Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WEDN FEB.l5, 1896.

Election of President aud Vice President
The House having, Oh motion of Mr.. hlcDufiie
resolved itself into Committee of the Whole OF
The state of the Union, Mr.. McLane, of Delaware
In The Chair, proceeded 10 the consideration of tn
following resolutions, moved by Mr. McDuiIie, Oh
the 18th of Dec. last, Wiz,
| " RESOLVED, That, for the purpose of electin.
the President and Vice President of The Untet
States, the Constitution ought to be so amended
that uniform system of voting by districts. shal
be established in all the Staies and that the Cons
tuition ought to be further amended, IN such manner
as will prevent the election of the Aforesaid Off
GERS from devolving upon the respective House OF
Congress.
Resoired, That a select committeebe appoint
ell, with instructions 10 prepare and report joint
resolution, embracing the aforesaid objects.''
These revolutions having been read
MIR. Med UFFIE addressed the Committee as
follows:
MIR. Chairman: The resolution which has been
referred to the consideration of the Committee, is
receivable into two distinct practical propositions,
as plain and obvious in their import as they
questionaby important in their tendency. The first
contemplates the establishment of uniform mode
NJ voting, by Districts, for the President and Vice
President of the United States, instead of leaving
1t TO the Legislatures of the respective States,
either 10 prescribe and vary the mode of voting,
to assume and exercise that important function
iueuiseiVes. ne proposes mat, Ill the
event OF no person receiving majority of all the
electoral votes, the first balloting, some prov-
sion shall be made for the final disposition of the
contest that will supersede the eventual interfer-
| ence of either branch of Congress in the election
of the two chief Executive Magistrates of the Re-
public. A. the resolution does not declare whe-
ther is expedien that the Electors should be dis
pensed with aimed, indicate the substitute
by which the final election shall be prevented from
Iau nl,,;, i h..
the details of the proposed amendment in reference
10 these particular objects.
Az the Electors, if retain ed at all would hold
their hrst balloting Immediately after they cho
sen, and under Circumstances that would almost
preclude the possibility of tamperng or corruption
am willing 10 acquesce in any decision that a
majority Of the Committee may make upon the
question of retaining them in the first instance
For, although do not believe the Electors TO be
of any possible utility in the system and can per-
ceive considerable objections retaining them even
thus partially, yet, il majority of the Committee
should think differently, will cheerfuy sacrifice
this minor consideration, to the accomplish
.nent of the great object OF the contemplated
amendment.
But, in ease the primary vote of the Electoral
Colleges shall fail to decide the election ] propose
that the two highest candidates, respectively shall
be referred back the People, voting directly for
the President and Vice President by Districts.
For, when it is considered that at least three or
four months must unavoidably elapse between the
first and the second balotng, the argument against
retaining body of Electors for 30 long period
exposed to temptation, becomes, in my judgment,
irresistible. And, in addition to this view of the
subject, when the contest is reduced to simple
issue between two competitors, there is an end OF
all the conceivable reasons for a discretionary
agency, and the interposition of Electors can only
be regarded az at best suseless incumbrance.
Such Mr.. Chairman, is the brief outline of an
amendment, which emphs;icay speaks its own
importance, that need scarcely invoke the patient
and undivided attention Of those, who, under the
most solemn responsibility to the present and future
generations, are to pronounce and record their
judgments upon it.
In bringing forward this plan Of Constitutional
reform, / am not unaware of the obstacles, CON-
mon 10 every similar undertaking, that must be IN
avodably encountered. Some there are, who, in
their undiscriminating reverence for the exceen-
cies and imperfecons of the Constitution, are
disposed TO regard every proposition TO amend it,
dangerous innovation. Although it is
doubtedly true, that every change is not i'm
provement, and that the Constitution ought never
10 be altered, even under the clesrest convictions
of theoretical propriety, for slight or transient
causes, yet it is equally true, that stand indis-
criminatey opposed to all changes, is, 10 say the
least of it, the dictate of very superficial wisdom
1t is offering idolatrous homage at the shrine of
the Constitution, which the Constitution itself ex-
piicitly disclaims. That the clause which pro-
vides for its own amendment, stands amongst the
least equivocal indications of the wisdom of il.
trainers, will be apparent TO every one who will
reflect but for single moment, upon the vast com
prehensiveness Of their labors, and the peculiar
circumstances under which they were performed.
Called together by an extraordinary and alarm
ing emergency, and acting under che influence OF
the excited passions, unavoidsbly incident to
crisis portending anarchy and civil strife the Con-
vention were under the necessity of forming, in
few months, the entire structure OF government
perfectly in its principles and destined in less
than single century from the period of its forma-
ton 10 extend either its blessings its curses 10
larger number of civilized human beings than
were ever before associated under the auspices of
one common Government! When, to this view of
the impressive magnitude aud growing char &C er
OF the objects and interests commit ed TO the charge
OF the Federal Convention, we add the considera-
ton that they consisted of Delegates from thirteen
independent Soyereignties, having rival interests
and conflicting views to harmonize, the wonder is,
not that they failed TO make per ect Constitution
but that they made any Constitution at all. And
here, sir, will take occasion TO remark as having
more immediate bearing upon The proposition be-
fore US, that, in the organization Of the Executive
Department of the Government that department
in which it has always been found most dl(fcht 10
unite the elements, the essential elements ofIbsrfy
and power--the Convention, deriving but few, and
glimmering, and decisive lights from history, have
most signsly failed in accomplishing their patriotic
intentions, though this is undoubtedly the part of
the system which they regarded as least obnoxious
to objection: An impressive adnonition to US all,
how seldom, in the conduct Of human affairs, the
wisdom Of man transcends the narrow horizon Of
biz experience! az concession it'll this view oil
the subject, will venture TO express tie opinion
with confidence, that the common mass oftolerably