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Mr. MitisRi^i, of Sooth-Carolina. Mid I L. - - - a. t- ? .. ? ? ^ laiil ? - lIMtu UM UIWK HIHaii WH W ?entioMy imptiicUcable.; If bit college cfttacted to coograwiooal caucuse*. com-1 h'KSSuffirss: dunce* whOee operation* are conducted with till the publicity and iOlcnwity ol'lo ':?> futathro proccodio^he will, if hw re*o? lui?o? bo adopted, expose the people to the, machinations of <los Derate intriguers* vrithout ctMirecter, withoot cheek; whose insidious plotp will be hutched and rout ed with the eiieueo end concealment of tNfeio** If he ohjeeta to the preeeut'?y?. |t%, because by an arithmetical snpposi 1? ^#Wy medt.toeppoer tlmj u mi ooritymuy elect? Presides!opJnst the will of the majority, (for.no such cmo was ulleged to have existed) from the very na tare and effect of bi* plop,* smaller minor ities wjll elect to that office persons un the great body of the elector*; ' without tideut to suggest, without address to effect, or ptoblio confidence to ??|ot?in tlteir measures. If, by the present plan, the constituted authorities are liable to be 'corrupted, by the proposed system, the poison wilt be more widely diffused?it wij) be carried to tire altar and.the fireside ?it will work into the blood end.the heart of tho country.1, ? Mr. Mitchell said hiraocond ground for opjKMng the amtnt' it was, because the prosint org'iniz itio1 ? the elector tl ays torn was essentially calculated to concen trate public opinion on those who deserved ' public confidence, .to elect men the most distinguished for integrity and abilities.-? But if it could be proven that it was not productive of this nappy result; if it even (Wiled every alternate time?still, it wis -so essential to the sovereignty of the states, and their sovereignty so esseniiul to.the liberties of the people, that he would feel dinposed to return it. Mr Mitchell said, it hixt beoa mllutly contended that by the adoption of the*u amendments, the people would have more }tower in the electiou of President ' 1'he act is not so. By the constitution, as it now stands, the people have u .sovereign control over the election of their electors They cao elect them by general ticket, by districts, or by the Legislature. Ou the contrary, the plan ot his colloaguo pro posed to take from the people of the states this sovereign power?this unrestrained freedom in tho mode of choosiug their Ohisf Magisttyte; and to aay to mem?? you shall elect your electors by districts. Mr. M.said, notwithstanding these con victions li.e would not have tresspassed on tho .committee if the amendment had not , been proposed by one of his colleagues, j und bo had not reason to believe that it was in express contradiction to the will of the pooplu of South-Carolina. Tho res^lu tioo to adopt the district ?ysteio had boen for ten years, to his knowledgo, before that pcopto. It had been proposed by three different states?North-Carolina, New Hampshire, and New-Jersey, to 4brce successive legislatures, of which ho was .a member; ami it bnd been either evaded or positively rejected Even at tho last session, the amendmente under dis cussion. he understood, bad been recom mended by the Governor, in bis mos*?gc, and, when called up, bad been indefinite* ly postponed. This was the: inoro^ remar kable, as the result of the last Presidential election had operated with unexpected so Mr* because verily on the feelings of the people M said he submitted these facts, b be wished the committee to receive the amendments as they ought to be received merely asa"prqject of his colleague, un sanctioned by the state, iumI deserving no .other consideration than what it is entitled to from its own msrits. Ife seid he was surprised to hear the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Aacnaa) say'that we had been cullod upon by the yeople to adopt (he first amendment? I low. when, where, have the people ex pressed their will! lie thought theliistory efthess amendments, stone, conclusive evidence to the contrary. In December, 1923. they , bad been submitted to the Moose by bis colleague; thoy were inter rod to a select committee, who recom Bonded their adoption in an elaborate re* jort; end although it was impressed on the committee ty a very able argument from hi* colleague, containing the principal grounds ot Ithe speech which he delivered sooaedays beck, theommittee rose, with oof taking ? vote, nod they were never tolled op afterwards Now, is it possible that mnendments, proposing e radical cbenge in oer government, suggested, ac cording to gentlemen, by the prospect of grot* end overwhelming calamities, invol ving OUr liberties, and willed by the peo ple, cooM twee been received with soeh * l body? who is the house a, i rftM tMm, fraught in* Mttitfu, Mm la-1 IheimnmnfOr ftf I ssss ter. than the house of Rut what b the state of public feeling with MMftl to thflrtv(xiifi iwlminli v'it b, ooty ? few awnths sioce thistlectoral ays tetu ereut into futt operation. Tbe peypte, inhabiting the region tying between the Chesapeake nod Florida, and tbe Lake* and the Gulf of Mexico, aonouotint to nearly one Indf of the population of the Uaida, dut not given single electoral vote inWr. Ad*n?; they were divided between hi* three opposing rivals. Yet, sir, hew iwny of them have coaiplaiaed? Hone bat Tennessee and M;irylnud. Tbe other States have either silently evaded* or pn ?itively refused alUJuterfnrenco with the constitution in thi? respect "Mr. M. Mitl he wouldvnow recur to his position?that the ptau of his colleague to elect ? President, was impracticable; that by it no election could be effected. - W tint dnes he propose to do? fit the first pl.ee, he stripe the house of r*<pre*eut;iiives? and the state legifhtures, of all agency in the oration. lie says to them, '* you are not trust-worthy, you are corruptible, vou may l?o tauinered with. Cunse* of oil ?orts Arc proscribed. He (lion divide* the United Stutc* into 201 districts, like tho squares of n chequer bonrd: each district in to clect nn elector, ami Vhcse electors ere to ineet ou the samo d*y, in the copi laK of their states, to Vote for ? President: the elector* of Maine, at Portland?of Georgia, at Milledgeville?of Missouri, nt St. LouU?mml of Ncw-YorU, at Alba ny. How <*au au election lis effected in this way? How can a minority lie united in faror of nuv one candidate, by elector* at such raist instances, without the possi bility of concert, or without the operation of un intervening bo ly, by which their viowit might bo previously collected, di gested, and ascertained. What is au elec tion? It is the common will, arinin;; out of the common understanding of theelec tow. How is this effected? Tiy communi cation of ideas, by interchango of. views, by compromise of interests, by conces ?ion of feelings. You must bring tin* electors, some how or other, in contact. Hy way of illustration: Suppose teach of ua, on our arrival at Wiuhiiigton at the commencement of the session, had been conlined to his chamber without the po?i bility of communication! and directed, with a list of tho members in our hands, and a full knowledge of their characters, to rote for a Speaker. How long would it be before n majority of us would unite ( in favor of one individual? Not until doom's day. Rut let us usseiuldo hero a.? usual, and how quickly isihn elaetien ef fected? At the first ballot, there would b > threo or four candidates; the highest on the list might have a very small minority of the whole; at every successive tnsll*- ? iug, lie or somo other would receive an accession of strength, Irom the f.dling in of those who were at fir?t adverse to him Notwithstanding this, his ultimate success would he acquiesced iu by all, and the business of the peopla tvonM move on with its -usual celerity and advantage. Now, this is the effect of deliberation, of various aud painful calculations, of ho|>e and disappointment, of concession and equivalents, among the electoi*. A Pre sidential election cannot otherwise lie con ducted. The greater the extent of coun try, the more various and clnxhing the in terests, the more diversified the sphere of choice, the more important the object in view, tho greater the necessity of con cert If you cannot have A fur your own state, you must tako D of auotlirr, who etamts nest in your estimation. II disap* C in ted, take C of the same kcction; it is tter that ho should be elected than D, who would employ his official influence and power against y??ur cardinal interests; butbetter 0 than no PresidenUgt all -?-You may restrain him by the enargisoPofthe con stitution. So in legislation?-if yon cannot get the bill ar(you please/take it with amend* merits as little exceptionable as possible. Mr. M- said, that it may be objected that our electoral colleges have always voted in this manner in their respsetive capitals, and that they hare found no difficulty in electing a President. True; but this has been owing to the interveariormfthe house of representatives. The people of the states h ive been brought into contact by the deliberations at ?V addngton. The merits of conspicuous men were there discussed?itheir claims to the public confi dence compared?the politico! principles, interests, atid prejudices, of th? different sections ascertained and reconciled, and the candidate* selected ami recommended to the qualified voter* of the states. Con grata did that which it wan the constitu tional duty of the electoral colleges to have done, but which they were unable to do from their distance from each other. Thia election has been hitherto effected by Congress and the people of the states. The electoral colleges have done nothing more than to write the Votes of the peo ple, and transmit them to Washington. The Congressional caucus did not arise from the spirit of Intrigue, hut from ne cessity.?Had the constitution assembled the electors of the states, end formed them Into one body, the election would hare been by them, and a Consrression al caucus would nerer have eaisto&., But it la equally clear, that without this assem* Uwe of the elector*! cottegna, or the la v ? . I* m/?^ j||., ?.1 aat^aaa^aAistt IwnfwilWn Of WpW ml l?p?^^MillrV VQnjpiM(f| QftwCvfwJQ P"i# *? if ?? ?. ,11 ? ? ??.] of * vmiI preea, and to MOO* dMCBCi, w Ml ,?^ m m to effect uo elec ? direct etfect of the amendment* fill bo to en|in<ttr? in every i??rt of the Union, kmiU of intriguera, who will dlJ vide and JUtrnctthe people, mmI embitter their felling*, and who being lrreepon?ible#, will not cure by what means U?ey effect their end*. Tbe deetga of the constitution evidently wus. thnt the Preiident bhould be chnseii by the people of tbe *tate*, In their 'col lective capacities, m distinct independent communities; that the principle of repre sentaiion was to bo observttl in thO con*, duct of thie election?the people to vote for elector* chosen from themselves, in proiiortio* to their number*, who were to cltooMO n President; end on failure of the elector* to elect, the state* to decide in their sovereign equal character. Ilere-is no spotting of ommanitie*?no warring ef minoritie* wgairat rnxjoritiea-no corrupt and unmturul alli.tuces between U?0 district of one state and throw of another* to detent j the ;.i!i of their re*pedive societies* The j choice of elector* is like a law of the state, the will of the mnjority, which the minori ty adopt, iind make their m. If the electois of the state* bad formed one body* not only would no congressional caucus haro ever existed, but it would not once in a century have ever been refeared to-the states iu the house of representatives.?' Thn rqal political auestion is. cannot the people clwct their President by represen* t .lives? If they can make laws here and at home -if they cuu do what ia still more im* po riant, change their constitution of gov eminent by representatives, why can they not choo?e their President by representa tive*, for, what are electors but represen* tatives, chosen, like them, bv the people Aoji ?mong themselves? Of necessity, tin* must bo done. The luw* of Hpact ami mind rn/uir? iK. If you I m ike it popular or by districts^ you will mther never affect an election, or it will be inevitably effected by self-created rep* re?cntatir*?, caucusses, politicians, or what y u ot.i i please to call them Mr. M. said die inevitable result of the proposed ch mge is not only to multiply C iiidid.ites. but to bring forward candidates ot ji diil.'ir'H ,-i.ivs or order. Instead of having the gr<vit men of the confederacy, yon would have the great men of the state. The temptation ?. ould be irrefutable to roibitiou', inti inning men, who had not the public confidence, and who were expert* cured in statn affairs. A popular map, having the influence of a state,and know* ing that a few additional votes from each of the adjoining, states wpuM give him a plurality among bis competitors, nod thus, enable him U> appear, before the oeople j of the Uuitod States as a candidate for the j Presidency, would immediately set to work, lie would resort to the vilest art* of in* trigue to accompli*!) hi* purpose?to the leading men, he would hold out the allure* menta of office; with aUother class, he would employ the grossest means of venality and corruption. He would uddress himself di ed ly to the passon* State pride -sectional interest, would operate h his favor. Ho would have infinitely the advantage of n man at a distance, whoae great service* and tried virtue would not be Itoown to tho great muss, or, if known at all, would only be felt by their re son. I venture to *ntv that ttin or twe!*? candidate*, with l^i.* attendant*'nnd dependants; their herd* of petty officer* scattered * through the towns, the cities and the country, Ice lie. would throw the whole Union into i state of most vicious fermentation.?Bri bery, perjury tumultuous disturbances, drunken and gluttonous excesses, such as we have scan take place in our congres sional elections, in the large cities, would profane the exorcise of a right, the proud est rights of freemen, which should only be exercised with the purest and be*t feel ings. Take au example. A small mino* rity of twenty-five sr thirty etectornt votes, give*, Mr. A. of Illinois, and Mr. it. of South Carolina, purnlitie*, and, accoi* ding to the system of the gentleman, the senato will have to present them to the people of the states, who are to choose one of tliem a* President, by a vote in maw. What would the good citixen* of lioston say? Why, I never heard of either of these candidate* io mj life?am 1 compel led to vote for a roan of whom I know nothing? lie would enquire of hi* mem*, ber of Congress, who would be unaMe to inform him. He would then resort to the Kditor of his newspaper* Mr. Editor would know all about Mr. A. of Illinois. He had seen a biographical sketch of him io th?J New-York Evening Post, taken from the Pittsburgh Recorder?extracted from the Star of Ciocmatti?direct from the Herald of lllieoie, where the Candidate lived, which proved that Mr* A. Was one of the wisest aid best of men. And for fifty dollars tbeee independent, patriotic Editors, would impose apoe the people ?f the United States, C rattan'* character of the eldfr Pitt as a suitable picture of the vir tuee and talents or Mr A. of Illinois, who might be at Ifeart e shallow intriguing fellow; who by fto basest arts of cot ruption, had cabled tfei electors of km owe and peighboring itates, to give him their votes as Preeldent. Could yen pro ration the ptMliof the United Stains, ?-? vott for him? #odld yM he able to rally admit What a opeciade! oi icoDimvicy ? states lesre hi? r* for the Capital of Um Where in the breathless crowd*?the tri umphal arches?the military diiplnyt?tbi filet ef rill ace youth end maids strewing hit pnth with flowers, and freighting the ?ir with gjUtltoqte pasantl Where the fr*>rfting^ncff|atn^k*TT* which tpeah e da* tionf joy aft.il promotion of a mkk to the Chief Majetty #he had become secret) in their eyes by ?life of spotless integrity, of inflexible firmness, of virtnoos. useful l;i bor in their eervicej His arrival s?* Wath ingtao i? announced.?Docs it inspire unU: versnl confidence? Dee* it calm anxiety? Does it harmonise t be destracUeot of per W ; He hat now to choose hit cabwet. Is he capable of selecting those ,whose tiro nets, tagnclty and resoarce, would as sist bim in his diflfeultiet! W hut would be his embarrassments! Ignorant of our foreign affaire?of the organisation of the y and navy,, no would, at every *tep, huTC to consult treaties, statutes, report*, hlesofmanu*cript,letters,clerks,subClerks and tbe very menials of the depertmeta. But, snid Mr. M. why are not candidates of this tort now brought- forward?elec tor* meet io tbe several states, nod are4ta ble to bo operated oof Il? wontd answer on Vcount of tbt agency which the state legislatures and thebooseofrepre*eotati ves have in the election. It is because the trainer* of tho constitution avoided the principle, which tbo gentleman proposes to introduce, of vesting the election solely in the qualified voier*?because, to com plete the act of election, all branches of the government must co-operate -each acts and is acted ,on?each controls and is controlled ?The stale legislatures have their check, in directing the mode of ap pointing electors?the house of represen tatives its check in the ultimate decision? both are responsible to the oualified voters for the faithful exercise or their powers. The candidate must present himself to eachin turn. Address on bis part and facility on theirs, may gain over a suffi cient number of the qualified voters. State, pride and sectional interest may overcome the reluctauce of contiguous legitlatures: but, when he has gone so far. Ins work isnot yet done, lie then bin to pass tho inspection of tho house of repre sentatives of the United States?a tribunal proud, jealous, and intellectual, which, if subdued at all, inu^t be subdued by mpin strength. His pretensions are there -MS* amined?analysed with the heartlessOess of anatomical dissection?compared, not with the sserit of those who move'in his limited sphere at home, but with that of men ffom every part of the union, fit for the most complicated affidrs and struggling in a career, of srduous competition, ft is this organisation which compels the citizen to ascend by the ordinary steps; to go through the prepara^iry initiations. But, what has been the operation of this svstcmP Our govern meot has existed for thirtv-eight years. We have had'ten TiFiiidentitd election*?two of tltem de cided by tbo house of representatives, and six different presidents. The gentleman admits that five of these have been the choice of the people, and the very best men of the confederacy, and a very large rrtion of the union will say that the siith not unwoifhy of his exalted station. Is not tbb conceding every thing? Can a stronger argument be advanced! Does lie appeal to experience? It b not in our favor??What -does he oppose. to it? Theory! speculation! Sapuositious cases! Hypocritical reasoning! The election* have been exposed to all the abuses which be dreads?combinationa of the large states ?usurpations of the legislature*?sup pression* of minorities by majorities? defeats of majorities by minority?csucuses ?political managers?patronage of tbe President?corruptibility of the Repre sentative*. And yet, in five instances out of six, he tells u* the people have- chosen the best men of tbe confederacy. What is this but saying'that the organisation of the electoral system is such a* to concen trate tho will of tbe people on the*) who deserve their confidence. And has our ship, during this period of thirty sit yesrs, coursed over asammerses? What vicis situdes? . War! Peace! The transition from political weakness to political strength! Faction dividing the union, and excitmg the fiercest and most implacable passions! The expansion of the confede racy from tbe Lakes to the Gulf of M*xfa> from the Allegany to the western bounda ry of Missouri. Mr. M. said that his collsage wss led into error from tbe political view which fit took of tbe people of this country. II# appeared 10 oooslder us as having ortgi oafly been one nation?that we were af terwards divided into states-that the stale nevernments grew out of, and are subor dinate to, tbe confederate government, and that every approaoh towards nationality it an of tbe state* to He condition. . .ma* bet on the pccple of ??Uoa?which goet to torn bUeye from (be few to themaoy, from J llic weak to the strong. The eeople of 8. Carolina hare n poiinve political power in (be electron of President, which create* it?of power * direct nod at dktiM.tf the Savannah fiver, which divides (mm frdroQeorf in; and i hope io CM (bet t amy nerer lire (e cee the day when (bey content torfvo thij op. lb* This power should'be exercised by states. The constitution bat said so. ** Each state shall aooolat IkctdM in iiah manner u (be legislature may direct." H?W can n stale nppoint? Only in two ways?it has but two otgans of will nod ec. tion, the legislature and tlft people. A state is a body politic, (ate VattelhJ which can aet only by Ma government or Ma citizens, ft is (ike an aggregate Corpora tion?a bank* which nest act by, Ms sleek holder*, or its board of pffctfdeot end di rectors. The right to auch a maiden* is a great sovereign right, which should be exerted according to toe wMof the nutfe* rity, in whom the exercise of (be sover eignty is. Hence the absurdity of the district system, which divides and appor tii ns it, end makes the sprint or its exercise personal feeling. We should not choose a President as we choose a friend ?as we choose a mistress. because she is agreeable to us. It t* e matter of Stat? policy, deeply aSectiog its peace and pro* . perity, its relations with other states aad with foreign nations. The majority of tbo people governs the whole state, makea lawa /or it, directs ita internal and asternal policy, and of coarse, ought tc say who ahull be tbst magistrate whose power molt affecta these interesting relations According to the theory of our constitu tion, as explained by the federalist, the states, and people arthe states, are repre sented in the executive government, by this organisation or electoral system; as the states and the people of the states are represented In the, legislature by (he senate and house'of representatives. I agree entirely with the ftentleaMn from,, Jfassechosetta, (Mr. Everett.) that we have no right to amend, by destroying n great radical power of the states. '4 he po sition startled me nt first as it startle* all of us; but I see by the prints tbafc It is a adsO^erd .'I worth aflPp splendid and must envieble reputation of the gentleman.And who Would desire to take from the people of the stales this love reign right?-wbo would desire to see the power of governments diminished, so no caasary to the existence of this government* and- to the protection of our liberties* Suppose the worst?the most humiliating of ail disasters, which have takeo affect during the late war, that an enemy's fleet should sail op the river Potoeaac, and ?urpise and take all the functionaries of this government, executive, legislative and judicial. Suppose they should station a . militarv force here in our capital, and rear a foreign standard on its dome. This woiid effect no revolution. The states possess a redeeming eoergy, by which the national government wouldbe revived in all ita vigor and integrity. Each governor would assemble his legislator J, aad pro vide for the national calamity. Twinge would go on as usual. Forces would be raieed, taxes imposed, justice administered, property and liberty protected, and, by an understanding among the atates. an election for the functionaries of thin government would be hud. No anarchy, no Change la the distribution of sovereign power. In, like manner, conquest would be impossi ble. The dosohition and captefeof one state would oolv preaent to the victorious it is gaining ground. It profouud principle. It is vemmeots ere equally oeeessary to fh<> protection of our UboMiei. What restrsibs this legislature within Me orty(? What prevents the enaction and er&rcement of laws violating our liberties? ? The federal court! The supreme ce*rtt Thsi creature of the executive?that dependent on the lesrislatore, that co-ordinate of both, having nil their sympathies*their hopet. tbeir anxieties! fhey restrain the en croachments of 4 the other braocheet Those seven or 4ight feeble old men re strain this coverninent, commanding the resources of this immense confederacy, end ? able, at any moment, to depriv* fhem oi powfir by impeachment, or, by do ' to force them out of douUte of efllcS