Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-29
From the National Inteiligencer.
TT NJ ~

HaMnDEN-No. XII.
The doctrine of pluralities. preached during
the Presidential election, is a dangerous inno-
Walton on the People. The pa:tizans of one
candidate, returns to the House Of Representa-
tives with a larger number of votes than the o.
hers, have claimed the right to be elected,
and have placed his right upon that gross fal
lacy. 1t has been said that "he was the Peo-
ple's candidate" that the favorl,e of The people
had been disappointed; that the injury 10 his
rights, was a violation in his person of the po'
~lltical rights Of the People. This attempt to
misguide the public Judgment was founded in
an error too prepos,erous tor serious %rcfuta>
ton. I, ha. been permitted to run its course
The true republican doctrine, on which all
free government must rest, is, that ma I~orities
must govern; and the principle that a plurality
| can govern q majority, is destructive Of the
foundation on which all popular government
, must depend.
The authority TO govern can only be derived
from the will Of the government. and IN all cases
Of div ision, thai will must be the will of the
greater number and he who has less than 4
| majority Of the whole, has furnished conclusive
evidencr, that he wants that essential quality,
and so far from comforting any right, il Is a
positive negative to any right whatever. In
conformity with this principle, il is required
TO return the three highest candidates 10 the
House of representatives., that from them may
BE- selected the president Of the L. States -
They are returned, because neither of them
have obtained 4 majority But il it was true,
that he who had obtained the highest number
Of votes. ought, on the ground of political prin-
CHILE, to be The President, then it was unneces-
sary and improper to refer it to the House
Cnncc, ssary, because the proper candidate is
g., e,r,I. go tod lr ttn DaD,l.. arl nrr
per, because, while it adds no sanction TO his
appointment, it may afford an occasion CT de
fearngir
This difference to the House, is a clear in'er>
pre;ation Of the meaning of the Constitution,
and too plain to be argued They only who
would deceive the People, would resort 10 an
argument, whi,h h, under the preuence of dcfen>
ding their rights, drprives the maj"rity Of the
righr of controlling the lesser number.
The Constitution had prescribed that the
three highest rhouid be returned, from whom
one should be selected, because The majority of
the People had failed 10 elect. This selection
was TO be made, not on the basis of population,
but on the basis If States, and therefore a ma
Ioritv OF snail States might, by possibility,
csunterpoise a greater weight Of population.
This is one of the rights * powers OF The small
States, uHde' the confederation, which cannot
be taken away without sappiug the foundation
of he ConiedcraCy How absurd, then, and
wicked. to talk to the People of the large States
OF the popular vote in the Electoral Colleges.
and how prrpos,orous TO require the small
States, not only to yield to a majority Of popu-
lar votes, but 20 Weld to a plurality. 1t is an
tempt 20 seize on the popular passions, and
in its operation TO destroy the balance, Of the
Constitution.
The Government of the T.. States is found
eSson that happy conception, by which the
rights OF the People are harmonizad with the
rights OF The States, and by which two differ.
ent elementary principles are made 10 combine
10 effect the safety of every part, with the I'm.
ion of The whole. This great end was attained
BY mutual concession and compromise. which
it is dangerous to disturb.
1t was a union of thirteen several and pre-.
existing States, as a union of The People. and
the powers we're so distributed IS to preserve
to both a due share Of weight and influence in
the organization.
The power of Legislation was conferred on
two bodies, differently constituted. The one on
the principle Of representation OF The People,
and the other on a representation Of States; so
that no law can be passed injurious or Danger
Gus either to The rights Of the Large or small
States, or 20 the liberty Of the People, without
a concurrence Of a majority Of he Representa-. |
tives in one House, and Of the States in the o.
Their.
In the formation Of the Presidential Office,
it was impossible 20 Carry this beautiful sys-
tenn into full effect. 1t was found too difficult
to obtain, if not dangerous 10 require, a major
ity both of the People AID of the States. 1t
was unreasonable IN the large States to expect
that the small States would consent to abandon
their equal and sovsign rights in the Uoion, 20
The principle Of population. I, was equally
unreasonable in the small States to cxpcc, the
States to a5ondou altogether the prin>
ciple on which The legislative branch had been
Ii became therefore. necessary 10
the difficulty by a mutual surrender,
which was effected on the principle adopted
in the Constitution.
That gives 10 the People the right, in The
FIRST instance, Of selecting the Chief Magistrate,
on the express condition, that majority Of