w.,e
anticipated by the trainers of the co.c.titu.
toa, aud were guarded again.,. rs far "a
those venerable sages found i, expodjent
10 guard against them,
iIence that wise and salutary feature in
the Coreutution, requiring two-thirds Of
both Houses Of Congress 20 propose a.
raendments to the Constitution, and re-
curing all amendments thus proposed, 20
be ratified BY the Legislatures Of three
fourths of the several States. before such n
mendments would become a part q; the
Constitution. Sir. IL was never intended
that the Constitution should be affected BY
every wind. that il should become the
sport Of the whim or caprice. or passion
Of every disconten.ed individual, Or every
man who fancied himself aggrieved o. in
jured-there will be found men enough
in every country, who viii fancy them
selves injured, and to crafty them. tie
Constitution Ills. be altered. 81 q eT.l-