Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-27

whatever ieeluls oil personal hostility gentlemc
might indulge in towards him individually, the sixt
thousand freemen lie represented had rights-rioi,,
On that floor which would never be deserted by liz
while be occupied place there. He hoped never 4
become so derelict-so regardless Of his duty to hi
constituents and To his State-as forbear any Of
forts in his power to support their rights and be wou
sustain their rights and interests notwithstanding al
tho attempts made there elsewhere 10 interrupt mi
cDurse; and he proud ofthe supper, of the House
Mr.. Speaker, (said MIR. w. without further pre-
inde will proceed in tho discussion as had intend
cd.
heretofore, Sir, more than once, have been Gale.
10 vote on propositions to amend the Constitution
IN the part providing for tho election of Chief Mag
istrate, and have been unfortunate in my votes a.
To draw down upon myself the vituperation of man
violent political parsaps will advert nov 10 ON.
Of these votes, for which have been more abus,e
than for auv other vote I ever gave The gap,l.
man from South Carolina Mr.. McDuiie introdu
CID propositions 10 amend the Constitution with th
aVowed object OF preventing the election of Presi
dent from devoving this House, TO secure To m,
People the'choicc of that high officer and dorlnrin,
that those people qualified 10 vote for the most hume
fous branch the Legislature in The different State,
ought to vote directly for President and Vice Prcsi
dent, without tho intervention OF Coeres of Elec
tons. To attract the public attention, and tending
10 inf1ame the public mind, even If not so intended
at was alleged that, III the choice Of President fouI
years ago, resort was had to bargain, intrigue, anC
management, by and amongst the members of this
lonse, to deprive the People of their voice and vii
IN the choice; and il aid the choice made wa.
~ opposition to the expressed will ofthe peoplo-
was not surprised that the People, under the inti
ence of the very extraordinary exertions used were
excited, and that the motives of their Representa-
tives should be mpugncd. The remedy then promo.
SGD for the evil uniform districtnr system Thai
has been adopted in the State OF New York: but
before any election has succeeded it's adoption the
People, even in that State, have become dssnt
with the change, and measures are takinr to Dira
the election TO the People, voting by general
method think the best hitherto adopted in prac.
tice- This change III public opinion should adinon.
Ssh us to forbear amendments to the Constitution.
hnle.s in cases oipalpabIe necessity and then 10 pro-
coed with dcberation.
II is worthy fremark, that, even under tho r-,
then raised, that the will of the Peoplo had bocr
oated, the remedy then proposed souuht NOT 10 OF,
large the powers Of the People but to cu,taH tic-
Ito restrain them in their choice TO Electors =;
small districts. Yet many honest peoue were mad,
TO believe the district proposition took power from
this House, nn gave to the People some nav ,,r;,i
lcge; and, under that belief cousued tho adverse yo,n
Of their Representatives.
II 1t was right then To adopt means To prevent tr
election from devolving tle House of Reprrscn.
tatives what he's TRANSFERRED since TO change public
opinion! why not now take some step 10 proven,
the election from devolvng on this nonso, If,br
House was obnoxious to the charge OF corrDpton IN
1925, ID it more safe now Ifso, should Ike -
know why: lfthe evil exists, is still apprehcn.
ded, why is TO remedy proposed, Why has tho
gentleman from Virginia [Gencral Smith abandon
cd, after his former argument oil his propositions
but tho one taking from the People norton Of thn
power they ROW havoc
Sir, it has been said by the e-entlrn,n,, from
IN his former speech, thnt the members on Ibis firo
were, IN the election Of the present President ,ngu
enced by bargain, intrigue, and mana lint b
would continue 70 DO subject to such corrupt influence
il eligible to Office under tho President Irn ror,r
for the public will, occGsoned the prorostio, 70 nal
members ineligible, why abandon that s,b;ort
and rely solely upon limiting the peonIo IN III,
exercising their elective franchise eayinr rocrbr
mere subject before, to corrupt influence S;r 49,
Individual who has been elected President has him,
Sefrecommended the amendment TO make ,,n,,,hx.
ineligible. in solemn act of resignation II tho ci
Iature OF Tennessee. aad enforced Lis views In soy
ofvery forcibe reasons, well cnculu ID TO cnrrv
vction TO the minds ofthc most sccptical declorino
N0t the avenue to the corruption ofinenbcrs thence
nue. through which corruption would SAP the Govern
tnent to It's foundation shall hereafter advert r,oT
ParncuIarly to ms ny not now change the PROPOSE
ton! DO gentlemen horo look 70 Office under the uev
order OF things? Is there no suspicion abroad orri
que or management the Iesire or lust ofofi,a il
the late election Docs this solemn declaration ortb
fresident elect, VINO whatever else may he said Of
oil MIN, has universally credit for pcrtinacios ndhn
renee to opinions delibcra ely formed cat of ccrtoir
gentlemen in Congress, his late supporter; from tbo
golden ancipatons, their hopes Of rrciarment, An.
does that induce the effort Il hope aIcyenrcflI
onc) TO render him Ineligible TO rc-cec;io1 nv tho
people; % take away from them the privilege ofyoinr
for him again, should he continue their Gvor..G
confess it looks something like II. Is this l,na.
ZION 10 DO hung IN tcTT'oreHt over the head Of Gen
cral Jackson
Sir, if were 70 look for efforts to secure 20 in.
tgucrs and bargaincrs, the fruits Of their corrrpt
cxertions, The means Of clfcctine thor own end,
10 Illustrate the voice Of the People, and 10 cur.
their power, think should have no occasio, q,
60 back to the election in 1925 could find moro
recent cvidenccsin transactions in this House et a
time apProxmatinq to the present unomcnt-atfor,no
much stronger proof Of disposition to intrigue oven
IN change the fundamental law OF the land tho co,
stitution of the United States To effect a chance
IN that Constitution, the wori; Of Washington Ham.
iton, and Madison and under which this Peonc layo
enjoyed unexamplcd happiness and prosperity A.
mongst other means used to dissasfy the Pcopic with
the Constitution, andto produce a change in it. anon
ymous confidential letters have boon written, and
secretly circulated among the members this House.
naores'ed TO tue ambitious hopes, tho lust Of power
ofindivduals 10 influence their vo,oy on IN, r,,,l
mans proposition.
lhavc. on former occasion, alluded 10 this subject.
md called your Mt cntirn IN what supposed was n
rouv I hayo man. a IT