The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-04-06

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state.
/ But when listened 10 the other gen
| tleman from that State, who addressed the
committee, (Mr. Steypnson,) whose can
| dour and patriotic views were only equalled
/ by the impressive eloquence with which
hc spoke, was satisfied that Virginia is
now in the language of one Of her most
I dlsting uished citizens, 4" too proud 10 sur
/ render her own rights, and too just to in
| wade the rights of others" regret, Mr..
Charpan, that cannot agree TO the sub
stitute proposed by that honorable gentle
man, because, believing in the Correctness
Of the greater part ofhis able argument.
should have been pleased TO have subscri-
bed to the whole oft. IF the election is
taken from this House, in the event of
therc being no choice by the people, and
transferred to the State Legislature, could
not all the evils there exist which some
have alleged have existed, and declared
will exist here? The votes of one State
inuy settle the question of President, and
will elect A or B, as they may be given for
the one or the other and the votes Of five
men, OF lesser number, may carry the
vote ofthc State for A or B, under this
state of things, if corruption, intrigue and
cabal. would exist in either body, this
! House or the State Legislature, would
they not operate az efficiently in the State
/ Legislature u in this Hall? Compare the
conduct of the members of this House,
when lately electing a President, with the
caba intrigue, and riot, on the part of the
Ncw-York Legislature, when electng
electors, whose votes were supposed TO be
. t/, ,lppan "a candidate -
alcged that corruption did there exist, al
/ though one Of the incorruptible Seventeen
/ has lately vacated his seat, and like the re-
I treating Scythidn has fled the capital. III
suspicion be evidence of corruption, (and
do not contend that in any case it is, or
ought n be so considcred,) there was as
much of it in that Legislature, as in any
body Cf men which ever existed. Tn,
members not only suspected ono anothe,
but Themselves, ard the people suspected
the Whole. An editor of one Of the ieir-
nails Of this city, did not extend his iNr-
ney beyond the city of n. Yerk, for ear,
perhaps, OF incmfing some unpleasant inn
putatons and the Postmaster General
could not visit tn Springs for the benefit
OF his health, without being suspected Of
bringing with him disposition to infu-
cnce "the rascally Potnasters," in the leg
islaturc of that State.
Sir, if public confidence, end desire TO |
retain it, can give rry assurance Of faith
ful discharge of duties, q representative of
tho nation ought to be considered as safe
an agent, as a member ETA state legsla- !
ture. Every member Of this House has a
good share Of the confidence of forty thou |
sand people town, a borough, or dis
trict, with comparatively few inhabitants 4
may return member Of q state legisla-
ture. Again, we are told by the honora-
Bile -cptlJnpqlaa from South -Carolinas !SMy,
pre to the Presidential chair, who has not
distinguished himself on this floor, or who
has not shown himself ominently qualified
to discharge the duties Of President, by
the discharge Of tnc duties Of some of the
departments of Government. BE it So
Who are the best qualified to Judge? And
who can best Judge of the qualifications Of
such men? The members Of this House
who associate with them, know them well,
and see them every day, er the members
OF state legislature, who can know them
only by reputation? If, sir, the election is
10 be sent back 10 the states, 20 be by
them settled by vote, in districts, each
state to have one vote, my objections will
be found applicable TO a vote in that mode,
perhaps they will apply With more fierce
the votes in one district wiz settle the vote
of state, and twenty men, or less, can
control the vote Of the district, and those
men foreigners, mere birds of passage, for
we are told by the honorable gentleman
from Massachusetts, (Nlr. Everctt,) that in !
some states the elective franchise is eX-
tended to aliens, and persons not natu- |
railZed. But the constitution must be a |
mended, for the late election has not Civ
en satisfaction to the people, individuals !
are dissatisfied, and always will be; but |
where is evidence of dissatiSisc ton on the |
part of the people? II makes but a little !
difference to the great body of the people,
whether A, or b, is President, if he be
honest, vrtuous, and intelligent ; and they
have, thank God, too much virtue and in
telligence to condemn without cause, and
before trial. The peoples candidate has
not been chosen.-Where is the evidence !
to support this declaration? Is 1t neccssa- I
ry to controvert it, inasmuch as the !
present Executive was chosen in con-
stitutlonal mode?
But, word on this subicct--if gentle. !
men would tell lis their candidate was not
chosen, no one would argue that point
with them. Lot gentlemen make an cst- !
mate of the number or electors, or voters, |
in those states which gave their electoral
votes to the incumbent, and proportion
those, in those states whose electoral
votes were divided according to the di-
vision, and they will find that the incum-
bent had "a plurality, if not a majority, of
all the electors in the Union, and are they