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

ca-ss.d WIS upon the smaller states; and willing, /
=, ,bc same time, the large states should de-
- crom the constitution all the advantages
.ho;, numbers can give them. In dstficts
there is better field presented 'of iht- 'suo
I'D corruption; as you lessen the sphere oi o.
nor,t;on of some men, you enable themto con-
ppan..ote their forces, md 10 act with more suc-
coss and efficiency. Ten urprinciPled men
,,,hen scattered over the surface ot whole |
..,otc. with all their force and power to corrupt
90 well as misIead might not be able to make
among tho people at large, any uniayorable
impressions, or effect any improper results po'
Give 10 each of these political lug9iers a dIs-
.rct, and they might be able to cohtroi ti,e
yo,es of al least ten districts. Ten votes ~
each, of seven out of ten districts, might con.
trol the election; and the majority IN one oi
,he other districts for another candidate hi9nt
he more than the united maorltes In inc whole
orthe seven districts There is one we" which
Ishall take Oft the election by districts, whlch
~ different from the views Of any oi those VINO
t,ve nreceded me 1T il contcndcd that the
district system is necessary to preserve inc
rights, the power, and influence oil lhe "iii'
states hold directly the reverse To be inc
casc--district the small states, aud m the pIi
mary elections they will losc what lttlc poll
,icnf force and influence they now have. And
why? Because the large states hereafter VIII
have the President and Vice c-Prcsident they
will be men who reside in those states, are
horn there, or are a favorite OF those states
From state p.,de, and the csprlt-du'corps,
which will always have az influence, thcy WIN
hereafter present an, undivided vote, let the
mode Of election be what it may, by general
ticket, by Legislature, OF by districts. Inc
small states, and the states OF secondary grace
having no candidates, fiction may tear tnenl,
nnd divisions destroy their force. Newly
M votes
as five Of the eastern states, SIX OF the states
Ling in the valley Of the Mississippi, and ~
Jersey and Delaware the proportion ~ az
aiytv-four 10 scventy-one Select from N foff.
thecandidatc for the Presidency AND from Penn
.svlyania the candidate for the Nicc-Prcsdoncy,
and those states will hereafter give an un-
divided vote whether the choice be by districts,
Legislature, or general ticket but DIVIDE inc
thirteen states 20 which have rciencd, INTO
districts, perhaps the time will never arrive
when one.half of their votes will be gwen TO
anv one candidate. We cannot jodge Of the
future by the past the local, the political aus
Ntinctions which have existed, will not last Tor
over and we ought to recollect, that IN making
fhis amendment, or the other amendment. "a
the constitution, If VIC now have II. view one
Dolitical interest, or another interest, the
course that will best promote the interest oI
this or that ,.ian, the constitution with the a.
mondnents that may be made, may outliyc al
those interests, and all the individuals, thai
may be affected by the immediate operation OF
tho amendments that may bo agreed TO. Lcav,
IL optional with the states to elect by district
Or otherwise, as may best stbscrvc their owl
PURPOSES. and rs tho people Of the sovora
states may think best, for they Will govern
thoy will bc heard, and will have that mode
which they prSior; gentlemen need not gave
themselves any apprehcnsions on tins subject
am unwilling 30 to amend the constitution
as to establish an uniftrm mode ofvot'ng In
Shc President and Vice-Prcssdcnt IN dis'r'cts
fam satisfied with the constitution as II now II
and that the mode is well left to the losisla
tures ofthe several states. But, SIR, 1t UNI
formity is so great a desidcratum, why con6n
This uliformay 20 the choice OF electors q
President and Vice President Let the quail
fcatiohs OF electors be uniform let the cloc
ton of representatives to congress, both as u
mode aud time, be uniform but no. this woui
rot do some gentlemen would have to qu
their country. The odds being so great {
rainst Virginia, she must 60 to other states
il woold not be reasonable to expect Tint oth'
states would fall in with the views OF Nirgini
when that state, and my native state, arc IN
only two states in the Union whose electors
qualifications arc placed exclusively on rel
estate. -
AZ to the mode of eiecting cfnbefs OF | or
press in all but the eastern States pluralit
alone is all that is required to make choice
in tho New. England States the candidate thu
is elected must have majority OF all tho vote
pollcd Here, then, is nn essential diiterenc
asto the mode of choice--a difference nav
been made scnsibly to feel Much has bee
said about a minority President non conSf'
one half of the representatives on this noor al
minority representatives. The honorable m
yer of the resolutions may come here as n
preventative, when & large majority oi hs eol
stituents may be opposed to his election: IL
not think that will soon take place, for lear
that gentleman il doservedly popular III II
district; and if zeal, fidelity, and display
shining ,nlcnts, in advocating their interest
and guarding their rights, can secure popular
tv. no will with them long continue to,h p
pular. Yet in that gentlcmans district, 1t
mas two thousand and fifty votes, Btwo tao|
sand and forty nine, and & two thousand nr
forty nine, A is elected, although there Is 4
most a majority two to one against hlmi al
A, elected under such circumstances. Is, u
douhtedy the peoples candidate, and is clcc
ed by the people There is at prcscnt amor
tho States no uniformity as to tho time OF
lecting members, although congress, und
the constitution ofthc United States, have u
power offixing the time; yet they never ha'
,ntctfere6, and committee raised upon IN
subject, at this session, have reported ulmo
unanimously against any interference on Il
mart of congress Some members are now
ioctcd al tac expiration of their term and OF
ers are elected, If the people think proper
return them again, soon after the frst scss
of fconpress il they are not returned, tn
como again, bringing with them from th,
constituents, manifestations of their want
confidence calculated 10 render the incumbc