might appoint. But as the plan stands, the Senate may take the candidate having the smallest number of votes, and make him President.
Mr. SPAIGHT and Mr. WILLIAMSON moved to insert "seven," instead of "four" years, for the term of the President.[1]
On this motion,—
New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, ay, 3; Massachusetts, Connecticut New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, no, 8.
Mr. SPAIGHT and Mr. WILLIAMSON then moved to insert "six," instead of "four."
On which motion,—
North Carolina, South Carolina, ay, 2; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, no, 9.
On the term "four," all the States were ay, except North Carolina, no.
On the question on the fourth clause in the report, for appointing the President by electors, down to the words, "entitled in the legislature," inclusive,—
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, ay, 9; North Carolina, South Carolina, no, 2.
It was moved that the electors meet at the seat of the general government; which passed in the negative,—North Carolina only being, ay.
It was then moved to insert the words, "under the seal of the state," after the word "transmit," in the fourth clause of the report; which was disagreed to; as was another motion to insert the words, "and who shall have given their votes," after the word "appointed," in the fourth clause of the report, as added yesterday on motion of Mr. Dickinson.
On several motions, the words "in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives," were inserted after the word "counted;" and the word, "immediately," before the word "choose;" and the words, "of the electors," after the word "votes."
Mr. SPAIGHT said, if the election by electors is to be crammed down, he would prefer their meeting altogether, and deciding finally without any reference to the Senate; and moved, "that the electors meet at the seat of the general government."
Mr. WILLIAMSON seconded the motion; on which all the states were in the negative, except North Carolina.
On motion, the words, "But the election shall be on the same day throughout the United Stales," were added after the words, "transmitting their votes."
New Hampshire, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, ay, 8; Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, no, 3.
On the question on the sentence in the fourth clause, "if such number be a majority of that of the electors appointed,"—
- ↑ An ineligibility would have followed (though it would seem from the vote, not in the opinion of all) this prolongation of the term.
