Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-25

Mr.. Dorsey, OF Md. offered the following:
Ncsoiced, That II Is expedient that the Con-
stitution OF the United States should be so amended
that the same should establish uniform sy stem of
voting by districts. in all the States, for electors
OF President and Vice President; the number Of
districts to be equal TO the whole number of
Senators and Representatives to which the same
may be eitiled in Congress. and each elector hav
ing one vote.
RSs0i"-'l, That the Constitution Of the United
States ought TO be amended, that, upon
the contingency OF no choice being made of the
President and Vice President by the electors, that
new election Tor electors shall be held, and the
electors, from the persons having the two highest
numbers on the list shall choose one: but in coos-
ing the President and Vice President, the vote
shall be taken by States, each State having one vote
and the majority OF all the States shall be necessary
10 choice.
RESOLVED, That the Constitution Of the United
States ought TO be so amended that the Electors
oil President and V President, shall vote rira voce
these resolutions were committed TO Commit
tee of the whole House, and ordered 10 be printed
On motion OF MIR. +. Johnson. of Ken. it was
Resoiped, That the Committee of WAYS and
Means be instructed to inquire into the expediencv
oil so organizing or arranging the officers EMPLOY
ed In the Treasury Department, as first, 10 d.~iy-
nate some particular officer, whose duty i, shall be
under the direction of Tue Head of that Department
TO supcIntend the collection OF the revenue arising
from duties on mpost and tonnage, and TO execute
such matters and things touching the same as here
totore assigned TO the Secretary of the Treasury
| and performed by the First Comptrollcr Secondly.
whether the law designating the manner in which
the accounts shall be kept for the purpose Of afford
ing proper checks in the issuing, registering. and
| paying acquisitions the Treasury does not need
amendment; and, thirdly, whether any, and what
o'her regulations or alterations necessary in
mi nflsan rg.
eiicien, execution of the public service therein.
On motion Of mir. Vinton, of Ohio. il wa,
HeSOfccd, That the Committee on Public Lands
DE Instructed to inquire into the eypediency of pro-
viding by law, that the price OF public land tha,
has been, or shall be, in market FOR tyen,v-fiv We
years, and remains, shall remain unsold, shall,
be reduced Twenty-Five cents per acre. and that the
price OF such land shall lie graduated that the
sale OF the same shall be closed n, the expira,ion o
one-halt century from The time ofbeng brouabi into
market, and that any land that shall be in market
Tor that period oil time, and Sold shall vest in
the Legislature oil the State where situated for the
support OF education in such State
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
Inc House then went into Committee of The
hoe' MI. McLane, OF Delaware, In the Chair
on ueresolu;ions OF Mr.. McDuflie, as modified b,
) him. -
| Mr. Archer, OF Va. then addressed the Commit.
tee In favor OF tina, part of the resolution which pro-
V!ues against the elections coming into tie House
OF representatives, but in opposition to that which
! proposes universal introduction of the Distric,
System.
| Air. A. commenced his speech by expressing his
satisfaction al the shape which the motion had now
assumed, enabling The members to vote separate =
on Inc distinct propositions which il presented
a!tef expressing his concurrence in the general oh
servaions OF Mr.. Nc Dufiie, with reference IN the
| amendments oil the Constitution, he laid down the
| principe, ina! The amendments which time and ex-
perience had suggested and no other, were adj, sa-
oie' lie went on 10 argue that experience had
shewn, that the provisions, which regulate The
election OF President of the u. States. rerui,e
amendment, IN respect TO the ultimate reference n.
that election TO the House Of REPRESENTATIVES
i4enceiorlh, he commended, tina, election mus,
rom geographical and other influences deCea,ing
eAectons In The primary assemblies, always or all
most always, dcvo!vc on the House OF Represen
tatives that such election is subject TO corrun-
tiqh anu must always produce discomfort: that dis
content had been justly produced by the circun.-
s'ahces oil The hrst election of President which de-
VOWED on this House, and very evidently also ex-
iSted In reference TO the late election. whether
justly or not lie did not undertake 10 pronounce
At'er urging variety of arguments to sbew
maj what has already happened may be expected
10 occur hereafter in exaggerated form, and is un-
d'o'daois, hr n. took The ground that the public
49,. "NA ,''eu that Inc ultimate decision of this
election should be wrested from the House oC
Representatives, where it was liable 10 such aim
ana thal, In reference TO question of organic Law
Whatever might be the opinion OF this House
members OF Congress were bound to obey the voice
OF the People The reference of the ultimate a.
cision OF this question 10 the House of Represen-
tatives by the trainers of the Constitution he CON-
'eh"eo, was accidental no, flowing from considera
lions OF peculiar adaptation of that BODY 10 this
fFny,, cir
venience, viz. The shortness of time allowed after
counting the votes, and the actual session of Con-
sress allowing the choice 10 be made by the House
! OF Representatives without delay, &c. From all
'hese considerations, and many others which he
advanced, he hoped there would be an Unanimous
Vo'ein favor OF that part Of the proposition of the
gentleman from South Carolina which PROMISES tn
,aKe The election from the hands of the House of
Representatives
Mr. A. in opposing the second branch of the
resolution, (Which proposes to divide all The
states into districts for the Presidential election
insisted that the present mode of conductinp
'he erection I'm such manner the Legislature Of
each state may appoint) had produced, in the
iuiest ana most perfect manner, the effect intended
ny Tue trainers OF the Constitution, which was, 10
give an exact and faithful representation Of The ,o
stare OF pubic opinion; if that opinion was great
~ divided, 1t was not to be attributed 10 this mode
OF eiection--and the remedy proposed was calcula-
yea 10 aggravate, Instead Of curing such state of
Things lie adgerted TO the situstion of the coun-
'ry' at the time the constitution was adopted. and
shewed that the agency of the State Legislatures
IN IN TIE choice OF the Senate and of Presidential
Electors was The only bond by which the general
and the subordinate systems were efectnslIv
together. lie adverIed 10 the positions on which
Alf Med. had agreedtto take the whole argument !.
wv. !. That one mode must be better than Ihe 9th,
er' 2 That the best ought to be made universal.