Newspapers / The Raleigh Minerva (Raleigh, … / Feb. 6, 1804, edition 1 / Page 1
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Turn V A HALF DL PUBLISHED (WEkLY) If DOLLARS rfrv A. CNo. .r-AXK' Payable latf Yr ! f 9f tht United States, . UPAY, IJECEMimS, 1803. r.l fjl THB FASSAUJi OF THE JrMlNDMt(T Hr; I I fltf-r ' fa ttvHiri rrtf'vii aim fif ( tMff hlch fibres a hiode f or the ioicie " I . Iflahd to iotiries is- " fakp. rare th&t Vttii aim hot at too much, for It you do, it is'pm in1 the power of the' minority to check and by a''juiouiT,'difppfitii)n their few' votes, determine the choice or rre-. frdeut Ttravbid this eycntfte-rnfrjetr-v. will nrnhahlv be cautious m the exer- cifeif nnwer i and thus the lights the , . f . - . , : .i .. . - J tt proper WCJKUl dUU IHUUCUW a miHMi i- 1 have fud. that the articreTixm!? the . r.....?Lj ..:n .ul.;,!, m ao rf Hipffincr ar.hier inatfiitrare was. I 7 . .. ' i iu- u tSP atvwlm!tlerai?t and opee. ; ; In this re ficulne more it.naiiiauiry into the I theipirir ot the oSlUtutidiris,, pot Hmoiial mode, and a companion i I ticaLmodera!ionnd it linear to my inorher.and poiot?, Jnn m J?"ui.ii, - . ha tausfht a iefJbn to all major itres, .will be u.eiul in forming an opinion or Uvh-h wm?n ruture comDete)v-fecurS their relative merits. Uh?mf rom again incurring afimilar riik As the eonftitution Hands each elect-j r c ym that ic Xvas thought pro- J" J VI I 14. IIHH.taV W . rH the two oerfons thus vbtedlor "may be1 the Prefiiiem';and the elector cannot know which ; this affords the -povi'erful-induemeat-ro vote-Can. tw , both ofwhoKn are qualified for the Srrmr'tTit-Wfif. For it is not on ly uncertain upon whom the choice wW' iaHatnrir, duc iHconcrcuidiiuiiB, Certainly be Erefi'dent,- upn any connn cency whieh hall remove or incapacitate ?he firft. The convention feemto have felefikedamodc of praceetoihe molt fimple, the leaft liable to accident, and the beft calculated to infure ,ihe tnaitHJb iedt, that is, that both mould be really ...worthy of the truft. If.one' candidate wilhes to make interetl with the eltctors, as each muftvote for two, it will be ini. ffihu fnr hn'Vrv or intricue fuc- ceed ; for, without- CDtruptms tht whole, or cerrainJy j many more than hair, he may be .defeated bythe other candidawyjtt the ballot. This is, perhaps, the rnoft effeftual bartointf if?ue that was ever contrived ; for unlets all, or a reat portion of the ejedloh are cirrupted, an exttrmf .t depravity ndLurobai. hie in atiy country, intrigue can have no aff.irance of fuccefs, ' I he danger and iflnlfv. which miift alwavs attend fr.ch uuiwi; y - . . an important elejor. ashatti . magi it rate of the United States,, was meant to be avoided, by diminifcin'g'jjre chances of its trequent recurrence, o two perfons are placed in a condition to aft as Prefident in fucceflion, to prevent bcth the evils, of a vacancy, and ot a re cur'rence of choice more frequently jhar) once. in four ycar$, ; And it jeems mere ly incidental to this fecond perron, to he. called ViOPrefidehf, and neither the lirft nor fecond -defcription of eleOoj s can have any right: t o vote tor him as fuch, indeed he, can have no exH'ence . - till the firft character is defigriated and then Teems to be discovered, not elected. The Senate, in cafe of an enual nimiber of votes for two or more remaining per fons, after the Prefident is,e!li&ed, are veiled with authority to choole a Vice Prefident, for as fuch he is to prefide o ver this body, and this bodj therefore ietms to be the only conftitutional organ to ticfinate him. Both the other de ". fcnptioTts of eledofs have nothing to do jvith fuch a charafter or office ; but are " confined to al with a firigle reference to s ihsi char-after and office of PrtficL-nt ; "7JnU:ars trufted wiihno power togiye any, 4 opinTon of the cha racier or quaiificafi ons of a Vice Prefiden? And it is rc-. . maikable,- ttiat there are no appropriate Qualifications tilalie neceflary by the con ftiturion, for a Vice Prefident ; but eve ry qualification has reference to PrcTi- dent, There is anotfier important iea tute in this part of the eonftitution.. It was known by thi convention, that in - tbisconntry, in common with all others. -; where there is freedom t)f DpinFori and of jpeech, there would be parties. V . 'J hey likewife knew, that thejntolerance of the major, or ruling feci; and political party, - was frequently exercifed upon the minor ; party ;' andhat the rights of the mino rity oufht to be prctefted to them." . ' : r-'.: " As well thn, tofecure the rights, of ilic minority as to. check the intolerance : - of the majority, they placed the majori ty in jeopardy,, it they fhould attempt at urafping all the benefits of a PrefidentA- Vice-Prefident within themfelyesV to the v , total exclufion of the rninqrity The ve rv cafe which happened at the lafl elec ' tion was contemplated; in which the ma jor ity. attempted; totally to eficlude the ' Temerity from any participation, he . slanguage ot the conltitution to fuch ma- hKl uhpn the electoral votes were civ lit - en, that Mr, Burr would have.a vote or two, in lome or tneeauern uares ir ne e h, rpreivtid hut one. he would nav been by an electoral chores, the conitir tuTTonarPrefUfent in fu- r.ir haifp thp nnwers of recollection. they will-uroubtedly avoid theevfl,: if it is onej which happane at ,ut jau. feion, with fuch unfailing certainty, that there will be no need ottnv reineay. proposed by the amendment. Jbut tn majority fay, it their vcres are fo fcatter ed for one candidate as to avoid-this dan- ger, that another will be mcurrea ; ann that is, the minority v. ill elect a Vice Prefident. 1 he language of the conlti tution to them, is -again, " that this was meanfas a fecurity (or the minority a gainft the -majority." j But the majority exclaim agamu ujui ".ui. ij..iV'r? j verv unreachable indeed t" what,' lay " nri minorities to cov'crn mi'jori tPJ " 'I h snfwer of the conltitn'fiouis v nX hut rlifii ilue weicrhj and influence n-i. i i w krinvt to them. amLihc dan'. ger of yaur into'eraii&e guarded agamtt;t Vox. 'he (ecurity of fnuil itates arid mi horUie.,; there i.s, n the . onftitution a "ur nr;n,'iiv!. Ant! as ii U wckknown IAI J. l mv , , . . No by Lcnitituujnar cnecKs, Uicr mm-ncs who Generally poffels their prr.p. .liion xt iniorlrv'antl v.riue. are ovei w.ielineu, and liberty, indf, by the 'me means tW m,r . 1A it is ?n ktmlne's -to both tvir- ties to the coiir.tr r, an i to hunnHy tK-ii-vh..n "Wntpf.,;- rhcks-aro-jfCii'u I UUI, Sivv ' . . x.. . . . ' imallv orvided. 'Had the majority,- nr the iii eat ft a meinl-er Iron) New Jerley a meiiiber from yermont, and omc from eiiher Ma- ryiARd, Delaware, or lenntuee, could have given a Prefi dent to the U. btates. J he nartici' ar uentlemen mentioned were above ftilpicion of-bfibery ; but in addiripv "to this circumftance. if they had in the conttlt gone over from improper motives, cr uhder the influence of bri bery, adetetbn was.certam'. t i his will remain forever, the criterion, as it respects the relative danger of in trigue and bribery, in the two modes of nkna AnthoimsnHmnntKaVhWPil. I Ro fir: but iri the ereat ftates mere inc reuruuuig' iik;ui win unyyn in operation, hecaufe the number of re cruits, votes, will be fufficient ti tefl his active and recruiting merits, And ticfhfeh ; flies a .tnode for r the choice nenramSng its excellencies. , - ( ; -: lt .s'nowr ftr, "examine & compare , eial refer'chcer tg thisalTieAyehav taken of the conftitutional provihon. The amendment authorizes the eleft org t yote for a Prefident, and for a Vice-IVefid;eht by fpesifick 4cfignatipn. Istribition in your country f Here is a dire&'vnd invitihgNbje.cT: for its operations.- v." :x -' ' , Is the intccrritv of vciir- electors aflaila- ble ? You p'ace it here in the mo ft en j rouraginatl itmlejpr an afl'ault. A tear ortihe cxpoliire of ani m proper aftion, has bee, -perhaps, a better lecunty a gaj. ft political errors or crimes, than all the moral vitai.es united, whenthe'temp- tation has been attended with an impolli biliry of detcdionAa intrigue with an efeclcr can be carried JSvithout much riantrtriiir detecliojii but when vour e- fprtion'is carried into the ho"uie of reT prefeauitivesr befids the ordinary weight -of cfaawdter in favour of the members that lmule, , a detection of an intrigue with ii cantlidare is aimofl certain Jr Mill be recolltdof" that at the lalt efec- ' - i i I I i . L tion, two vr three memDers neiu me choice beitecTy in their own hands. If I nmtake not, tnrer f,enuemen, inat is, ly intended to fecure a chbiceby efedors, and t prevent a relort ttne liouie : be, cau'e lays the gentleman from Virginia, rMr. Tr.Lr. ) '' Ifou Derinit the"eli- . ... i . -i J..7T.. lid -.n r,M 'llltf tM'TIV I f t hecks iu the lalt eK;Amn, :no evil could have happened. And it is remarkable thathe canltitunon completcjy pvoteds thenV, is lon as they obey its, precepts, in tjii cteatiOol which ;they.had Htm-. sency. and to which they have lolenmly: aareed. io prove, triit i ,am v.tuicyt4' thefcideii, I hot o ily refer to the co?itt- tution bvitto-the lecretary-ot it ate (wr fVladiJou1. In theVsigini;vd,bufe vol. t." pa;c 96 hs- fay, 41 But on a cdid examination oi hilbry, we iliall find that r.V- turbulence, ..violence an i iiDu e ot . p? or hv th" mat irtt'v trnmhltav Ji-i-tMr:?i)tS 0! thg'iniiioruy, have proceed actjons and Commotions .which, m republics, nave more frcntiently thin any other eaulepro ilucc 1 detpotiiui. If we ko over xhz wh.de hiitopy of ancient ana modern re- :Kl.:-l- v. (lis!! Qnd their deftruction , , . r , to have generally-, reiujteu irom -tnoie caufes, If vye cofih ier the peculiar litu- ation of the United btares, and. what are the fefources of that - divertity pr lenu mSnt( ivhiK ivrvilss' its inhabitants. we-fhall-fiAd great danger that lflgJi0J. 4 If firti. trtimjr.tn the honlp. there, are lmatl ates. -and miiioj itics, and all the evils 1 Vqu'eledionxrneaninBhat cor 1 1 rtfiK mn It be ! h confeo tu-nce. ' But Uiilays, u let there be a dkiecl eledion, l.v the electors, meetme by itates iepa- rately, and you Jefiv'ti tne tendency to 'ce'r ruption.f I his may look- plaulible in thco; y, but I think pradice will ihow its-, fallacy.- ,A x '' -" It may be better for the cledors to inset "by ftates, than for all to'be togsthet , but this can never prmeihat they are lefs liable to cor rupilon than the houleof rrpreft -.natives ; wluch is the only point in queilion. .. ;r 'l'lieinarvnet of eledihlhe ViceTVe- 1 fident, as prepofed by the aincndmv'ntj - .. . - ... .... .:.-u1. not eni mvrftes amuuion iu an uiiLiicLM cd opcraticvn"; but ex poles us to ihc fe-l-fTinn ot a le.f i'liDL-rtant. and more un- t tu-pcrfonV than the coiijliluiional provi: I ibn". '. ljvacidition ta his importance in the government a; iftiig from bis mcideir r:Linrreirion to the chief uiauiltracv. the Vice-lhefideht is ex-oihcioPrefidenr: of the Senate, and gives a" dired influence-, to the ftate frcin v hich he is cholen, pL a third vote in this body, in all cafes of equal divdion, which are uluaily the- cales ctmoit importance:, Belidcs, his intluence as prefiding officer is, perhaps, more than equal totbc right or a yote It becomes t herefore peculiarly . impor tant to the fmall ftates, - and to mimui- tieAvhofe-fec not only that their influence in the elec tion ot Vice Prefident jhould,no.t be di- Mm triiurnen airai pro:rcis ot this ditcutnon it wiu. appen v , erils, and means of prefervmg and pro- teding ' the principles or repuyucaim. ; Will be tounomrnai vsiy iyu.nu, "liiv-n is now'exclaimtd againft as the; parent Mr Pa BTniiT. it has, often been fotr! KV ihp fiifreruinct and judicious of th s and other: countries, that our conr "i 1 ' . Ia. 1 Wars 1 ft M -!- itltution, iar iis uicviy, 11 v.uiiiHtiii.ii- fivenefs,i,is perfpicuity, and the politi cal fkill contamalinh, was thebeft flate papervexatP T -beUeycall thjsl and evln mbf e is a tribue juflly due to ils merits and I aih pertuaded thaVthcar fent to market, with hardly apoffible " ft 10 chance; to meet an honeiLpurcnaier. t I havealready.remaked upon theater atiori made by the Senate, in the refolu tion palled by the houfe of reprefenta tives, changing the number five, to three. But one addition made this morning der ; ferves attention; I. mean thatwhich au thorizes the Vice Prefident to adminiffer the government, in" cafeV iieithyr the firft nor theifeciffidnjtltufiSat eledofs pi " red a choice of Prefident. ' , - VThis' is a new principle, and its operai--tion is more uncertain, than that of any ,J other part of theopofed amendments. Viewing it in one pbint of light, it may be thought to confer a new power upon the Senate ; that of gi vinaPrefideni; to -the union- And iUfaid,lMthiu?'aJt-., will recompenfe the fmall itates, ho have the afcendencv in the Senatev; for the injury inflided by the othdr p'artsNof the amendment. It it be true, tnat-tne lalrprt reltores all which the torrnef parts ttaye tak;n away from us, ; it i ronreivable vvhv anv man can with to pals a refoiut4v the" parrs of which thus nintually deitroy each other It is pn fih e. thut bv the f (ffCSkOfrntrificUe &-fac tion, the electors nuiy peTnuctp fcit- ter their votes tor both lndent and, Vice-Prefident, Jn fuch, manner, as to prefent fever al candidates tofhe hotveor Prefident, and iw& or more to the Sev nate for vicc-ptcfident. In-whieh caie- the ;S'enaterriiuht immedlatelv choofeor T w -. teled avfce-prdident. lntnisUatcot things, th ere is an opportunity afforded for an intrigue, .of a very extenfive and alarming hfttufe. rJ tie Senate, 1 mean a niajoritrpf tiem, might wiih that the Hentfiioiild adminilter the government : and if the houfe could be prevented from agreeing, their WifiVs would be gratifir ed.' :I he: facility of .prtviniitig over that" of producing a choice is very obvious. . ; A bold addrefs may be made to any member of the houfe, w ithout wounding his pride, 01 offending his morality, to adhere to his candidate, and not change his vote fo as to elFedjl choice. He can be tela that there is. no danger of leaving . tHS Uniitd States without a Prefident, as ttiere is oneaheady chofen to his' hand, by theben.vte ; and this per Ion may be more the tibjed of his wifhes, than any of the other 'candidates, - hU favourite" ex cepicd. IiV this procefs the Senate may pivc a Prefident to the United States. 4int ii iheorobabilitYof luoh a rjrocels & ' Inch an event h increafed by the amend ment of this monuna, it cerLimily can- -not p.reatly recommend it.' Kpr myielf, I wih for no alteration in the eonftituti on, not even if its operation were di redly in f avour of the f mall ftates, more eipccially, if luch a j?vonr is to be de rived through a tort or noubie conipira cy i in t r j;uc , in the :firit place to op;-, rate on the ejectorsj ;: and.-then on the fioufe ol rtprelentatives. It feems tome, that the Iniall ftates had better be con- dented to eiijay the rights now fecured to theuii by the eonftitution, which theyan cAVv do, rather thanfubpiit to a depri vation of theit rights, fpr theakeoftf;" Un 'efU'j obtaining- a rcftoratioff. of them. Ve may charitably &fafe1yohclude that the'iniijoriry do not intend,' by this part of the amendment, to expOle the coun- trr torfucfra tcene oHntouityj-- Ana tne uncei iainty pf;ifs operations alone, is, in my injiiu, a luuiLicm feouiu yj jedion. . However the operation of thisL part of the amendment inarappear. in theory, as ro ouier poims, u ieeuis iu uic, that in ore point : altniuit agree, ana tnar is, when the houte or repreieuuiives know that the United States will be left m ithout an executive magiftrate, in cafe they do not agree y mis awiui i ciuiuiui- lity, will fpealc In a voice too loud for the hardihood of parry entirely to ilre gard., And may Inot fuggeft, without mvinc ottence, vtnat tneoperduuu oi imy vorv rprnnnfihilitv- has been proved,-at leait in forrle degree? in ther proceedings. OI VUC 14. v,iiM-""r" . min Ifhpd t hift ih:t no ineafure be adopt- c vvhirK mnv tpnd to bellow.the office -upoivan unwprthjfr.charader. . By. the iropofed amendment, 4 nis cnaTacter mult necefhrily become a lort of make weight, and ftepping ftorre fo- the Pre-fideney.-r As iif yecT uiting for an army, a iwe atfd ofa articular caf t of charader, but not very proper for a-v commander in chief, ; is em ploy ea to pr taih recruits, and upon condition that he obtains a given number is to be re .warded "with a ferjeant's warraat ; fo in this cafe,ftherman whocan procurea civen number of votes for prefident,' will . j ;n r..u -vr I TfVii! laff -mpntioned fecuritv bewortn be fought after ? la Delaware ur Rhode. 1 prcfcrYing, it follows of courfer that thc i-ft V -. r ' ..... . " - T fo
The Raleigh Minerva (Raleigh, N.C.)
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Feb. 6, 1804, edition 1
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