Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-06-17
Twenty-third Congress.--Isl sess
Wednesday,. June IL, 1884.

MIR. Ewing presented the petitions OF Ralph Vanhorn,
oil Indiana mail contractor, complaining that the
partm-nt has paid him the due for carving the
nail; which was referred 10 the Committee the Post
Office aud Post Roads.
Mr.. Mexican presented the proce edings of a public
ms cling, held in Crawiord county, RECON-
mending restoration oil the depostes TO he Bank Of the
United Saies repudistng the right OF the Presiden to
send Pro'es, 10 the Senate complaining O! the Execu
tves renominsiing Bank Directors who had been reject
ed; demonstrating against the withholding nominations;
condemnng the OF the President in refusing hold
interviews with committees OF the people, and finding
FAULT that no egss i've OF action settle the
rency has been proposed The proceedings referred
TO The Committee Finance, aud ordered to be printed.
Mr. Preston presented resolutions adopted at meeting
OF citizens OF Chester District S. c. recommending res.
tor alton of the deposes the Bank the United States
and disappearing OF the protest of the President lately
cOna'ui,,ee Finance, and ordered 10 be printed.
MIR. Moore, from the Committee Public Lands, re-
ported bill for The relief OF Susan MARROW; which
read aud ordered 10 second reading.
MIR. Robbins, from the Committee the Library,
reported resolution or The distribution OF the Diplomatic
reading.
On motion Of Mr.. Bibb all the orders were postponed.
and the Senate proce eded the oil the re port
oil the Select Committee relative TO the election OF
PRE-IDENr VICE Presidents.
The question being on the adoption oil the amendment
reported by the Select Committee in lieu ofthe resolution
submitted by Mr. Bibb at the commences of the
session.
MIR. Bib sad his desire to avoid discussion upon
the subject The session and he thought
the minds OF gentlemen must be made up relation 10 IT,
MI Forsyth asked that the resolution and amendment
Mr., Leigh made a lew observations in opposition TO
any consideration Of this subject this time He thought
the proposed amendment III the system OF choosing Pre-
sden and Vice President, would be productive of much
confusion and Inconvenience the present. AL
most every Stale in the Union had the vanity to think that
OF its citizens qualified for the off co of PEE
siden OF the United States aud the conseq uence would
he that each Stale would have its candidate and those of
the largest States would invariably have the best prospects
oil success. lie thought the system of cement which
prevailed TO extent, would TALL into the hands the
small pocsns instead Of the large ones, il the amend
neni prevailed aud he preferred its being in the hands of
The large politicians, II must exist at all He thought
this subject OF the utmost gnlude and importance and
requiring ueoerse investigation aud dlscusson for which
ihere was not sufficient tine at the present He
hoped might be permitted TO lay the table, and be
brought iorw ard early in the next session.
MIR. Bbb remarked, that this subject, with view of
preventing the election oil President from going into the
House oil Representatives. had sgaed the country since
1916. It BOW settled that the machinery of eleclors
was both useless and cumbersome preventing the separa
lion OF the question Of President from that OF Vice Pres-
dent. AZ present, 'he election OF both in the hands
Of the petty politicians Of the country he thought the
proposed system would place n the hands of the People
themselves He thought the objection. that each State
would have lis candidate, under the new system
ought to be abandoned He admitted there many
distinguished men in the States who might
be thought worthy OF elevation to the Presidency;
but he had so much respect Tor the opinions OF the
People, that he believed they would perceive who
were the most prominent candidates before them and
that they would generally choose from them. His
great object in pressing this resolution this time was
That the proposed smsDdment might be acted on by the
Give State Legislatures and if spproye d of bv he
requisite number, tbs odDent might be made before
The next Presidential Ell, ctoD. and thus avoid sny recur
renee to the House Of Representatives to effect choice
al that lime.
Mr.. Benton explained The proposition. II contained
three points. To refer the election Of President and
Vice President TO direct vote of the People. e. To
take the election Of the House OF Representatives g.
10 abolish The general ticket system, aud introduce uni
form system OF districts
lie said that the theory OF the Consultation had failed
with respect TO tae ell cors. They were intended 10
choose the Preside Mt and Vice President and TO follow
their will IN the choice. This theory had failed
Electors had no choice, They were pledged 10 par
eachery TO sacred trust They had become, therefore,
useless piece Of machinery, which might do harm, bot
could do good. In the election OF Vice these
electors sometimes obsruct the will part OF Tho
people. IL would happen IN the Where Two voters
sgreed about the Presiden bot disagreed about Vice
President. They must bot vote Tor the eocOr TO
their choice Tor the brs Offices the slectorcoud
only represent one oihein in voting for the second Office.
The two other principles, Mr. -. said, depended upon
one another They rested compromise. The great
States complained Of the equal right OF the small
the House Of Represenislve,; and the small com
psined OF the general ticket system, which enabled tho
msjony Ia great Stale to press the minority into their
Service aud make them against their choice thus
Overwh helm the small States with masses, which masses
might contain many votes which would be given the
candidate sUppoeJb the small States, II the voters we're
free, under the district system, to support whom they
plessed 10 yielding 10 this compromise class Of
States gained object dear aud parted with right
specioUs bzn valuable. The right OF the small
States n the House OF Representative, vas an
us0n IN practice II belonged the representative and
not tie S0e; Tor The State had way enforce her
will recall the OF her representative, if given
contrary to her will The general ticket system
friendly TO the rights Of tl'o people; % enabled The majors
" impress the o. tie minority, end that ought 10
condc,un Il in county Of equal rights.
Mr.. u. explained he OF the proposition amend
the Constitution. Ne sonddefod FIssoo of