Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-23

1oveinment, and he therefore, IN the hrst place
look review of the Constitution, as il now
stands; and argued. chat wherever the word State
Is used II refers not TO State Legislature, but
TO the People OF Su.ie considered as collective
political body. The Constitution had been once
anenceu, by ITS trainers; and though they
alarmed Tor State rights, and feared consolidation.
they mad no resort TO district system for the cleo
ton OF President.
He proceeded to reply to the argument of Mr..
Med drawn from the vote Of the People of N. Y. in
favor OF the district system; and explained the Cir
cumstances under which il had been given. He dis
scented entirely from the sentiment, that the Con-
sliu'ion aimed simply At ascertaining the popular
voice, IN the election of President; and insisted
that the pure democratic principle was to be found
In no one branch of the Government. not even
In the House of Representatives itself, but a
mixed principle, in which the rights of indepen-
dent state sovereigniies comminged with
those OF the People at large. AS to legislation.
and the constructive powers Of Congress, they
were TO act on the People as mass; but, in all
other respects, the relation of the States, as SO
many distinct communities, was always kept in
view; and he adverted, particularly, to the i'm
portance OF this principle to the slave-holding
States.
lie compared the relative population of the
States, as now entirely changed by the progress OF
the West and shew ed that the Union wa, fass
approaching the point when the representation OF
The non siave-hoiding States would amount 10 two
thirds OF the whole, and could change the Cons,-
tuition. The security of the Southern States was
Incompatible with any system which melted down
the People OF all the States into one mass He ureel
Mr.. McD. TO complete his amendment ON his own
principles-and abolish a stale of things which,
gave 10 the tree voters in some States power much
greater than III others. Ifuniformiiy was desirable
1t might be attained by making ali the States vote
by general ticket. he combatted the argument
respecting the annihiiation of inorities-and con-
tended That it,ta ,hs
quence OF allowing the majority to govern The
dangers oil GAUGES system would not be DESTROYED
but only scattered and diffiised by disrictns the
States. He scou' ed the presentation that a few
individuals could change the majority, aud ,ha, ZEN
men had turned the election in MARYLAND. The
whole majority turned it, ard not these ten men.
On the subject of Congressional corruption, MIR.
D. Insisted that no argument lay from the abuse of
| 'russ-but repel!ed the charge as unmerited "a
unjust TO the Pl President, and degrading to the
National character. He appealed 10 all the past
ADMINISTRATIONS, even that of Washington, as hay
ing 'carceiN retained majority in the House. He
denied the analogy drawn from Rome; and II Gated,
with scorn, a comparison of the American Pcople
TO the brutal soldiery of Cesar
lie then proceeded to examine the system pro
posed by the amendment; which went 10 destroy
the powers OF the small States, by taking away
their vote in tho House of Representatiyes-to
compel the People to choose Pr esident preferred
by minority only, whether he should be their
second choice or nct The whole system went on
the false assumption, that one of two pluraIies
would, necessarily, be the second choice of the
Electors, which was non sequitur. He main
tanned that The present was not prop;ous season
to attempt the amendment OF the Constitution: that
the responsibility OF Representatives was sufIi-
Gent. and the only eectual safeguard against their
corruption; and closed with general Representa-
ton OF the blessings which the Nation was enjoy-
ing, chiefly through the effects Of The Constitution
as II now existed.
The motion for the Committees rising. was
made by Mr.. Archer, of Virginia, who, in conse--
quence, has the floor for Monday next,
The House then adjourned