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

.,I
In government professedly founded upon the "'ii
of The neople that uilt, when known, should always
be entitled to the most respectful eohs'ue,
Now, as far as public will can be ascertaiheo' -
decidedly opposed to the House OF Representatives.
as an umpire in the last resort between tne rres'
dental candidates. Yet second choice, oy SONIC
aopY OF electors is inevitable majority, or even
large plurality, cannot be counted upon 10 our
subsequent elections To whom, then, shall II DC
semi backl Who shall make the second election
We have seen that the House oil Representatives y
an unfit place. and that the people are against y
viii the nresent institution OF electors do better
and shall they be retained for that purpose, IN cen
ance Of all the objections which he agains, mem
On the contrary, they will be subject 10 inc man
objections which apply against pre- existing oouy
They will be- moreover, subject TO the operation o.
all The undue influences which might be brought 10
bear upon the House Oh Representatives, without pos
sessng the same pretensions to high character anu
public confidence Then there Is no better course.
than to SEND IT BACK TO THE PEOPLE, WIN 'ne
single limitation, of conhning their choice 70 'he
leading candidates.
Clear as the propriey Of this course IL TO the
mind Of the committee, il is not zee from oolectlons
in the minds Of others. The first and most plausi-
BILE of these objections, grows out OF concern tot
the tights oil the small States, material portion OF
whose power, il is apprehended, will be lost by a
kim from them their contingent faculty OF elec'ins
he Pre- sident, BY STATES, in the House oil Repre-
} sentstyes Before this objection can be ADMITTED
il ought TO be shown that this privilege IS actually
possessed by the small States under the present sys-
tenn. The committee believe that II IS not Tor
; they cannot admit that privilege, personal to
member OF Congress, can be treated as the privilege
of The State which he represents. Now, It IS no
toious, tina, large portion, il not majority, oil The
representatives who have heretofore been called up
on TO vote Tor President in the House OF Represen
tatves have given that according to the dictates
> Of their own feelings and judgment In this course
they have held themselves justified on the ground
that, in giving their votes they acted IN the character
Of electors under the Constitution, and not in Their
representative capacity. Il is also certain, that as
no means are provided for distinct expression of
the will of The State upon the subject. Gas between
the candidates who may finally be brought into com
petiuon,) it is manifest that the Representative
may not know, or knowing may feign ignorance
Of The opinion Of the State, which he represents,
even if he acknowledges obligation to conform TO
it when known. In many cases he certainly will be
ignorant Of it in most he must be without instruc.
lions and in ALL he may disregard them IT. then,
the privilege Of voting for President. in the House Of
Representatives. is claimed and exercised by the
member as an ptpct0r aadpr the Constitution, and
not as representative from his State it the nfm
e Der and not the State, exercises vollon upon this
point; ii he denies the right OF the State 10 direct
ton and the Stale has neither time nor means 10
s. manifest her will power to enforce it, or the right
oi vacating the vote after it is given; then, this
boosted privilege may fairly 6e Sc, down as belong
ing practically, 10 the member and not 10 the !SaD
from which he comes. The question which then
presents itself, is OF conflicting claims to power,
o between indiuidunf, on side and the state
! which he represents, on the other; between mem
e Der OF Congress, it, his seat, and the 10000 per
: sons who placed him there. Holding this 10 be the
only question presented by the objection under
i sderation, the committee feel no difficulty III
e signing the privilege to the party which, ftom its
s own posilion is farlhest removed from undue in
e t1ueDce-by its numbers, is most difficult to be
l. rupted which Individually has much, and aggre-
gatey, infinitely more interest in the welfare of their
country and whose lack Of information, ii any, is
amply compensated by the dsinte estedness Of their
moiiyes and In this transfer OF power from the
bers OF Congress al Washington, 10 the whole body
OF their constituents at home, ii the opinion OF the
committee that the State would be gamer, instead
h OF loser. Still this contingent vote for President
J, in the House of Representatives, is the cherished
i form OF lost substance among the smaller States
IL and although now reduced TO nothing but an idea
e they may be unwilling to give II up without recev
at ing the benefit OF some concession from the larger
ID ones. Here then is room Tor compron Use : the
door opens for Of those mutually advantageous
e adjustments, by help of which the Constitution was
Is made. and without which ii cannot be amended
The large States overwheim the small ones, with the
Of consolidated vote of the general ticket; the small
States balance the great ones, with the single repre-
sentative in the House Of Representatives. Now i.
il has been shown that this apparent power 10 the
Dr. great States, to consolidate their vote, is in reality
the usutped power OF some individuals of the Stale
h legislatures yeti to the small States, its effect is
just the same as If the real sovereignty of the State
o had directed its force against them. 1t has also
Ii. been shown that this supposed power Of the anal
9, States to balance the great in the House o
,g Representatives is in fact the power OF the members
n lnnnr Tror1 Al.