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

lhtcnutu " should be. Tor more than three
months and halfout oithc four the conycn-
ton were in session, they steadily md I'M
'ornly adhered 70 an election nv Compress.
and voted down every ionn of probo,iion
which served TO take il from Congress. ana
give 1t TO the people. will not read the
whole OF the proceeding Of the convention
OF isOl, inasmuch as they have been re-
peatedly referred to: One or Two oil these
extracts will suffice.
JusE 2.--ln committee af the whole.
Mr.. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, moved To
postpone mr.. Randoph's motion, in rela.
ton to the Executive, in order 10 take up
his motion, to divide the States into dis
trlcts, for the choice Of electors; this mo-
ton was negatlved Yeas, PENNSYLVANIA
and Maryland, New York divided
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware,
Virginia, North-carolina, S.lth Carolina,
and Georgia.
IL was then voted, that the President
should be chosen by Congress for seven
years, Yeas; Massachusetts, Connecticut,
New York, Delaware, Virginia, North Car
olIna, South Carolina, Georgia. Nays,
Pennsylvania, Maryland.
JuNE l9.-The committee Of the whole
reported to the House. the resolutions as
agreed to--that the President should be-
appointed by congress, foi seven years, and
be ineligible a second tinn.
july H.-The ninth resolution from
the committee of the whole being under
consideration, il was moved that the Pres
Acnt should be appointed by the people,
AID not by Congress; Yea, Pennsylvania
Mays, 9.--lt was then moved that he be
ch'sen by electors appointed by the state
Legislatures; Yeas Delaware aud Maryland
-Mys, :. IL was then voted unanimous
ty that the President should be chosen by
congnss"
viii not, Mr.. Chairman, dctair the coui-
mlttee by further reading of the proceed
lngs Of the Convention. have gone far
enough to show, that an election by the
House was not TO the trainers OF the Con
stltntion, by any means, an unexpected c.
vent. And think | havenow shown, that
the amendment of lSilt was an Invasion of
the rights Of the small States; and if they
are stripped Zone right, and divtstcd ofone
power after another, the time will soon ar
rive when they will have nothing remain
mg, nothing that is worth possessing. III
the fundamental principles of government
are to be changed for light and traiIsient
states. u what 9narnnteo have tho small
representation in the Hot6cr branch Of 'iRtes
legislature. Already, we are threatened
with convention Of the people,, in which
every part of the constitution can be altered
will now, mr.. Chairman, examine the
different modes Of appointing electors.
Each State shall appoint, insnch manner
as the legislature thereof may direct,
number collectors, equal to the whole num-
Der of Senators and Representatives to
which the State may DC entitled in the Con
gress." This is evidently, TO my mind,
state right, and cannot be- altered without
impairing the rights Of State. ] will not
say with the gentleman from Virginia (mr.
Archery that no mode is best, and all are
best, but the States should be the judges Of
what is best: one may be the best Mt one
time, and another mode at another time. j
would not restrict the largest State in the
Union to any particular mode, because in
the largest the viii Of the people must be
consulted and will eventually govern; nor
would do any act that would take from
the larger States any of those powers,
rights, or prerogatives, which, under the
Constitution, they arc fairly entitled to.
Nor win surrender single night belong
ing to, or n single benefit conferred upon,
by the Constitution Of the United States,
the smallest State IN the Union. Many
have contended that the State Legislatures
have no right whatever 70 appoint the cleo
tors, and that the trainers Of the Constltu-
ton never intended, never contemplated
such an appointment, when, at the first g.
lection Of President, the electors were APP
pointed in every State in the Union, with
the exception Of three, by the State Log
islatures. These appointments we're made
when the people could, and no doubt did,
avail themselves Of the aid, counsel and
services Of the trainers Of the Constitution
themselves. The Federallst has been fre-
quently rcsortcd toAs a cotcmporaneous ex-
position Of the Constitution. IL hHs been
read TO warrant, 10 illustrate, and 10 en-
force evcry argument that has been made.
To show that The State Legislatures couj
appoint the electors. ia t,c opinion vi mr..
Madison, although this mode is not vid
me favorite one, | hope to be ind'' .eed
with one extract from No. -, page :,5j.
"Thc state Governments may be re.
garded as constituent and css,r tial parts
of the Federal Government. =. .,ilst the lat.
ter ~ nowisc essential n 81 . operation or
organization Of the forms Without the
Intervention OF the STAT, Icrislatures, the
President Of the unirc'i States canrot 5,
elected at ~: they rhust in all cases have
great shore IN, his. appointment and vii
perhaps In mOsto' J,q orihsmseIres defermin,
a." IN many CT .ses the State Legislature
may appoint Z ie electors with the fules
oppr obation on the part Of the people; IL
I Al n A -. v,foH IA tfud