October 27, 1803
Mr. J. Clay, after observing on the proceedings of yesterday in respect lo the future mode of election of President and Vice President, said he should move an amendment to strike out the word three, and insert the word five.
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Mr. Dawson said that a motion, in substance, to the same purpose, had been presented to the House yesterday, and rejected. He felt no anxiety whether the House, in case of equal votes for Presidentand Vice President, was confined to three or five ; but it was his wish that the least alteration possible should be made in the Constitution, as first framed. Under this consideration, the insertion of the word three was. in his opinion, the least of ihe'alierations proposed. He though! that making the choice out oijiee, was guarding against what might perhaps never happen. He should, however, feel little difficulty in voting for either.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (col. 496). View the page image
- ihe'alierations proposed. The scans read: “leastofthealieraiionsproposed.” (Michigan scan), “the alterations proposed.” (microfilm scan), “ihe'alierations proposed.” (main scan)
- He though! The scans read: “Heihougbt” (Michigan scan), “He thought” (microfilm scan), “He though!” (main scan)
- oijiee, The scans read: “of five,” (microfilm scan), “oijiee,” (main scan)
Mr. Nicholson declared that i _.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (col. 497). View the page image
- i The scans read: “it” (microfilm scan), “i” (main scan)
- _. Only one scan has this word: “_.” (main scan)
sary to take up the time of the Coroiniilee, Thi gentleman who moved the amendment tells us thatjfife is the least deviation. He could not agree to this, ll did not in the least affect tlie choice of a Vice President.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (col. 497). View the page image
- Coroiniilee, The scans read: “Committee.” (microfilm scan), “Coroiniilee,” (main scan)
- Thi The scans read: “The}” (microfilm scan), “Thi” (main scan)
- thatjfife is The scans read: “that^^veis” (Michigan scan), “that five is” (microfilm scan), “thatjfife is” (main scan)
- ll Only one scan has this word: “ll” (main scan)
Mr. SMtLiE considered it a duty due to himself to assert that his sentiments throug-h the whole of this business were uniform. He thought that he could discern that the Chairman was surprised at the deviation from the original opinion of some gentlemen. His present sentiments he had declared before the select committee, and to these he still adhered. He said he would vote in any way, so that an opinion might be had j and the less they deviated, the safer they were. He had no object in view but the public good. He was extremely tenacious in altering the Constitution, but, wittionl the spirit of accommodation, they could never agree upon a number. If one gentleman, 10 1 i dulge himself, persisted in the number three, others oSfize, he knew not when an opinion could be obtained.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (col. 497). View the page image
- SMtLiE The scans read: “Shilib” (Michigan scan), “Smite” (microfilm scan), “SMtLiE” (main scan)
- he The scans read: “he” (Michigan scan), “he” (microfilm scan), “be” (main scan)
- had The scans read: “had” (Michigan scan), “had” (microfilm scan), “bad” (main scan)
- wittionl The scans read: “without” (Michigan scan), “with-” (microfilm scan), “wittionl” (main scan)
- 10 Only one scan has this word: “10” (main scan)
- 1 Only one scan has this word: “1” (main scan)
- i dulge The scans read: “indulge” (Michigan scan), “i dulge” (main scan)
- oSfize, The scans read: “of five,” (microfilm scan), “oSfize,” (main scan)
Mr. Elliot said that he would engross the attention of the Committee but a moment, and he would not ask for that moment if he did not think that what he had to offer would facilitate an accommodation. Some gentlemen, he observed, were so tenacious of the number beinf_;ipe, that, unless they were indulged, they would never make an amendment. He would therefore vote for that number, in order to promote his desired accommodation.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (col. 497). View the page image
- beinf_;ipe, The scans read: “heingj^ee,” (Michigan scan), “being five,” (microfilm scan), “beinf_;ipe,” (main scan)
The question was taken for inserting the word >Spe— ayes59, noes 47.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (col. 497). View the page image
- >Spe— ayes59, The scans read: “five—ayes” (microfilm scan), “>Spe— ayes59,” (main scan)
On motion, the Committee rose, and the Sfeakeb resumed the Chair, when the question was again put and carried. Itwas then move: that the amendments be engrossed, and that a third reading be had to-day. Agreed to.
Read from OCR scans of the printed page (col. 497). View the page image
- Sfeakeb The scans read: “SPEAKER” (microfilm scan), “Sfeakeb” (main scan)