Early Governors' Papers

THE Committee on the Governor's Message having under consideration that part thereof, which relates to certain Amendments to the Consitution of the United States, as recommended by the State of Maryland, and having the said Amendments under consideration, and having maturely deliberated thereon, are of opinion, the same should be adopted and made a part of the Consitution of the United States : The Committee therefore recommend the following Resolution :

RESOLVED, That in the opinion of the Legislature, the following Amendments to the Consitution of the United States, would conduce to the happiness of the Citizens therof, by the establishment of an uniform mode for the choice of Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, and of Representatives in Congress.

I. That after the third day of March, in the Year one Thousand eight Hundred and one, the choice of Electors of President and Vice-President shall be made by the Legislature of each State, dividing the State into a number of Districts equal to the number of Electors to be chosen in such State, and by the persons in each of those Disricts, who shall have the qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous branch of the Legislature of such State, choosing one Elector in the manner which the Legislature thereof shall prescribe, which Districts when so divided, shall remain unalterable, until a new Census of the United States shall be obtained.

II. That the Electors of Representatives to serve after the third day of March, in the year one Thousand eight Hundred and three, shall be, by dividing each State, by the Legislature thereof, into a number of Districts equal to the number of Representatives to which such State shall be entitled; and by the people within each of those Districts who shall have the qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous branch of the Legislature of such State : choosing one Representative in the manner which the Legislature thereof shall prescribe, which Districts when so divided, shall remain unalterable, until a new Census of the United States shall be obtained.

RESOLVED, That the Senators from this State in the Congress of the United States be directed, and the Representatives requested, to use their best endeavours to procure the foregoing proposed, and the Representatives requested, to use their best endeavours to procure the foregoing proposed Amendments to be made to the Constitution of the United States.

RESOLVED, further, That the Governor of this State, be and he is hereby requested forthwith to transmit the foregoing Resolutions to the Senators and Representatives of this State in the Congress of the United States.

RESOLVED, further, That the Governor be requested to transmit a Copy of the foregoing Resolutions to the Governor of Maryland, and to the Executives of each of the other States in the Union. R. D. SPAIGHT, Chairman.

NORTH CAROLINA, IN SENATE, 15th December, 1801. The foregoing Report and Resolutions being read, Resolved, That this House do concur therewith. JOSEPH REDDICK, S. S. By order, M. STOKES, Clerk.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, 15^th December, 1801. Read and concurred with. S. CABARRUS, S. H. C. By Order, J. HUNT, C. H. C.

Copy Will White Secretary