Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-30
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, MARCH 80, 1874

Ten as might be necessary to a choice, as pro-
posed by the gentleman from South Carolina,
Mr.. Van Buren's plan compelled a choice ON the
second ballot by the electors a majority OF the
committee, TO which the several propositions had
oecn referred, were from small states, and they
han ae reea on an amendment, founded on pri,i-
cipies OIL reciprocal concessions for the GENERAL
good. This was all that the representatives NJ
the large states had, he understood then, c,,,.
tended tor. They could not, ought not did nat
desire that the small states should surrender an,
portion OF the power and influence now a,c,,r,3
10 tae,n oy the constitution, unless these states
snouid' themselves, think, that their own condi-
.'oii YOU'D oe improved, and the general welfare
Pro;noted, by their doing SO, on receiyino con.
cesslons, fully equivalent, from the large statc,.
considerations ofsnch liberia, and equitable cha.
racter had been held out on both sides. AMI tho
lconiir;tng interests of the different STATES M,
this point, arising from their unfortunate neon,.
i,ty, had hitherto, to the honor of the Senate
been commented upon without the least acrirno.
n.y. ana under the control of feelings which pro-
lniscd the most suspicious results Mr. Van
buren said that nothnghad taken place to change.
his views, ordispostion, on the subject. He was
anxious to continue the discussion. and ,v,a
willing to lend his feeble efforts to obtain tho a
dopton OF some resolution, on the subject at this
session. To this end, he was ready. on the part Of
his constituents, to make all reasonable sacrif
ces. H. however, gentlemen thought, that the
next session would be Il more propitious per;oJ
aud the character of the debate, on this motion
certainly Afforded some reason to believe that If
| might be so, he would bow respectable. in Tho
VIII OF the majority. Until, however. that yv,s
expressed, he would continue to oppose the most
poncnent.
iNfr. Dickcrson, of New Jersey, said. the
convention who formed our constitution could
not have foreseen all the effects of its ono
ir1lIOn-DOVerS hDy Tod - IL
not anticipated-the relative strensth of the
states mas undergone a change, which has dis
turoed the checks and balances oftha constifn
ton. Tiic honorable gentleman from NIisso,,,;
Mr.. Benton has sheEn the evils of the present
system OF e!ecting President AMI the n.ccssi
~ OF distFlctlng the states fo. that purpose, in
the strongest point ofvIev The election of +,
President by the People al large would he
preferable mode, if it were practicable: but.
whoever VIII look at the situation of our conn
try with us different kinds of populations differ
ent modes of election; different qualifications of
votes; must at once pereeive that such an cleo
ton is utterly lmpractcabie. The choosing of
the Presidential Electors, in single districts. is
| the nearest possible approach to an cIa,tion hv
the people at large.
| A disproportion has grown out of tfe relative
powers of the great and small states, which the
members OF the convention could not have fore
seen, and which has given new character to
our system.
In an election by Electors, six great States
can control the election; and leave eighteen
States without power or influence upon the
question:. In the House of Representative.
thirteen small States, with forty-liye reprcseD-
tatives, can elect President against the resi-
due of the States, with 169 representatives.
| Why should the great States be all-pow erful in
the first case, and the small States in the latter
The gentleman from New-Yorlk (AIr. King,) is
willing to put the small states on an equality
with the large. Ishe so' This is very strange.
But 1t Is only on choosing President IN the
Hous-' of Representatives, which can rarely oc-
! cur. Bat is he willing to give this equality of
vote, on the first election of a President, which
| must occur every four years? No. New-York.
Pennsyiva Virginia, North Carolina, Ken
lucky, and Ohio, have 1873 electors, and can
control the election of Presidcnt-barc ma
lo1ties, In each of these States can control the
Union, upon this question. These states, are of
contiguous territory, and may easily have com
munity ofinterest that shall bind them together.
at lcat upon one question. The gentleman,
from Missouri says, that the power exercised
by the legislatures Of the States, TO appoint Elec-
tors, is an usurpaton-that il ought to be rclin-
pushed, without any concession of power on
the part of the small states. Call this power
| by what name you please, it is now permanent
power; Oily to be reached by an amendment of
struction of the Constitution might have been,
and was, when this power was first assumed, il
| has been acquiesced in for more than thirty
years. To reject the electoral votes thus piycn,
at this time, would be to dissolve the Union. II
is too late 10 oppose the exercise of this power
But the power on the part of the states to choose
their Electors by general ticket, is not denied;
aud yet its effect is precisely the same; it gives
the great states precisely the same power TO
control the election of President. So far as
regards the citizens of the large states where it
may be adopted, it is equally oppressive TO the
minoritics, and less calculated TO give fair ex-
preston of the will of the majorities. In the
State OF New York, for instance, with popula-
ton Of one million and half and a territory Of
as thousand square miles, Sc Electors are to be
chosen by general ticket; they must be selec-
ted from the different districts of the state-any
other arrangement could not succeed. The
voters, generally speaking, would not know
even by name, more than one or two of the e
iectors to be voted for; for all the rest, they
r.1st vote upon trust. The voter follows the
great man of his town--he the great man of the
| county-and he some three or four great men
of the state; who thus WELD the force of a mil
lion and half Of people.
If the legislature choose the Electors, they
have the opportunity Of knowing whom they
choose; they are the agents in whom their con-
stitueuts confidc; they, at least, afford Connec-
ting link of information between the people,
and the Electors to be chosen.
| VIII the large states give up this power
without corresponding concession On the part
of the small states? They are strong, sturdy,
and obstinate. They have been urged upon