Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-09

it be believed that the Constitution intended t.
produce such state of things? 1t could not
have so intended, for, the object of the proyi-
sion was the election Of a President, and il 50,
our Construction must be sound.
But, says the address, the Construction a.
dop,ed by the friends Of General jackson is
confirmed Shy the very words Of the Constitu-
ton which directs that wien the election Of a
President devolves on the House OF Represen.
tatives, the vote shall be taken by States, and
each State shall be Untitled to one vote and
majority of all The States shall be necessary to a
choice" No illustration could more fatally
refute the proposition i. was meant 10 zorro.
borale, than this unfortunate allusion to the
manner Of election by the House Of Represen-
tatives. twill be recolleo.ed that the whole
course of reasoning In the address proceeded
on the paramount importance OF President
being elected by q majority Of The citizens ofMs
United States. This was the sounding board of
the alleged violation Of the Constitution. Can
this principle be carried into effect by the votes
of States on the question: Far from IT, New
York alone contains, twice as many inhabitants
as Delaware, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Hin.
OILS, Missouri, LOUISIANA, and Alabama, put 10.
gether. Yet they would have, voting by states,
7 votes for not half the number OF Citizens Of
New-York New-Yor&, Virginia, and Penn.
sylvania, united, contain greater population
than Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, MISSES
ippi, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama
New Jersey, Vermont, Connecticut, New !lamp-
shire, Georgia, Maryland, Indiana, and South
Carolina. put together, being entitled BAT 10
three votes against 10 states, more than suiii.
Gent to make President. In the face OF such
facts, the author OF the Jackson Address, has
the hardihood boldly TO assert, tina. the Prnci-
pie of majority of the people eeciing ptesi-
dent, was vital constituent oil the provision,
which calls for the election of President by
the House, and prescribes the manner Of voting
by states.
The principle Of election by majority Of
the people could therefore have no part in the
consideration which induced the manner Of
choosing President by the vote oil States -
No provision could have been made more like
ly 10 defeat its operation. Surely then il would
be imputing remote and improbable motive
Of action where a nearer and more obvious rea.
son could be assigned for the vote Of the States
Individually instead Of the representatives gen
orally. /, is well known that the Constitution
OF the u States is the offspring OF compromise;
happy adjustment ofpowers and interests is
the prominent feature Of that high achievement
of political wisdom. Among these the manner
of voting by states on the election of chief ma.
gis,rate is one of the most conspicuous. Ii de
ponds on principles wholly different from that
on which it is pretended it rests for support
One evidently was the removal OF jealousy on
the part oflhe smaller towards the larger States.
To array all which co-operated in its adoption
would exceed the limits OF this article
There was therefore no violation of the Con-
stitu,op either in spirit or form in the election
of John Quincy Adams The members ofthe
House Of Representatives, who voted for him,
fulfilled the will oflheir continents by voting
according to their best Judgment for the man
best qualified for the office of President, offered
to their selection. Had they acted otherwise,
they would have turned their back. on The wei
fare Of their country and deserted for a shallow
sophisiry the cause of one Of the mos, disln.
guished statesmen of this or any other country.
One OF THE PEOPLE
Population New-York, 1871, 82
Delaware, 1919 Virginia, 1,O65,566
Rhode Island, 5000 Pennsylvania, 1,049,S96
Mississippi, 75,443
Illinois, 55,2l1 3,4s7576
Missouri, 66,5s6 New Jersey. 277575
Louisiana, 153, 407 Vermont, 255,764