Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-09


from its division and distribution between the
States and the United States.
We all know that the constitution ofthe Uni
ted States is the fundamental act OF the union of
the States, defining the power Welded by each
state to the Uutcd States, establishing the rscp-
rocal rights and duties of the State, and of the
United States, and, iii respect TO the latter, de-
tcrmining the manner III which their authority
shall be exercised.
The authority of the United States is divided
INTO three great departments, and the manner
of appointing the members of each department
Is equally fundamental tl,cir division, and ne
ccssariy excludes every other manner of divisi-
on, or appointment.
The dangers TO which experience had shcwn
that the election of Executive Chiefs are liable:
dangers which had led other nations TO pre-
fer hereditary to elective Executives, were
without doubt, well considered by the members
OF the general Convention, who, nevertheless,
did indulge the hope, by appointing, limiting, &
combining the electors within their respective
states, ana by the guarded manner of giving &.
transmitting the ballots of the electors to the
scat oil government, that intrigue, combinati-
ON, and corruption, would be clFectualiy shut
out, and free and pure election of the Prcs-
dent of the United States made perpetual
At an early day, however, and OIL the first {:
only difficulty which has ever occurred I'm the
OF the constitution made by the Senate
l'hs alteration. which now forms the CONSTITUTE.
on upon the subject, while it may prevent what.
at the moment, was believed BY a majority OF
the states to he a mischief which was feared on
ly, as it never happened, has unfortunately left
the United States unprotected against present
and future evils of greater magnitude, against
which theprimitive provision would have proved
an adequate security.
The excitement of that pnrioJ y,r,cnoJinor
from causes not likely again to have happened
aimonishes US against future alterations at pc
RODS OF agitation, and dissuade from proposing
future alteration at this time.
The constitution provides that the President
and Vice President shall be elected in this man
ner; each state shall appoint, in such manner
as the Legislature thereof may direct, number
ofelectors equal TO the whole number OF Scna-
tors and Representatives to which the state NAV
be entitled in the Congress; but a Senator or Re
preventative, or person holding any office of trust
or profit under the United States shall not be
appointed an Elcctor.
The Electors shall meet IN their 5cs9eciire
states, and vote by ballot for President & Vice
Prcsidcn, one OF whom, al least, shall not be an
n.labitant OF the same state with themselves
They Shall name, in ticir bollots, the person
voted for as President and, in distinct ballots
the person voted for as Vice President; and
they shall make distinct lists OF all persons voted
for as President, and OF all persons votcI for as
VICE President, AMI ofthc number OF votes for
each; which lists they shall sign and certify &
transmit sealed to the scat Of government of
the United S;atcs, directed 10 the President OF
the Senate. The President OF the Senate shall
in presence ofthe Senate and House of Repre-
sentativcs, open all the certificates, and the
votes shall then be counted the person liayiur
the greatest number ofvotes FOR Presidents shall
bethc President, if such number be majority
OF the whole number OF electors appointed; and
Il no person have such ma jority, then, from the
persons having the highest numbers, not exceed
ing three, on the lst OF those voted for as Prcs;-
lent, the House OF Representatives shall choose
immediately, by ballot, the President. But in
choosing the President, the votes shall be taken
oy states, the representation from each state
having one vote; quorum for this purpose
s!iali consist OF Il member or members from two
thirds CT the states, and n majority of all the
states Shall be necessary TO a choice. And ifthe
House OF Representatives Shall not choose n
l,rcstdcn', Whenever the right OF choice shall
dcVoive upon them, before the fourth day OF
March ncxt following, then the Vice President
shall actas President, as in the case of death or
other cor ttutional disability, of the President
Such are the actual provisions of the Consti-
III lon respecting the election of the President
The Constitution itself, as we are informed by
The report of the Convention to the old Con-
sress, was the result ola spirit of ainity and of
mutual Difference and concession-grcatcr pow
ers were surrendered to the United States bv
thc large states than by the small ones, because
''ieiE numbers ami resources were greater.
The House of Representatives is composed
en- Inc basis OF the numbers Of the respective
states, the small states here Welding to the large
ones, and the Senate is composed on the basis Of
equality Of states, the large states here in turn
ieierrnS to the small ones. The Executive is
chosen by neither rule, but by the influence Of
both rules united; it is well known that the
small states would not have consented TO the
choice by electors, 4 mode favorable TO the large
states: but, upon the consent of the large states
on the failure ofthe choice Of the President bv
the electors on the first trial, that the House Of
Representatives voting by states, the rcprcscn-
fahon from each state having one vote, shall
choose the President, not from those they deem
the most worthy, but from the persons having
the highest numbers, not exceeding three. on
The list of those voted for by the electors there
ny restricting the choice of the House ofRcpre-
sentativcs to the three highest candidates po,ni
mated by the large states. To this adjustment.
'VihchWas brought about by compromise between
the states no objections were made ut the nc
Rod VIXEN the Constitution was afterwards nm
der the discussion Of the several states. Tho,
great difficulties occurred in the debates of the
state Conventions on other portions of the Con
stitution of the United States TO opposition aptt
peared TO the provisions of the Constitution re-
specting the manner of clecting the Presdcn,
and no such objection occurred until the
fourth election Of the President, which was
made by the House of Representatives; since
that period, five Presidential elections have Ia
ken place, and, in eight of the nine elections
the President has been chosen by the cleo
tors the fourth election is the only Instance
in which, the President not being chosen by the
electors, the election dcvolved on the House of
N"presentatives. The compromisc. on The sub