Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-21

oe preserv ed by any new one which could he form
Gu: Or, have as much confidence In the virtue
anu intelligence OF the People of this country as
any man ought To- have. but do not hesitate 10
say mat such an expectation would be vain, and
worse man vain. Let the Hon. gentleman from
oouth Carolina assemble his Convention. land he
mas 'ou us, that, 1t this amendment does not sue
eeeu' ne snail be IN favor of one) - let him ill il
Win the most enlightened and patriotic men from
every part Of this great Empire; bring into il the
survivors, OF that noblest and purest band of Pari-
u'S 'na' the world ever and yet, 10 not ha-
naia 100 much when say, that the result of their
un'eu eiIo'ts would be any thing but union, upon
,he terms on which it would, or could be accented
oy me States who now compose this Union.
~ you imagine, SIR, that we should not hear in
tp"' convention, OF geographical and sectional in
,etests: VI large States and small, OF slave
hoiding aud non-save-hoding States? OF the
Whcipie oil malorities ruling OF Representation
".eo'o'hg 10 population, alone, and that popula-
Von nee: DO YOU ina CINE that the small States
would be permitted TO hold the high and equal sta
uon IN th!s government, winch they now do9
you'd the State. MIR. Chairman, which YOU
nave me honor 10 represent, (Delaware)-thai
niue State, VINO poured out her blood and treasure
80 Hee!y TO save u, and who contributed, with ker
eiier and smaller sisters their full portion of SUI
'e'lhg ana sacTnce, for independence and union:
would she, or they be permitted TO stand. do vo,,
4 H.
hent, with The power to vote down Pennsylvania.
WIN her thousands, and New York, with her ten,
o' thousands! No, sir-Never! Never! When
'hat Time shall come, If il ever does. land God
grant that 1t never maya when such Cony ention
s"aI meet, then, fear shall witness a struggle
H OF danger to the freedom and happiness OF our
country, 1t freedom and happiness are alone N he
preserved by union; then, indeed. NAV come that
hisht o despoism, of which the honorable gentle
man spoke, whose darkness will be too Thick 70 he.
penetrated, and upon which no Sun of Liberty
ever may arise These no idle dreams The
w ORIG has meyer seen such a Government. over
such a Country and such People Consult those
men VINO are now alive, and who were in the Con-
Fentoh mat formed the present Constitution. They
VIII tel you, that the fate Of America was tLcn
suspended by hair. Never, in the flow OF time
was mere moment p-opitious as tina, in ~ hicb
the convention assembled. The States were sati.-
reo' from experience, that they were inadequate a.
'heh united, TO The management of their National
concerns. The passious OF the People were lnll-
eu 20 steep. Stale pride, too, slumbered and tho
constitution came into being, and well NAV we
say' WIN the Father of his Country, tina, il
seemed, rs 1t the hand of an Almighty Benp was
IN the great work . Let US then. SIR beware bo,,
we break down the fences of this sacred chatter
1 or PUCK from II any OF its iederaive features II
mas Deen wisely framed in al lis parts; strong for
the protection of our rights and liberties and
should remain sacred from violation.
~ was, Mr.. S:said, under the influence Of these
ilii2fs '.'has l. would nSser cousest as a mem
oeroi that House, nor as citizen of the nnio,
looking TO 1t, as the only means of safety 10 HE
country, to make any amendment 10 The Constitution
which should disturb any of lis great principles or
the rights secured by il to the States. In vo,ior
therefore, tor the proposition to take the eleciion
from the House. he should take care to Guard and
preserve Inc relative and equal rights OF the States
ana especially The smaller ones. II the House
should adopt the first resolution, he i.tended -
offer an amendment, providing, that in case tI,ere
should De no election in the primary colleges.
'hai then the three persons receiving the hiobest
vote should be returned back TO the States and tbe
legislatures, authorized, by Joint ballot TO elect
the President, each State giving one vote.
by this amendment, Mr.. S. said, equality would
he preserved amongst the States; The objections To
an election IN the Il OF Representatives would be
removed; and The ultimate election placed where
| II would be exercised, not only purely. but FREQ
from suspicion. He did not intend. At This limo
to go into minute discussion of the a,nap,I,,.,,
which he should offer, bat be would couten, him
sell with one or two remarks, upon lis generaI
character.
Ii corruption and Executive influence be feared
Mr.. Chairman, this amendment will interpose the
pest security and the most efiectual shield By.it.
you VIII not bring the electors of the Union int
Executive influence, within the immediate
reach oil this Government, or any of it, dens,,.
| ments. You will not give to one man the poyvpr
OF WELDING the vote of small State nor 10 a ma
Joriiy OF is Representatives that of large ore
Out ihe election viii be returned back TO the res
pec'lye States, to be finally decided by the inme.
otate representatives OF the People, in the bosom
oil each State, and under circumstance most lin eI
| Ia free it from Suspicion!
| lie knew, very well, that the honorable ncnfIe-
man from South Carolina Mr. Med. y and him
sell uttered IN opinion, to the propriefv of Wv
! ing this power to the Legislatures of the States
! That gentlemen believed that, as political bodies
they were The last 10 whom such trust ought 10 be
confiGed
Ills objections 10 their becoming eccto raj cole
2es were, that they would be more liable TO Execn-
tive influence and patronage and State feeIng tbsr
smaller body OF electors, springing immediaielv
iFom me people; and that they might communicate
an ariincIal energy and morbid action TO despotisr,
/ IN The 6eneral Government! Was this TO he ar
| pretended; Mr. S thought not, and especialIv
Il the principle assumed in debate be oorrer, ~
! IN proportion as you limit the number of The bodv
/ TO whom power is confded Won render tl,, III
more liable to corruption, and the power TO abuse
Contrast the Legislature Of a State with its ri
/ lege OF Electors. In Virginia, for exapple ,Lo
two branches OF the General Assembly s,no,n, 10
go: It's Electoral College TO a. Now. if Eve.
cuiive power Or influence, State feeling is 10 he
seriously apprehcnded in relation to these bodies
upon which can they operate with most eT.c,
upon the smaller number of q Electors. earl
having The right give vote or upon tbsf of,,.a
hundred and thirty, giving by Joint baro, but one
vote: Why will il not operate as readily and as
dangerously upon electors upon member. Of tI,s
Legislature Where would an Executive CO. do
you imagine, to distribute that delightful tusuna
OF Patronage" Of which have heard so nnrcI, ?