American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-02-03

duces evil instead Of good The Committee believe
that this failure has been complete, and that the
principles which should govern the election Of
Chief Magistrate. in free country. require that
the choice Of President Of these United States should
no longer be permitted to deyolve upon the House
Of Representatives. These principles have been
stated, and enforced 10 the course Of this Report
They spring from the dangers to which such cleo
lions ave liable. These dangers are
/. OF corruption among the voters.
D. Of violence, in the heat of the elections.
8 OF coalitions, to elect or defeat particular
candidate.
Opposed to these dangers are certain rules OF
action, ripened into sxioms. to the test Of which
every election OF FIRST officer Of Republic should
oe brought. These axioms are
To prevent corruption:
i. Multiply the
:, Keep the candidates from among them
3. Avoid preexistng bodies OF electors
TO prerent riolence and auoid coalitions
!. Separate the voters
The plan Of election in the Committees amend
ment, both for the FIRST and second election. has
been brought to he test Of each OF these axioms, and
found to abide them. The voters will consist OF
millions, and cannct be corrupted ; they viii be
scattered over The territory Of the whole coniedera
Jon and cannot hold an intercourse with the can
dda,es; they will vote at several thousand differ
ent places on the same hours Of the same day. and
can neither night nor coalesce; they are not pre-
existing body, in the OF the objection for that
term only applies TO small selected bodies
Tried BY the test Of these axioms. tie House OF
Representatives as am eleco al college, stands con
demned upon every one OF them.
i. Ii is small body, therefore, capable Of being
corrupted.
2 1t is prc.existing body, therefore, capable Of
being tampered with.
8. 1t sits ia the presence Of the candidates there
fore is subject 10 be influenced by an intercourse
with them.
A. II votes in body therefore is subject TO VIC
'snce, and capable Of coalitions.
10 addition to these objections, TO which the House
oi Representatives is subject. in common with al
small bodies, it is yet liable 10 others peculiar tc
itself as legislative department, VIZ
i. The aoom.ly Of a Legislature creating The
Executive.
2. The interruption Of its rtguar business
The introduction Of new test in elections o
members.
4. The application Of new influence to thess
elections.
5. The creation Of opposition and administrator
parties 10 Congress.
8. The effect OF all this upon fair legislation.
z. The further effrc, OF all this upon the mind
OF the people, the character of the government ane
the stability of our republican institutions
There is one point, however, and the Commute,
ere proud to state it, in which he House Of Repre-
aeatatives, electoral college, must forever y,
entitled 10 a preference over any other OF qua
numbers, which can be constituted is in the eie
ration Of its character; in The talents which dis
tinguish. and the integrity which ennobles il, ant
which the pride, virtue, and in ellgencc Of the PEG
pie must be forever anxious TO preserve and exal,
The objections which have oeen stated agains
bringing the election into this House, of such
rha in he Mt he
merit the most serious consideration ; and, whe
their weight and importance are duly estimated,
can hardly be believed that the trainers Of our con
stituton, if they could have foreseen the frequer
occurrence Of that event, would have consented I
endanger the purity Of our government, and III
stability OF our institutions, by conserving TO carr
the election before that body, in any contingenc
whatsoever. 1t is obvious FRI m the whole thenr
and spirit OF the const uion that the President wa
intended to be chosen by electors fresh from the per
pie and that il was never contemplated that til
election should devolve Oh the House of Represer
tatves except In an exit aord!nary and rare conttr
gency. But, from an extension In territory, whc
could not have beea foresern, and an increase
wealth and population beyond all expec, alton, til
pursuits Of our citizens have become so diversified
and so many local interests have sprsng up anon
them, tina, it is almost vain hope that the cectio
of President can ever again be effected on the fir
trial, whether the people vote direct or through Il
agency Of intermedial electors; and i, seems to
no longer doubtful, that, under ordinary circumsta
ces, the choice mus, hereafter, devolve upon 4
House of Representatives The provision Of t
constitution, intended only for an emcrgenc
thus becoming one Of ordinary application, and II
which the wisdom of our fathers designed as
"medicine Of the state" 60 be resorted to only
dangerous criss) is to become " our daily breaa
In this view Of the subject, it becomes questis
4hieh addresses tst!s 20 he mind aud heart Of eve