American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-01-27
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES,
J,,,..uy 10 1896
JANUARY l9, 1896.

was rrerred the several resolutions proposing
amendments to the Constitution OF the United
States,
REPORTED, IN PART:
That, in cons dering these various propositions,
the Committee could not be insensioie 70 an ooJec
lion. often repeated, against the expectancy Oh max
ing anya eratious in the Fundamental princpesoi OUT
Government Giving this objection It's due weight
and admitting the imroiicy of making sudden and
hasy changes, the committee would yet deem Il an
nnwi,e surrender OF an undouhed ri hi, In the ex
s,iog eener alton. to refuse TO make any reform IN
the Federal Constitution, which time and expert
encp has proved to be necessary Founded III the
rights oil man, this right to improve our social con-
don has been acknowledged and guaranteed in the
Constitution itself and that it was not intended to
be barren privilege, nor its exercise construed INTO
mark of irreverence towards our ancestors, was
sufficiently shown by the Constitution itself IN the
double means which it provided Tor efiectlng It's
own amendment. BY these ineans, the right OF
amendment is secured to the Congress and the
States conformity, and TO the States Themselves IN
dependent OF Congress This double capacity TO
receive amendment, was considered BY its ablest
supporters about the time oil its adoption as one Of
the bes; features in the Constitution. The pliI'
lege secured TO the States TO demand from Congress
the convection of National Consentlon' ano 70
originate AID perfes, amendments Independent OF
the will OF ) bra: oh OF the fedetsl Governmtnt,
was particularly relied upon, and carefully poMteo
out as the proper resot OF the States, whenever
Congress should neglect or refuge to propose the
ans nimsn,s which the people desired refer
ence The proceedings Of the ratityIng conventions,
will shaw the stress which was laid by the friends
Of the Constitution this double capacity oil that
insru nent, to receive amendment and the further
act that but for the existence OF this capacity, and
be lei IN The greater facility OF procuring SUISSE
quent than previous amendments, that Constitution,
which is now deemed, by some, too perfect TO be
touched, would nes rr have obtained the ratifca ion
Of sufficien: number of States 10 put Il into ope
rattan
Equally rejecting, on hand that attachment
to old institu which rejects every idea oil i'm
proyement, and on the other, tia, spirit Of innova
lion hich would leave nothing stable in the Con
siitution, the committee have careully considered
the several propositions Of amendment referted TO
them by the order OF the Senate, and, after compa.
ring them with the existing provisions of the Con
suton on the same points, they have come to the
conclusion, that the plan oil that instrument has fail
ed 10 the execution, that most difficult part OF all
elective governments-the choice OF the chief ma
,istrstes and that it is less.a right than duty,
III the existing generation, to provide another plan.
more ca3abe ot steady, equal, and uniform opera
ion. Besides want Of uniformity under the pres
ent plan, to such degree as to exhibit three DIFF
ieent modes OF election in operation at once and
want Of stability so great as TO admit all these 10
liz changed whenever The State Legislatures please
the Committee would indicate TWO great leading
features in whit The iaention OF rhe Constitution
has Windy faitd-the lNsTI1 uTIoN Of ELECTORS
aud the ultimate election bg STATES IN The HOUSE
~ Representatives Considering that the effects oil
,hess failures. the wait Of uniformly. and the in
stability oil the present modes Of election, have near
" len US without cor .tuona rules Tor the choice
81 The Nv. frs officers Of The Federal Government
b1l. ~ dina rh drn
biGe the advantages o. unlorr Ivy, stability, ant
equeuty. veu he acceptable 10 the people. and ia
variable 10 the cause OF liberty, the Committee hav,
resolved 10 pi9pose
Fr /. fha, unifoem mode CT election, by dis
tIicis shall be established
Secmuly. That the institution Of electors shall
be abolished ard the President ard Vice Presiden
hereafter elected by d'ec, vote Of the people.
Thirdly That second election to be conduc
ted in the same the first, shall take place
between the persons having the two highest mum
bers for the same Office when 20 one ha, receive,
majority Of the whole number OF votes first given
The details OF this plan of election given a
ength, in the Resolutions herewith submitted
and in bringing forward plan so essentially differ
ing from that of the present Constitution, the Com
mit.ee believe it to be their duty to the Senate 4
sunmit, at the same time, brief exposition Of tn
reasons which have influenced their determination
The first feature which presents itself in tn
Committees plan of election, is the uniformity 0
The system which is proposed to be substituted 70
the dscordant and varying modes OF election, whic
nnv prevail in different States and even the sam
STATE, at different times To mtrate these yar
Gus modes.is task alike impracticable and unpro6
table; for they change with suddenness whic
dei,s classification: To point ont the evils OF sue
dscordant and mu,able practices, is unnecessary
Tor the whole continent has just seen and deprecae
their pernicous effects 10 argue in favor OF SON
nuio IN mode OF election, is deemed superAuous
Tor Its necessity is university admit ed the deman
or uniformity Is heard in all directions and publ
expectation must suffer deep disappointment,
anI erin