Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-02

other object than the welfare of the whole
MIR. Hayne said, he was willing to admit that
the spirit of harmony and mutual concession
could alone lead to aay desirab results on this
subject. 1t was in that spirit that the Constitu-
tion had been trained, and by tn t alone could
ITS harmonious operation be secured. He should
certainly be one OF the last to contend that the
sfeat Pfmctpte ~ compromise, !on which the
constitution was founded, ami on which the
dearest rights, perhaps the existence, of the
small states, depended, should ever be forgot
ten or disregardcd. lie contended only against
l2aioasies and struggles for political power.
Having thus presented the question in what he
believed to be its-s''ue tight, MIR. Haync said he
would proceed to consider the resolution repor-
ted by the Committee. Onthatpart of it which
proposes to dici ie tie United States into Dis
t'1cfs for the choice Of Electors, he would make
but single remark, as he certainly did not m
tend on the present motion to enter into full
discussionofthe subject. The remark he would
make, was, that Whatever might be the advanta-
ges of Tie District System, land hcadmittcd them
to be very great, it certainly lessoncd the chan
ces OF eitectIng achoce, and indeed ,couid. In
most cases, lead to a failure IF tie election. 1t
surely, 4 lid MIR. ii. can require no argument
to prove that the United States, divided into 81
parts, each expressing but one opinion, will be
less liable to a division of sentiments than when
divided into 260- such parts. When state acts
as a sMtc, whether the vote be given by the Le-
gislature OF by general ticket, there can exist
but one opnon--the voice of the State; but the
same State, divided into Districts, NAV have
many opinions, as there are Districts. The merit
OF the District system, then, depends on the pro-
VISION by which it may be accompanied as to
the course TO be pursued in the event of the fai-
lure of the election at the first ballot He was
convinced that this failure would take place UNI
der the District system in nine cases out of t.,,
and, therefore, if it were proposed, on such fai-
lure, to throw the election into the House OF
Representatives, or into Congress, the Substance
of the proposition woalI be, to provide for the
election OF The Chief Magistrate by Congress,
and notify the people. If, said Mr.. Hayne, the
District system was accompanied by provision
that, on the failure of the election at the first
ballot, 1t should be sent brct to the electors TO
choose the President from the two highest can
dldate', then the system would be complete, an
election of the people would be secured, and
TIE necessity IF eng Interference on ii, PIT Of
Congress ,conid he .Tste,l a,cry. A second b,fi-
lot by the Electors was the pfncio,e, fsaiI Mr..
Hayne,) on which. his proposition was founded.
1t could be cngrattcl on the District system, or
on any other which did no. dispense with Elec-'
tors. The details OF such n system, lie was
satisfied, could be easily arranged, and he hoped,
at some future day, TO see it adopted.
But what said Mr.. II. is the a,lisf1nce of Tie
proposition now before us, What will be its
practical ciiccR Thc people are to pass thro' the
from OF voting for President, in their rcspec-
tive districts, but, if no candidate has majority,
aid no one ever will have a maiority, ey-
cept 1t be in very extraordinary case, then
the election is to SO into Congrcss-both BRAN
ches of the legislature voting hy polls, and not
by States. consider, said Mr.. II. the whole re-
Inf to Al.
than proposition to change tic roti,g In Con-
gress by States, to Joint Balot, with the further
evil Of carrying the election, IN almost cre,y in
stance, into Congress Itresults them in proposi-
ton to elect the President, hereafter. by the
National Legislature. Now sir, said MT. III.
consider such system as pregnant ,citb dread
fMt crils 1t is true, that il was proposed in the
Convention. but mature deliberation led to its
abandonment; and, when we look into the great
commentary on the constitution, (the Federalst, J
we find the weighty reasons stated which in
duced the convention to prefer choice by
electors, to one by Congress.
Can it be necessary, said AIR. Hayne, to point
out the evils of choosing President by the Ma
tional Legislature He would state some of
them. The occasion and the nature of the
question now before the Senate, would not per
mt him TO enlarge. The first objection to the
election q President by the National Legs
lature, is found in its connecting the Executive
with the Legislative department of the cove IL
mcnt. 1t is the theory of our government, chat
the several departments should be kept, as far
as possible, separate and distinct. If the Lee
gisaturc shall be authorized to choose the Ex-
ecutiye, is it not obvious that they will be zen
dcred mutually dependent on each other, Eli
-ther the Executive viii be rendered the hum
BILE tool, the obcdient servant, of the Leeisla-
ture--or, what is most TO be apprehendeI the
Legislature will become subserYient to the
views OF the Executive. Judging from the cx-
pcrience of the world, shoul1 say, that Presi-
dent If the United States, uniformly chosen by
the National Legislature, would acquire a most
dangerous influence over all their deliberations
With an immense patronage in his hands, a Pre-
sdent might be able, by feeding the hopes of
greedy cxpectants, to secure his constant re-
election. He would have the means of doing
so, and to ensure his election would be the mo-
tire to exert them. An ambitious asprart for
the Chief Magistracy of this great Republic,
might have in his power, by management and
intrigue, not only to secure his election, but to
mould the Legislature to lis will. With so
great prize at stake, TO cxcrions would be
wanting to secure il. Promises, threats, in
trigue, and corruption, would exhaust their re-
sources, 10 Influence and control the electoral
college. But the higher, rs well as the baser,
motives Of human action, would be enlisted in
the service. Party spirit, personal ahd politi-
cal attachmonts, wJlId combine 10 influence
the decision of the National Legislature in the
choice Ola Chief ay;stratc. Men, who would
rise superior to nakel bribery and corruption,
would be hurri ID on by tIIcir passions, and even
by honorable ambition, 10 second the views OF
their fayoritcs. at present, Congress is consi-
dercd as a body who mIy, in an event not like
IU to s,,, H~~, al. 81