Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-09

III.
less they unanimously consent to ii. All IN.
fears therefore, of the gentleman from Mis-
souri,, that the small states. by giving up "a
portion of power in choosing President
endanger their eqnal vote in the Senate, are
without foundation. While single principle
of the constitution is left, this right will re-
main inviolate
But what s1his deadly blow, aimed at the
power Of the smsI states? Simply propo-
siiion that, if the large states will yield up the
power by which they can completely sup
press the voice of the small states in the first
trial, on Presidential election, the small
states will so far give up their control in the
last resort, as 10 choose President by a
Joint vote of the two Houses of Congress in
which they reserve the extra power which the
tederaiive principle IN our National LegSla-
tnrP gives them. This body, the joint meeting
oi the two Houses of Congress, would he pre-
cisely analogous to the whole body Of cleo
tors, if assembled at Washington i; the same
number Of the same political principles, with
the same views and interests, enjoying, in an
equal degree. the confidence Of their consti-
inents, equally honest, patriotic, intelligent,
and trust worthy. But the gentleman from
>. Carolina says, this would BE- To choose the
President by the National Legislature. which
would lead tn dissolution of the Union. And
is II true. that the fate Of the Union would be
less safe in the hands of both Houses of Con-
Sress than in those of one of its branches? |
hope the President may always b. chosen by
the electors. dread "A resort to Congress on
this sublrc', under any circumstances but, if
such resort must be had, it is surely more
safe in the hands of both Houses of Congress,
than in those Of either House singly.
The gentleman from South Carolina seems
To think the proposition now offered, a per-
fectly novel one True, it has never before heen
presented as an amendment to the constitu-
ton but II is as old as the constitution it.
self On the 18th July, 1887, il was agreed
unanimously, in the federal convention, that
the President should be elected by the Nation
a! Legislature: and for long time this was
thought the safer mode, even in the first IN
stance OF choosing President, by this enllght
ened and patriotic assembly of statesn, en-,
some OF whom, at least, entertain no hostility
10 the power the small states. 1t was not
then discovered, that such an electioA would
endanSor the existence of the Union.
The gentleman from South Carolina thinks
there would be great danger from the influence
OF the Departments of the Government and
OF the Executive upon the two Houses OF
Congress, in their choice of President. But.
would not this influence operate as strongly.
nay, much more so, upon the House of Rep
resentatives, voting az states upon that uues-
iisn, under the present system? The gaining
one member of the JOINT meeting, would be no
more than gaining one vote out oftwo hundred
and sixty-one, while the gaining one member
IN the House ef Representatives might he
gaming twenty-fourth part of the whole
W hen state has but one Representative, this
would be obviously the CASE, as IL would be,
when the Representa tlves of state should be
so divided as that the change of one would
give the vote of the state 10 one candidate or
to the other--so that, by possibility, the gain
Ing of the thirteen votes might change the fate
OF Presidential election take il from one
candidate, and give II TO another In the lat
Ter case, the danger would be truly formula
Die IN the former, il would be no greater than
resortlnS second time to the electors While
the honorable gentem an charges me with aim
ing "a deadly blow at the power of the small
states, how stands his own account with those
small states Has he not aimed deadly blow
nj their power By the constitution, If no one
OF The Presidential candidates shall receive a
majority ni the votes of all the electors, the
dOlse of Representatives, voting by states.
shall choose the President from the candidates
having the highest number of votes, not ex-
ceeding three. The moment, therefore that is
ascerianed that no one of the candidates has
received the votes of majority of the electors
the right is complete in the small states To con
tro The election. Ii is guaranteed to them by
/ one OF the great federal features Of the consti-
tuition. IL is right precious in the ewes of the
ambitious men of the small states and shall
the friends ofthe small states endeavor To d.
vest them Of this casual, but highly valued
right The gentleman proposes that, in case
OF no election ny electors in The first instance
me case shall he sent back 10 those electors
he wishes TO provide, that The election of a
PRESIDENT shali, IN no event, devolve upon the
House OF Representatives. He seems have
| no other object in view, in his proposition, hut
to deprive the small states Of this power. He
IS Tor giving it up without consideration. He
does not even ask any corresponding corces
sion, ON the part Of the great states. Instead
oiieavIng the election to the House of Repre-
sentatIves, when Delaware would have an g.
q1al vote with New York, he sends il hack tO
we coIIFge OF electors, IN which the vote Of ~
YORK would he TO that of Delaware as IL To /.
Although esteem this casual power of the
small stales, in electing President in the
House OF Representatives, of no advantage Ia
Them, for one, would never consent TO Weld
Us without obtaining, at the same time, AN g.
qual cesso OF power on the part o the great
states.
These s,reat federal features ofthe consfitu.
ton have become enormous exrrpscepces. NV.
lrg their g'owth 10 circumstances not foreseer
by The pembers Of the federal convention
among others, 70 The unparalleled increase oI
! population m some OF the great states, and the
admission OF eleven new states. These excrrs
cences most be- reduced equally and sjmuliane-
ously. The balance must bc more nicely adj
lusted, or the equilibrium will be- forever lost.
although we cannot expect any final vote
/ on the propositions now under consideration
nj THIS session, we might have vote upon the
! amendment Of the zrnUep,o Cron, Mtssc,,r;