The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-04-27

ID our political system, % draw TIC attention
uf thc Senate t0 new, extraordinary. EeIf
created, central power, stronger than thr
power 0f the Constitution. which has rien
up. at Che seal oi government power which
has ASSUMED the direction aud control Of the
fundamental provisions cf che Constitution,
relative 90 the election Ct the President. iu
to reform TIE constitution, 10 is not
only necessary correctly 10 understand iiE ca-
tabiIshcd and well-cousidcrCd regulations, bit
ID make inquiry concerning the manner I'm
which those regulations haye been observed
and tie advantages Or Disadvantages which
are found BIZ experiences 10 proceed from thc
observance 81 or departure from the establish
~ Frog istous I'D che compact, Nv which, under
tie guarantee ofal % each, the states expect
'ed o. remain separate, cD-equal and sovereign
republics
II Is Therefore, expedient, on a motion FIT
the indefinite pUstpouement vi Che proposed
anendmenis VI The tonsiiiution, ia Fl4aicrer
lEit utay have hilhertp regarded t..rI4, i8
slude m, 70 deaignate, and call upan The -en-
ate ~ examine, the nature, tendency, ard
danger, 0f this new and extraordinary power,
winch hss risen On, and cs,abished itself ft
the very sect W Government winch "a ai-
ready assumed authority nnknoNB On tAe
Constitution. and threatens 10 overturn the
balance Of power, proceeding from iis dive
ION and distribution between tie States and
the United States.
We all Know that the Constitution Of the
United States u tAe fundamental act w The
union Of The States, defining The power yielded
by each state 70 the United States, establish
| ing the reciprocal rights and duties of che
States and Of the United Ststes, and, in ri
"a aN.
IN which their authority shall be exercised
! The authority of fhe United States Is divid-
ed into three great departments, and the mana
ner Of appointing the members Of each de-
partment Is equally fundamental ~ 10 their
division, and necessarily excludes every other
manner of division or appointment.
| The dangers 10 which experience had
shewn that the election Of Executive chiefs
are liable dangers Ehich had lea other na-
tons 10 prefer hereditary % elective execn-
tiyes, were, without doubt, well considered by
the members Of the General Convention, who
nevertheless, did indulge the hope, by apr
pointing. limiting, and combining Gle electors
within their respective states, aud by the
Iguarded manner " giving and transmitting
the ballots Of the electors % the seat "a gov
eminent. that intrigue, combination, and cor
ruphau would BE- effectualiy shut ont, ana
free and pure election Of the President Of tie
United States made perpetual.
n Al an early day, however, and on Che 6rst
and only difficulty which has ever occurred in
The manner 0f 0leCting the President. I'D ate
ration Of the constitution was made BIZ the
States. This alteration, which now forms thg
constitution upUn Che subject, while it nsay
prevent what, at the moment, was believed by
4 majority OF the States 10 be o mischief which
was feared only as il never La opened. has
unfortunately, left the United States unpro-
ltected against presen. and future evils of
greater magnitude, against which the prImi-
live provision would have proved an adequate
security.
Y The excitement or that period, proceeding
from causes not likely again 10 have harpen
" "a. aduonishes Us against future alterations. AZ
periods OF agitation, and dissuade from prcPos
: ing further alterations al this time.
2 TNr. TX. then reCited the constitutional pro
visions on this subleCt1
Such are The actual provisions OF The Con
sGtution respecting the Election % the Pres
ident. The Constitution itself, as we are in-
formed Nv the report VI TIE Convention. ID the
old Congress. was the result of spirit "a arr
slity and of mutual Difference and concession
! greater powers were surrendered 10 the U-
e oited States By the large States than by the
y small ones, because their numbers and res0ur
D ces were greater.
? The House Of Representatives Is composed
Z on the basis Of the numbers Of the respective
IS States here yielding 20 the large ones, and the
Y Senate II composed on THE basis W the equal
4 ity Of States, the large States here, IN turn
\. deferring 70 the small ones. The Executive
~f~ L-
y of both rules united Il Is we'll known that the
y small States would not have consented ~ thc
n lchoice by Electors, a mode favorable 70 t1a
Y large States; Aut upon the consent Ut the large
States, ou the f1iirra cf The choice pf fhF
Y President By the Electors o. go frst tFigl
Y, that the House DC Representative voting On
4 states, the representation from each State
Y having one vote, shall choose tie President
Il not from those they deem the most worthy
J but from the person having The highest nun.
Der, not exceeding thfGe, Old tbe liz D. those
iroied for by tue Electors thereby restricting
the choice ofthe House " Representatives u
y The three highest candidates nominated by tht
4 large States. To this adjustment. which was
y brought about by compromise between TIE
: Estates no objections were made AZ n period
when the Constitution was afterwards under
e Che discussion ofthe several States Though
4 great difficulties occurred 10 the debate &C the
y State Ccoventi0ns I'D other portions 0f ths
= Constitution Of tie United States. no opposi
Y utn appeared 10 tie provisions III The Consfi
4 tuition respecting thc manner OF elscttnE ihs
J. President, and no spch objection oEcurre.
u until the fourth election VI the President
Z which wa made b. the House OF Represents
~ tIEes' since that period, Eve Presidential "
o ectlsnss have taken place, and, IN eight ofths
nine elections De President has been CLIO
x sen BY Che Electors THE fourth election IN tht
r only instance ~ which, the President. me-
y being cbos ID by the Electors, ire election w
e VOWED % The House RI Representative. It'll
conPromise, % the snbiect " the prcsiaenfia
y Election, which has been always tiu3rr +,
Il a'aoHT ana good isita, seems nj late 10 haFi