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iHftnance the fine ii twenty
dollars* The party whole election i«
oppofed, '• to he ferved with notice of
lh'» intended nppofjtion, and of the time
*rd place when tKef<* wine e* «re to be
examined. If i’ ii faid he was not at
fiome, pmof of a ropr "f the notifies
tinn beW left ; g fuflicient, and the
Judge or Juft cca are to proceed, ev parte
to tfke the teftimonf I’ doe* not ap
pear th moft >uen»’ve prruf.l of
the aft, ’hat the officer* or perfona who
ire to fertre the notices are to depe'd
upon be or jufticei, or known puh
lir olhccra ; but may br any perUo the
party oppofirv* t* e e'eflion mar eboofe ;
they mav b- f me of hi* own pmiru'sr
friends or dependents, or pc fans he can
direft as he pleafea.
In rxanvninp this aift, we mud Immc
d’atrly perccve, that it in extremely
defedi.e, eeeo a* it rclpeft* the e'eflioo
of members of houfe of reprefen a
lives; but ’hat ftinu’d ir ever be relied
upon in the decifion ol the eleftion of
a Prefi lent of the Unted Stares, and
the thrice of this important officer, that
this ntmded mao of the peop'c wai to
depend upon the lettimoriy, which,
under the cover of this aft, fraud, or
force, or bribery, mighf produce, the
evils ro this country wou'd be moaftrrus
indeed.
By this aft we are presented from
the viva voce examination of witoc e*
before eongrrf* or me comtri’tee ; that
eiaminitioo, which on the trial of the
meaneft cu’prit and for the fmallcft
offence your juft and rqu table laws rco
der indifpcnfibie, that mode which a!
low* you to look a witnefa fteaddy in
the face, to view in it either the calm
off* of confcious innocence, or the agi
tatiomof falfehood, and the fear of dc
te<h on ; m the prefcocc of an *nx’Ou
and enquiring public to probe his fta’c
mmti to the bottom, and if they arc
fade to confront him wih thf tru h ;
fcow farfuperior, fir, in fh s, to the regu
lationa of tbr- aft: where exam nations
are to be taken by comm ffi ,n, in a roan
ntr 'bar muft for ever open a d' or to
the gtoTrft mp fi 'on* ? If a judge of
fame fup ror or inferior court is not to
b" c rurcniently found, and in the in’c
int'-r or and frontier parts of a number
of the ftates this will frequently be
tbe calc the #bole management nf
th» tufinrfs ig to depend upon two
fjihcf* of the peac *, who are to iflue
the warrant of fummon* and ermine
and reduce the tcft.mony t 0 writing
am tranfmit it to the fear of govern
m nf. I rruft I fhall be believed when
ay, that few men have indeed
thu no man ha. a higher refoeft or
alkft on for the people r.f -he United
hia.es.ihun I have; that I believe them
° ' e f . bc ® oft and eafi'y
governed, znd at the fame dme , h e heft
Xn ent \ People in the w rid I can
ret ibereforc e fof pn ft cd 0 f -he »nft
an «> fuppofing that in
Ue of the fta’es. wb-re oLftions
y be made to the elcftrmj or qualifi
,h: ’
1 1, ,, r . , y to '■ke teftimony;
lull ° m 0r c hancellor, or fome
i v ° f L hC pCa " e ’ ma y he found, who
neJoff ffi' m 'V f g °° d char,ctrr » or
«« rfiuffi c , enl knowledge or technical
T* be cn ‘rurted w ththet.kngof
of »' ° r tbc cr °b
c >r' C 8 0 wb °k ‘ffiertions may dc
1 , ° ‘ m P°rfant an election. Rccol
V'dc. 1 *l* * ,lCre * rc ,n,e thnufandj of
' ' b J ,n «i l °’* ,nd juftict. of .ho
lem V f ll " CnI 10 c, ' tc liv«and pepu
: United States, if
be wonderful indeed, if fotne of
. WC ! e , n^ r of letters, or rot
c oCli~V° m * nai ' e fod r
it l r ,T- Care a < ev ammation as rhts
u nr ■( u C ' cnt «cutencf» and ability ;
! ', *' th. id„, rod fup
J a,TI did uumrroiu a body of
ffijT K- 18 c f bal (ome of them
fc, v - ? tampered wirh, »nd made fub
' ' purpofes of party to
git r lmon y to wrjring >n a man
*» rti r part a ' man ner, to omit or add,
tempted, the ala r mmg
111 icon lenCf 8 * Bt nw f rom f^cir
ed nrf car cciy need ob“ mention I
cut .*7 ft'ike tbe fuperfi
1 obltrvfp ij r
Under .k- ’ eaf T ro °’ »• ,f
10 J * f ° r ,bc contf ft ir, g P art l
ffijy / ’ <it P (n denis of hi» own, w o
liwtry crtnfmiffi n rf de
tor 0r e notices, a* that 'he elec
dc^.q n P rOO q ialificatioos or
ihem | ,* Con teftrd, m y not receiv
meJt e jj* ’ or receive them foldte as o
jaflice. '* D P eir anc«f in time before the
P°ffiblc, Iq ffiort, if we TiCir
»t.e difueuTtie, it,., , h(
.(te'rpt 10 rbta'o on lhil
fobjea ,b„ c.n be it ,!| depended op
ott. the door.h.t it „i|| opfn brfhf
and . P"J o, r- «d fr,ud .very
defcnption, „ rau ft „ o„ce , r .„ r ,U
-the .oo«„ u , ;on cou | d Dctfr " t( con
temp tied pi.m,, , nrprrf .
thorny on the fnbjeft ; they k„„ I,
*M totpoffible f, om thr
of fome of the fl.tei. , h . w ,
e.,n,,0,.,0n coold t.ke p'«e hefo .
. •! body i that on ,hi, ocrofion .1
, other, were to.dmiflible j , h . T thrrr f . r
determmed rh„ lhc f ■ inlo , K ,
elea.oD W d qu.lific, J th , fltc
ton, and the conft of rheir
vorer, ffiould be g ven m Pn d reft .*
clufivcly with the Jlafe (fgl/laiures ; , n
that the certificate of the executive of
a ftate, of the ccfto.a appointed, am 1
the votes of f U rh elect r 8 regularly tra. f
mfted, mull be rccc ved and counted
, * a * Bo * f 0 Be the cafe, and
t c bi efura you was to berome a
aw, a* you have now ’’erprrrined • ha
the 7 thfea.§n fould le flruci cut and
t ; ,at .. thc c-nimtree HiaiJ | ave power
Jinady to decide without repriaion ; 1
* 1 h to be "'formed, where are the
committee to (top their erquipr. ? I
ftate. where the eleftor. .re chofen
by a general vote, or by d.ftrim, and
where thr ufaod* of voters mav billot
for a candidate, are the commi.fte to
examine mto the return of cve’y dee
tor. aod into the qualifications of rve
ry vo er . Or in other*, where the dec
tor. arc chofco by the lepina'ure, are
the committee to rrquu-e into the leg*
I'ty Of the return* 0 f every mrmb -rof a
ejite legiflature ? Or how i* it p, ffib'e tor
this committee, or f ( r conger f 9 itfdf
ei her to have time or the mtans to
™ake thrfe rrquiries. f 0 as to be «’d r
f * cftr "i | nc with rorrcctncf*, or with
justice to the parties.
But let us fuppofe that this
committee, or even congrefs it
felf, are determir ed to exerrife
this power, and fhould receive
memorials and and
collea teftimony, and fhould be
of opinion that one or more
ele&ors of a ftate have not been
duly clefted, or are not conftitu
onally qualified : how are ron
grels then to ptoceed to find how
thefe unduly or difqmlified
eleftors voted, particulailv if
they ftiould belong to a ftate
having a number of electors ?
As the conftitution dire6>s they
ate to vote by ballot, the votes
of the eledlion ought to he fecret.
ou have no right to require
from an eleftor how he voted,
nor will you be able to know for
whom he did vote, particularly
if m the return from that ftate
different candidates have been
voted for. in this dilemma 1
afic, what is to be done ? You
cannot difeover for whom this
disqualified or improperly re
turned eleftor voted; and you
would not certainly, in a ftate
having 16 or 21 votes, rejeft
the whole, becaufe one or tw»»
illegal votes have been Tuppofed
to be given ?
From the rnoft attentive con
fideiation of this part of the fub
jeft, I believe no fatisfaftory
anfwer can ever be given to th<
queftion 1 afk; that the objec
tion I have ftated can never be
removed ; that if there was no
other pood reafon for fuppofinp
the confbtution did not intend
to give to congrefs any controul
or examination into the eleftion,
this of itlelf is fufbeient and
proves the wifdom of that inftru
mem's vefting it exclufiveiy in
the ftate legiilatures.
Another feiious objeftion to
ibis bill, or to the cxercife of
this power, either by congrefs
or a committee is, that the exe
cutives of the ftates and the ftate
legiflatu»es ate equally bound
with congicfs, by oaih , u to lup
port flic tonflitutlon it is an
oath they all take at the com
mencement of each new legida
tJire. IF therefore a number of
the legiflaturcs of the mofl im
portant Oates in the union,
mould be of opinion with me,
this is a right cxelufively
veiled in them by the rnnOitu
tton, which they have folmnly
fzvormn preferve, and that con
fillent y with tlicir oaths they
ram or quietly acquiefre in a
diminution of it, or f„fp e r . ny
inva (ion by a body having no
conuitutional autho’ity to inter
fere, might not (uch fentiments,
himly exprefled and adhered 10,
unnccedarily give rife to a com
(lift of opinions at leafl, that
had better always be avoided j
We know the lorce of religious
opinions in this country, and
how tenacioufly oaths are in ge
neral adhered to; and finely,
nothing but feme (bong and
prefling mceflih rould ever ex
rule, if any thing can excufe,
an interference on fo delicate a
lubjVcl ; and where, fir, is this
necefliry at prelent ? Have not
the Bates, and their lepiflaurrs
and executives, alwavs pundlu
ally & faithfully executed every
duty the conflitution required of
them ? Have you any docu
ments before you to prove that
h me of them mc *n to misbe
have, or any proofs to juflify
your adopting a meafurc of this
kind P Are the opinions of indi
viduals. or peihaps unfounded
annonymous publications, to
p’ecipnate ) on into diflercrccs
with the Bates, at a time when
harmory is fo eflVntial to our
general welfa’e? Do you recol
lett the cotitefls (hat are now
prevailing in the < Id world on
the (übjedl of government and
its principles, and how import
ant it is to us fo avoid a clafhrng
of opinions between congrefs
and the Bates on the fubjedt of
their rcfeivcd rights, at a tivie
when not onh this, but every con
flitulional principlefhould be touched
■with the gnaiejl deluacy. Wc
Bintdd rccollcdl that if is alio
highly necelfary at this time to
imprefs our citizens with the
mofl favorable opinions of the
integrity of the government,
particularly as it rt (pedis the
elcdlion of their prefident; they
now know that chofen by elec
tors, eli died under the exrlufivc
diredlifcn of the Bate legidaiurrs,
within only a (hort time ot the
elcdlion and voting on one day
throughout the union, it is irn
pofliblc for foreign or dormflic
gold or fadlions, to influence the
elcdlion ; as it (lands now', cor
'uption mud ever keep at a dif
♦ance; it can never aflai) your
eledlors, or fully the purity of
their choice. Give, how' ver,
the power of deciding on their
and of rejrdlirg, or re
ceiving them as th( y pleafe, o 13 1
mtn, all cf the (ame political
defcription, all widiingthe lame
man, fitting with doled doois
and w'hole delibr rations are re
moved from the public eye, and
you will find it difficult to lull
(u'picion ; yourjealous citizens
will remember, that feerecy always
accompanies corruption , ar d that
even if this committee were to
adl in the me fl honorable man
ner, yet Bill that the friendvof
the candidate whole votes have
t)ffn refund, if fucb refnfal rn ft
him his elcftion will ncvr* reafc
to fulpttl that ail has nor hfen
fan. and that fomc improper
rcdfon has influenced the dcci
hon. I could urge a variety of
other objections againfl this h T ||.
hut I am afr id I have a r, a j v
h'og t re {palled on your ratien.'e.
I will thrtelorr here conclude
nay femarks. with entreating the
li' iilr not to deftr. (heb/auti!
tul harmony and iafe-tv which
ti'e conflj.'urion at prelent m
j (u,rs » both to the flares and rhe
1 general government ; a ( defy
| "huh muff depend op a flnft
I adheianre to its p-incirles ,nd
I to d'c jud'cious diftribution of
; Its authorities; that while the
Itaus are wilely prof ihired hom
interfering with thofe redly na
tional powers which can a'one
be lately exerefltd In thrgrne
t9J B<)V8 <)V( ’ rn n ,r nt for the pun Hes
r,a,, °nal defence and protre
non, iha' govemu cm is in its
tun- clinked fromover-fle ( , p , nK
the bound, lies of the con ft it u
*'* h, hy (he refened powers fo
the flatcii and rfu people ai d by
ihnr excluhve lights of elpflion,
as I have fully flared to yr u ;
mfletd of injuung, lei it he our
eoeto pieieive unimpaired this
valuable f\flem. I (bould be
fony that any part ( f fl,, g 0
verriment flu uld he chaigc ble
with a wifh to violate it; hut
feeling as we mufl always do. a
Particular affrdion for that
h-andiol it to which w e be’ong,
1 fhould he extremely lOiry
| indeed 'hat this bill fliould pals
j the lenate
I Lri VI MB.mbf (ha. rhe elcfti. r> ,1
j in,n r ‘ l 1 y thc < ftMUion, or tn ry-rr
) n> I 'Tin tin u e.l i n t ( if p ~p f j
| the., op.ir.iy, re I, tiling , h< - , rctf d n r
a Him (.ration. If i c con. orr rf j u
f, u ‘ ve ha» been wile, film r-rflrd and
ni ' al, rhrtr <an rno difU 1 .) .• he
* fe ir i»f of It- ( I IZ , w ,u
coitimr hni nofti.r, r f hr * ft,, to
ilrclme elect « fucceflor of fimi ar j.
P'c, O thee i) »ar ,i( h» li.tn t (roved
hurlflf ah ran j 'dicious, ml the mea
(nrr ,1 his ailn i 1 0ration do not accord
Wl h ,h '* puhlu fcminiert, tee wilt have
V? ° r u,, ’r- m ’ dl r «n«< Br•>8 r •> I ihruucli
hf • rcc ul ihr elective jini.ci e i. ie
mo e him nrd l« cc i h , fled f man
«> (1 Hr nI po pical rooHucf ami , |,>ns,
T’lisa pen; however, can never • e fairly
a d m >pe <cm v m dc i<* the eo ( le it
c nftifls are i have tlx lira eft enn ioul
»>r re ill n of the elr-lion. hcaulr, the
myxjtjpof herr mnft a! wav < be int ac-
I •t nected wth rhe mealure* . a
(rJlior, The Prcll.le cun ne er rucred
wtinoiit rhe <u f jo i f c n £ el • their
a prob Hon mull f m ion al2 he | H ’, ai j
all -he fu. pliei which his vie m hi -co* a
(loner ; ~r,d the pn r> j fl |Hn e , by
the e etlj. r, rlujr ,r n ‘ inicn i v .. f he con
duct of iiir rHr rise maO, at the (am t
nn-f net eft r ,J y £IV ea, 0 j n , on 0 „ hilt
o: (he U u.e. This it another r a o-»
Ur ,rj:av the i il» ; an-l ns it .
H< r ilie 7 ih lee i.■ bus beer, ftru’ k. u *
(rvera) f,' Ileuien ha.eal r e hen o in’
ions | m not wiih.m h -e , he 'the
qoel’um it .ken, we /ha.* fimi.urfe s (l
i a ma/.'ify, that .t will net ~ at ,d
• lie r t u/ive .i K , j of the fUie .eg (U urci
w II bi , rriervrd in violate.
H«' I* . ailed'he fei.ate 16 to i 2. I hi*
bill ha irg prlled the !«.»-«, ieil {fl
the hen 'r of repre (enitttivei, «h.> u . c ed
fh# niiinbrr <-l (he c ii.mrtre end £a v f t<.
• hem the power f collet tit r te< - one
<oly, but refe V d in rr,q el ,tl r fhtfi
any of fLutfe, 0f tie t !efhrt ihn iktuthi
fit/ite. VS hen (h«4 uram . i 4 (enC
0«. kto the fenate, who ate ed h n c d
ment of the reprel«ntm,vei, c r lifted
u i on of *he r own to ■ ; I c t v g if.
lnbfta.ee, that r# */„m eltihr jl ulj it
until agreed to . r .. • b t.t.ru
b< vilti Ot CO. grefi. At this, :n the o, m <.m
t f many of the members <f h houle of
r «Me entativcs, made the bil. mnr* i (_#■ c
ticnable than when it went lr m he f«i are
in in f rft form, they (the re ire (email vei)
• ejected tl e afnenr.rtirnt o 1 ih 'tialr, a nt j
fo thc bill fell through tor th t fellicr An
in cafe of a cod «Oed or dilute, ectli, n ..
•hit queHion may be renewed 'he re*r
ieffion, aid as a rumbe of rnnabe.i a rcf
of Otir citizen hold a fl>e o. u alter b>e
°i inion, that «oni-re( l nve n. corftitu^
• >n«l authority to reject is •- o ei regu r
tranlniitred by the e .tn ri, atd tr f;
• y ib# of he hue »hf‘ *
if ha» been tb< uy? • i rnj e t
'hi-, view o! ftc >h
J* nriant queftion it aga n-f r
oitizenj m y Keve lonic sn
iikc fiven ihcai to tv •, ;