Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-26
MIMTEEEMTH CONGRESS.
IN SENATE OF THE U. STATES.

Mr.. Benton, from the Select Committee to which
was referred several resolutions proposing a
mendments 10 the Constitution of the United
| States,
hrpcr,ed, in part:
ihat IN considering these various propositions.
the Committee could not be insensibe to an
objection, often repeated, against the expectancy
oil making any alterations in The f,indamen al prin-
ciP'es oil our Government. Giving to this objec-
uoh ITS due weight, and admitting the mpolicy
OF making sudden and hasty changes, the commi,-
zee would yet deem it an unwse surrender of an un-
uouDted right, In the existing generation to refuse
10 make any reform in the Federal Constitution.
winch Tune and experience have proved to be
necessary. Founded in the rights of man. this
right 10 improve our social condition has been &C :
ahowiedged and guaranteed in the constitution itself
anu tiiat II was not intended to be barren privi-
ieSe, nor its exercise construed into marksof ir-
reverence towards our ANCESTOR, was sufficiently
shewa by the constitution ITSELF in the double
| means which It provided for effecting its own a
-eutment. BY these means, the right of amend
inent Is secured to the Congress s,,: IT, S,-ies
cohJoinily, and to the States themselves indcpen-
deht oil ConS ess. This double Capacity to receive
amendment, was considered by its a5esi support
ers, about the time OF its adoption, as one OF the
BEST features in the constitution. The privilege
secured 10 the States 10 demand from Congress the
convoca,ion OF national cow ention and 10 orgi-
nate and perfect amendments independent of the
VIII oil any branch of the Federal Government
was particularly relied upon, and carefully point ed
ou' as the proper resort of the States, wheneye r
Congress should neglect refuse to propose the
amendments which the people desired A re-
ference TO the proceedings OF the ratifying con-
I ventions, viii show the stress which was laid by
The friends OF the Constitution, on this double ca
pacity OF that instrument, to receive amendment;
and the further fact, that, but for the existence of
TINS capacity, and belief in the greater facility of
procuring subsequent than previous amendments
that constitution, which is now deemed, by some,
too perfect 10 be touched, would never have OBJ
tained The ratification of a sufficient number of
States to put 1t into operation.
! Equally rejecting, on one hand, that attachment
TO old institutions which rejects every idea of i'm
provement and, on the other, that spirit of innova
non which would leave nothing stable in the con-
st'tution, the committee have carefully considered
the several propositions of amendment referred 10
then, by the order of the Senate and after compar-
ing them with the existing provisions of the CON
sttu'lon on the same points, they have come TO
the conclnslon that the plan Of that instrument has
tailed Iii the execution in that difficult part of
all elective gov ernments-ihe choice OF the chief
magistrates, and that il is less a right than a
duty, IN the existing generation to provide another
plan, more capable OF steady, equal and uniform
operation BESIDES a want ofunformity under The
present plan, to such a degree as TO exhibit three
| a
want oil STABILITY so great 10 admit all these TO
De changed whenever the Stale Legislatures please
| the COMMITTEES would Indicate two great leading
features in which The intention of the constitution
has wholly failed-h Institution Of Electors:
and the ultimate election 6y States IN the House
! 81 Representatives. Considering that the effects
OF these failures, The want of Uniformity and The
instability of the present modes of election, have
nearly lett us without constitutional rules for the
choice OF the two first officers of the Federal Gov
ernmenf, and believing that amendment which
would combine the advantages of uniformity, sta
bility and equality, would be acceptable to the peo
pie, and favorable to the of liberty the com
mittee have resolved to propose:
| First. That uniform mode Of election. bv dis
tricts, shall be established.
! Secondly That the institution of electors shall
be abolished and the President and Vice Presi
dent hereafter elected by a din ect vote of the
| people.
| Thirdly. That second election, 10 be con-
Quoted in the same manner the FIRST, shall take
place between the persons having The two highest
numbers Tor the same Office, when no one has re-
ceived majority of the whole number of votes
! first given.
! The details of this plan Of election are given at
length, in the Resolution herewith submitted: and
in bringing forward plan essentially differing
from that of the present cons tution, the commit
lee believe it 10 be their duty TO The Senate. 10
1T inc UTleI exposition OF the
! reasons whicl have influenced their determination
The FIRST feature which presents itself in the
Committees plan of elections is the ,tniforD,ify of
the system which is proposed to be substituted for
the dscorddnt and varying modes of election which
now prevail in diiferent States, and even in the
same state, at different times. To enumerate these
various modes, is a task alike impracticabe and
Improbable; for they change with a suddcnness
which deIies classification: To point out the evils
of such diSCDrlaut and nu able u.
cessary; Tor the whole continent has Just seen and
deprecated their perDcious effects: To argue in
FAVOR OF some uniform mode of election, is deemed
superiluos; 10. It's necessity is universally admit
ted; the demand for uniformity is heard Ia all d.
reciions; and public expectation must suffer deem
disappointment, 1t earnest and ering exer-
tons not made at the present session TO ACCOM-
plish an object of such pcrvading interest.
The plan Of uniformity which has received The
appreciation of the Committee, is that of the district
I system. 1t is believed TO be the plan which
In addition TO perfect uniformity, will give
10 every state, and 10 the several sections of
the state, and, far possible, 10 every in
dvdual ciisen 6. ~ whole Union, their legiti-
mate share and due weight in the election of the
chief officers of their country. The formation Of
the Districts the qualifications OF the voters, and
the manner Of conducting the elections, being lief,
10 the State Legislatures, these impoftsnt powers
are placed in the safe and unexceplionable hand,
which have right to hold them. The time Of hold
ing the elections, being necessary to the uniformi-
I tn Of the system, is fixed in the plan Of amend
ment. The number OF the districts is made TO de-
pend upon the same principle which now determines
the number Of eIector~; aud, by assigning 10 each
district one vote for President, and one for Vice
President, the relative weight Of the States in this
important election remains precisely fixed in the
present constitution. The uniformity of this
system OF election is perfect, and, therefore, one OF