American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-01-31

few States NAV persevere for some time, IN what
thew believe to be the fairest system; out, "hen
,hey ace the unity Of action which others cer7e
from the general ticket and Legislative modes oil eec
linn. they will not, and, with due regard 10 their
own safety they cannot, resist the temptation OF io'
lowing he same plan. Hence uniformity WIN DC
imposed by necessity, is not adopted from cho'ce'
with this great difference, that the first uniformity
will deliver up the votes Of the State, to the active
managers in the General Assemblies, while the ia1'
Ter would leave them in the hands oil the real soVer
eigns, the qualified voters OF the whole o'aoe' II
can hardly be said that the States "eulo have
choice, when the option would be between falling
into the general ticket system, and submitting TO
material dimuniton of their relative weight IN the
election The question, then, turns upon the reia
tive advantages of the general ticket and district
modes oil voting one OF the othei OF which tnus'
soon universally prevail; and it matters nothing 70
the sovereignty OF the State, whether one sha'i oe
established by the Constitution or the other imposed
by necessity and the whole point oil TINS oolet
ton is confined to the mere right oil choice ana OF
changing the systems from time 70 lime II resurs
tha, this right can be Of no value where choice Is
impossible, and change not desirable
The second point in the objection Is, the sup
posed diminuton OF the power OF the State ~ that
tendency TO scatter the votes which the district sys
tenn is admitted TO possess.
Admitting that unity OF its votes may be desira'
bic to States tina. unity VIII be produced oy 'he
district system, often as the State desires IT, ~
he majorties in all the districts OF the same
opinion, they will create the unity by giving the
same vote; if they arc not, it is held TO be VIOLA
ton of the rights Of SO many districts as would nave
voted differently. TO impress their votes mo the
service of the dominant party in The General Assem-
~ - 10 Gtota In tbs al mode
election the vote OF the State is directed by the ma
yry Of the Safe Legislature; the majority itself In
fuen, ed by some leading members; and the ticket,
thus atralgtd, is often made 10 triumph over the
whole State, by the mere effect OF discipline, aud IN
open violation of the will OF the actual soycregns,
the fair majority Of the qualified voters it is capa
bic oil demonstration that the general ticket election,
specially over large surface, is often no election
at all by the people. small and organized body
supply The place Of numbers, by unity OF design ard
energy Of action. Want Of concert in the body oil
the people, will render superior numbers Of no avail
Division will destroy their strength, by scattering
their votes; and anticipation OF defeat will ensure
1t, by preventing numbers from going to the polls
8. The last branch of the objection is in the sup.
posed tendency to consolidation, which is been by
some in the abolition Of electors and the subsu-
ton Of he direct vote OF the people This is com.
pletely and fully answered in foregoing part Of
TINS Report 10 WTlCn II may De auutu, tnal, WneIl
analyz il turns out to be nothing more nor less
than old objection in form to the district
system itself For the purposes Of consolidation, it
is perfectly mmateral whether the people vote by
districts in their own persons, or through the agen,
OF electors and, if this system IS established, IT
is unknown to the Committee for what Object the
institution of electors can be supposed to be want.
ing
| Finally, there is point of view from whic to
look at the several branches Of all these objections
which exhibit them in the light Of anomalous, If not
very equlvocal professions to the character OF State
| rights. Il is this: that they present. as contendng
parties, NOT the Federal Government on che side
and the People OF State the other, but the Lee
@istature Of State against the People of the
State the servants against heir masters the lead
ing men against the mass the lew complaining
I hat they will lose the privilege OF controlling and
directing the votes OF the many
The Committee have based their plan OF amend
ment upon the proposition that the plan OF the Con
stution had failed in the election Of President ant
Vice President of the United States. The points
of failure were indicated in its two leading features
the institution Of ELacroRs, and the ultimate
election, By STATES, in The House Of Representa-,
tires That the first branch OF this proposition has
been fully demonstrated and the best substitute pro
posed which the case admits Of is respectfully sub
mitted to the decision of the Senate The estab
lishment of the second branch and the demonstra
ton Of the fitness Of the proposed substitute,
TO be attempted.
| TO be concluded IN lert.l
DELAWARE LEdIsLATURE.