The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1829-01-22
LyNCHBUns. JAS. -. Is2p.
PfoPossa aaet!aeat Of dts Constitution Of ht
Nqiied Mule l.


We stated. IN our lasi. inr two objections
which we entertain Ia tn par, al General
shsih' proposed naeni,nen, 10 the federal
constitution which relates 10 the mode ul cleo.
vii, that ii is too complicated in IT, details, aud
tai It continues to throw thu ultimate choice
al hn,e officers on the House oi Representa-
tiges and we alsn promised 10 sng ,rst a pro-
.5sri which shah he free from these objections.
TIE great diNcultv of lramlng any plan. the
whole ot which will meet with the SANCTION Of
majority Of the people Is readily uckoow-
lodged. Indeed, we doubt whether ths part
nt the Constitution will ev"r he arnandsd, IN.
less every ono who has snerrstrl ~ who may
suggest schemes shall eventialv surrender
some portion of tham m PRINCIPLES ot mutual
compromise rs judge NArehnll, IN hi.
Int letter to Gen. 5 myth. remarked, !, iamach
easier TO discover tue defects ri the prrvn'in.
system than to fornsre those ~ one which may
hereafter be adopted.
The plan which we prefer Is this That
The election Of President and Vice President
shall he uniform throughout the Unio and
thai \ shall hr conducted unon such princi.
pies AS 10 ensure 10 eneh State The weight TO
which It's f'dorai nunhessentilr il. In orde.
TO do this, il is Only necessary 10 abolish tho
Colleges OF Electors. (au iniermediat" body.
~ The way. TOT witch We never could discover
any necessity and In au'horiz. direct vote
for thp individuals 10 nomination ior the res.
n clivo Offices. A limited period should he
de ,Ignaeh by the respective State Lrgish-
lures, within which, uuder heavy penalties,
the Sheriff. or other officers required to attend
the polls, should make their reinrus 10 the
Executives OF their respective States, Aud
Immediately thereafter these returns shnll be
special messengers, ms al present--who shall
retain them IN their pnsses>i0n uulil there
shall assemble At that place n body Of Drle-
gates tone from ench sate) Who shall be vo-
| ted for a, the same time that the election of
President and Vice President may take place
This body of Delegates. m assembling at he
e Of government, shall appoint the officers
necessary for their orEanrsation. and snail
then proceed 10 sum ~ the aggregate Of votes
given for each candi late for each otfirc. md
shall immediately thereafter announce the "a
suit tn the nation--lt there shnald be 90 more
thnn two candidates. II would be seldom in
deed that = choice would no. be Effected
l., however there should he more than two.
aid neithr~ of them shall receive majority
of The whole number Of vnles, the erection
should again revert 10 the peoplr, and be con-
Quoted in the same manner Ms NJ firsr--only.
TINT no new candidate shall he introduced :;
and thai neither of the old one should ne ".
ted for eycept the two lehrsi on the list
All votes given for any Other person except
the two highest. should, however. he torwar.
ded bv the returning officers 10 the E1ocn-
tives Of their respective State, by them for
warisd 10 the new College oil D"iegntps ,NYho
should be in like manner n second time voted
( ~ hut thrown out IN the count, although
announced to the nPopP. II from death. re-.
signaiinn. or any Other cause, ANY member
Or npmhars Of he Collrge of Drlr gate, .hond
mo- attend N prop er spnson, the vacancy or
vacancies should hr supplied by their own ha.
DIV from the vcragr. a. " womb only he Il
recording council, the deprivation, on the
part Of State. Of r"rrcseeiation in that hody
wonid he matter ~ no Importance. The tir-t
election should Of course take place NJ - period
early enough 10 sirprd time Tor the secorl -
which would Of uectssi,v. result in clio CT
This scheme. which is as plain and simple. W.
believe. as any that can be projected. we think
possesses decided advantages over either the
which Gen. Smyth r,oposes--isi, rendering the
election more enphaticalV popffar-2hly IN
dispensing with lhn useless intervention 81
Colleges Of Elcc,or,--3dly, in ceasinF 10 rem
der il in some sort necessary, IN voting for .
President 10 vote for an ndens Vice pre--
lent with him the names oil both being al.
most universally printed ON the same Ticket
with tie list Of Elec,ors--.llhlv, in remdrrin 2
m election errfain NJ the second iriil-ond
5thly, in taking the ultimate choice from
The hands of the Ilonse OF Of Representa-
tives,
THE ~ and last section f Gen. Smyth's
proposed amendment objects I" the appoint-
nent Of members Of Congress 10 any Office
nnder the United States government during
the time for which such memhers were elected
and also durug the continuance in office OF a
President Who may GO into office whis, they
are members. The reason of this objection
IS, evidently, that, if The ultimate election cou
,,nnes To devolve on thr House of Rrpreseo-
,alives, corrupt motives may eater into the
choice Of some Of them, and decide The con.