Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-02-28
Congress OF tie az. states.
Friday, FEB. II.

IT9dUY, REQ. 7.
IL THE SrNATE.-Notting of Importance was trans
acted while the doors remained open
~ THE ioi,sI or REpREsENrATrEs.-AI .4lera1.
der CT Virginia. from the Committee for the District of
Columbia who had been instructed Ito inquire into the
eXpedency of establishing in the said District Terri
torIa Government, with Legislative powers, as the pros
peny @. the District may require, and Congress NAV
have the authority under the Constitutions TO confer
ana To whom had been referred memorial of a Com
nitee OF thirteen, appointed by the subscribers TO a
memorial presented to the House former session of
Congress, praying for aneoration of the civil and
political condition Of the ; pie of the District of Co.
i1'nbia-uade report thereon uniy orabIe TO the pro-
position, and permitting the mcmoralists to withdraw
tAer petition.
MIR. Vood of New York from the committee on Mi
ltaIy Pensions, who were constructed on the lin in
sai, 10 mcguire into tie eXpodency of SO amending the
severa! laws reI0ng the Revolutionary Pensioners
as TO ALLOW icm 10 receive their pensions from the a
OF their declaraIIons made pursuant the provisions
OF the Act o! the l8,h March 13l2"-nade = rcpori
tiarcon adverse 10 the object contemplated BY the in
qu:yi winch report was read and laid upon tue table
Itr' HdnphtH OF Pehnsy lyania, from the Committee
on Roads and Canals 10 whom had been referred tie
bIii from the Senate Quilted IAN act for The survey OF
d canal route, between the Atlantic and the Gulf of
McXico," reported lie same without amendment; and
-ne biz '-as committed TO Committee of the whole
t..-se.
Mr.. Camtreleag Of New York, laid a resolution nm
the tacie Tor consideration directing the Secretary OF
tue Treasury furnish the House with the monthly
statements or !he affairs of the Bank of the United
States for tic year 1925.
90 motion Of tIr .M'EeGn Of PENNSYLVANIA the Com
mitee e Post. Office and Post Roads were instruct
ed TO inquire into the cXpedency Of repeating so much
81 the resolution passed the eth of April l6 requir
ING tie Secretary Of State, compile and print once il
every two years, Register of ali Officers and Agents
cn H. military, and naval, in the service of the United
Statesas requires a statement of the State or Coun
try, where Post-mastcrs and Sia Contractors were
born.
Two messages in writing, received from the
President of the United States The first transmitting
letter from the Secretary of War, with report from
the Ordnance Department, relating to the site of the
rseaal Of the United States, at Augusta in Georria-
and The second enclosGg report from the Secretary oil
t"e Navy, w!th document prepared in compliance with
resoauou OF ne House, and containing information
relation purchases of real estate in behalf of the
tu'ted states within the territorial limits of any State
since hc lh July. l77G Both of these messages were
laid on the ta bic.
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
The House then, motion of Mr. McDufFc again
went into Committee of the Whole, on the resolution
offered by that gentleman, proposing an amendment to
the Constitution, IN that part Of it which respects the
election OF President and Vice President Of the United
States
Mr.. sroRes, Of New York, addressed the Commit
tee, in reply TO Mr. McDnie, in speech of much 10.
gal acutercss which he closed about bee o'cosk and
which will Of course be reported at large.
Mr.. STORRs commenced, as MIR. Med. had done by
jnst tribute TO the ability Of the trainers of the Const
aud reflected the bodness of attempting wifi
sna experience and such Inferior extent of potca
KDWGtgc, 10 amend Their labOTs. he considered the
Amendment IS going to produce radical change in thC
structure Of our Governments and lac therefore in the
first place took review Of the Constitution as it now
stands; and argued, that wherever the word State
used. refers not to State Legislature, but to ht
People Of state considered as collective politica
bod7 The Constitution had been ouce amended, by il
trainers; and though they alarmed for State rights
and feared consodaton they had no resort TO dstrc
system for The election Of President.
lie proceeded TO reply 10 the argument Of Mr. Med
drawn from thc vote Of the People of New York in ia
Of The district system; and explained the circun
stances under Which it had been given. He disscDtc
enGtc!y from he sentiment that the constitution aimee
simply at ccrtaiuug the popular voice, tie election
Of Presidents and insisted liat The pure democratic
principle was TO be found in branch of the Go
yerumcnt not even in the House Of Representatives it
self but mixed principle, in which The rights Of indie
pendent state s'Yercientes comuinglcd with tlgs
Of e People al large IS TO legislation and tie con
struciiye powcIs of Congress, they we're 10 Oh tb
Pec5lc but il all other respects the relation
of the States, many distinct communities. was al
ways kept IN view; aud he aiyerlcd, particularly, t.
the importance Of this principle to the slave holding
States
lie compared The relative population ofthe States, a
now entirely changed hy he Prog:c.s Of TIE Wcst-ap,