Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-01
TWENTIETH CONGRESS.
to the CO.A,STTTCTION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SECOND sEssIo.
DECEMBER Is, ISIS.

Mr.. Mexican in the Chair: viz
ResOIred, 6y the Senate and House Of Repre-
'entatiUes Of the Cnited States Of .3nlsried in
Congress assembled, tpo-thirds IF both Houses
concurring, That the following amendments
TO the Constitution Of the United States be pro-
posed to the Legislatures several States, which,
when ratified by three fourths thereof, shall be
part OF the said Constitutions
| /. After the third day of March, thousand
eight hundred and twenty nine, person who
shall have been elected President OF the United
states, shall be again eligible to that office.
IL. The election for President and Vice Presi-
dent, by Electors appointed by the several States
shall be held in the third year OF the Presidential
term. Ii, on counting the votes in the presence
OF the Senate and House OF Representatives, no
person have majority of the whole number OF
Electors appointed, that fact shall be published by
the President Of the Senate, and second election
for President shall be held in the fourth year OF
the Presidential term, as follows: The voters in
each State, qualified to vote in elections OF the
most numerous branch Of the State Legislature,
| shall assemble, in the month Of November, on
such days. and at such places, as thc said Legsla-
ture shall appoint, and vote for one OF the persons
having the two highest number of votes given by
the Electors for President, and still living; the OF
ticers conducting the cleo shall meet liz each
State, on such day, and at such place, as the Lee
gisature thereof shall appoint, ascertain the num-
her oil votes given therein Tor each person, anu
certify who has the greater number, which cert-
icates they shall sign, and transmit, sealed up, to
the Seat Of Government OF the United States, d.
rected 10 the President of the Senate, who shall,
| in the presence OF the Senate and House OF Rep
resen,atives, open all the certificates and the votes
of the States shall then be ascertaind each State
having one vote, which shall be counted for the
person having the greater number OF votes gwen
therein, and majority OF all the States shall be
necessary to a choice Should no person have
majority oil the States, then, from the persons last
voted for, having the two highest numbers OF
States, the House of Representatives shall, rs
heretofore, choose Immediately by ballot, the Pre-
sident, the Representation from each State having
one vote.
| Ill. After the third day of March, thou
sand eight hundred and twenty ninc, no Senator
or Representative shall, during The time for which
he was elected,be appointed 10 any office or en-
ploymeni under the authority OF the L. States.
| ". When the House OF Repre- seniatves shall
choose President, no person who shall have beer
a member of that House at the lime G. making the
choice, shall, during the continuance in office oil
! the President chosen, be appointed 10 any
oihce or employment under the authority Of the
| United States
Mr.. Smith rose and addressed the House as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman: The Constitution should be
inviolable, but not Interchangeable. The Cons!itu
ton is the supreme law; but to hold any law 10 the
Interchangeable, except the moral law, is TO o'sruct
the Improvement of the social states In the in
! fancy of this Government, il was, perhaps, neces
sary that General Washington should serve Sc
cond period of four years because OF the unequal
led confidence reposed by the People in him, and
the weight of his ch arac;er in sanctoning the
measures of the new Government. Ii never can
again be important to require .he services Of any
one man Tor period longer than four years. In
Governments OF despotic character, where the
will fthc Chief is law, the continuance OF the life
and reign OF an Alexander, Julius, a Peter, or
! a Napoleon, may he necessary TO the completion
of great plans. Not so III our Government Of
! laws.
! What schemes can Presiden, form that he may
rot execute in four years: Should he c0ntom
plate making canal from the BaZe TO the mouth
OF the Oregon, he has only TO recommend the
measure, approve of the act il Congress will pass
il, and leave the completion OF the work to time.
IL will he carried on well under his as
under himself. Mr. Madison mmended the
increase OF the Navy; the plan adopted, and
its execution is going on although he is in retire
ment. Mr.. Monroe's plan for certifying the
ports IS progressing, as well as il he was still Chief
Magistrate.
Why should any one be elected President Sc
cond timer With population OF twelve millions,
rapidly increasing, shall at any time have but
one man TIT 10 fill the office of Chief Magstrate'
Can II ever happen, that in twenty eight years,
say generation, wc shall not have seven men fiji
to fill the office OF President? What are the quail
ticaiions? Patriotism, attachment TO equal rights
integrity, good udg'.ent, and well informed
mind. Such men, trust, will never be in
The United States
We hold that all citizens possess equal rights
! Then should favor rotation in office, among
men OF equal qualifications. BY reducing the
period for which President may serve TO four
years, this Office will reward the services of twice
I as many Of distinguished citizens, as other
wise could possessIt. BY increasing the number Of
those on whom yon may confer the highest reward
I ct virtue, you will excite emulation, and increase
the number of those who will aspire TO deserve
that reward by public services AMI You may
thus satisfy the claims Of the grand divisions OF
the United States. IL is exalting one man too
much above his peers, TO elect hin President
| SC cond time.
| II itshall be deemed expedient that the presi.
dent should serve Tor longer time than four years
let the period be extended by an amendment 10
the Constitution, and let not the President be
candidate. To me il appears inexpedient TO en-
trust The office OF Chief Magistrate 10 any man Tor
a long time The greater the power attached to
any office, the greater the danger Of continuing il
long IN the same hands IL is in Offices Of great
authority that rotation is most necessary, 10 pee
vent power from becoming TOO firmly fixed IN the
same hands. will not consent TO extend the pc.
Rod for which President shall be elected single
day. But the long continuance Of president in of.
Gee is the last ofmy objections to his eligibility
second time. Sir, The honor, the tUedTe, The tran
guilty Of the nation, The fairness NJ elections re-.
quire that The President shoIiid moi TIC candida'e
The hOnOr Of the nation requires that the Presi.
| dent should 10, be candidate. Tie President
should possess public esteem. " IL an essential
qualification This nation cannot be conlonted un
der the authority of desrised or detesied man
! What is so likely 70 bring President into cor
tempt as for him to be candidate while he is Pre-.
sdsnt and thus to have every thing pul lis,led a.
gains him for which there shall be- any cause an
much for which there shall be no causp' Let the !
publications. he considered which were lndde q. /
gainsl some Of our FORMER Presidents - wei as |
those Which have been made against the pc sent
President, 8nJ Think IL will be acknoW icdgedI
ilial thosr publications mus; have bad injurious
eifccto or The character Of ihe nation abroad.