The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-30

eminent There is none other requiring SO
constant and wakeful vigilance as this. 1t
cannot be amiss TO atleast tolerate an lnVesu-
CATION whether We are necessarily required
TO encounter this peril; whether we had
not better abolish the system Of electlng our
Chef Magistrate altogether, and obtain one by
a substituted method, which shall be attended
with no such danger.
Fourth. at was desired that every practl-
cable, obstacle should be opposed to cabal, In
trigue, and corruption. The appointment OF
the President does not depend upon any pre-
existing body of men, who might be tempered
with to prostitute their votes. It's referred IN
the first instance to an immediate act OF the
people, to be exerted in the choice OF persons
for the temporary purpose OF making Inc aP-
pointment. All those, who from situation as
Senators, Representatives, and office-holders,
might be suspected of too great devotion to the
President in office, are excluded from the
trust"
Cabal, intrigue, and corruption he pronoun-
ces the most deadly adversarles OF publican
Government. If the plan OF the Convention
has secured US against their growth among us,
and their influence upon the Presidential cleo
ton, then, indeed, the Convention achieved a
desderatum in the science of government above
all praise. But if it should appear, on inquiry.
that it has saved Us from none of those evils,
but has fosteIed and propagated them to an ex-
tent, which promises results as deleterlous as
they were ever known to yield IN any country,
then, whatever merit may be accorded to the
theory Of the plan, il must be conceded that
there is some inherent defect in it when prac-
tically operated with that, must stTipit OF every
claim TO merit, as either salutary or safe ex-
pedient. It's authors, if they had lived to see
it operating so directly contrary to all their
intentions and expectations, would themselves
have been the first to condemn it. The
argument deduced from the danger of pre-
existing bsdies OF men being tempered with and
prostituting their votes, is unanswerable against
entrusting the election TO any such body, and
so far vindicates the superiority of the plan
adopted over that first agreed upon giving the
election 10 Congress. But the argument who'll
" overloois that part of the plan adopted,
which refers the election to the House of Re-
representatives. in case no candidate receives
aiority of the votes;an event Of very probable
and frequent occurrence. For the House OF
Represert atives is Just such pre-. existing body
of men as is liable to be tempered with, and
the plan is obnoxious to this severe censuIe,
Just in proportion to the chance of the election
being deyolved on that body.
Fifth. Another motive was, that the President
should be independent, for his consinuance in
office, of all but the people themselves. He
might otherwise be tempted to sacrifice his
duty to his con4plaisance for those whose favor
was necessary to the duration Of his official
consequence. This advantage VIII also be
secured. by making his reelection depend on
a special body of Representatives, deputed by
society for the single purpose of making the
important cheice."
If the plan has secured this advantage. if it
has rendered the President a perfectly free
agent, to pursue the behests of his country ac-
cording TO the dictates of his own Judgement,
if it has secured him from improper influence
from prominent political personages and from
the CALLING OF party shackles; then for this also
it is entitled to great commentator. The
Convention justly deprecated it, as one of the
worst ills that could ever befall the country,
that our Presidents should habitually become
either tools, the avengers or the remuueIators
of party; or that they should have the in
ducement to tamper with influential popular
leaders TO receive a reelection. If, therefore,
on the other hand, the effect of the plan has
proved itself TO be to genertae party ieuds, to
render every election strife between parties
and, by consequence, 10 render every President
the head OF minion OF party; if it causes him
to Deepen upon party tactics for his elevation
and reelection, then this supposed merit of the
plan must be totally denied TO it. If, at the
same time another plan can be devised, which
shall truly and securely possess this merit,
which, from the mode of his election, whilst it
takes from him all motive to become a mere
party President, OF other than the truly in
dependent President of the nation, will also
remove the great incentive to all those heated
party striies and corrupt political cabals, with
which the plan of the Convention has teemed !
so fruit(uily, how iearlessely may not a com
narison be challenged of the respective merits
of the two plans in this particular.
Sixth. This process of election affords NOR
al certainty teat the office of President will new
er fall to the lot of any man who is not II an
eminent degree endowed with the requisite quail
fcations. Talents for low intrigue, and the
title arts of popularity, will not suffice to make
lin 4 successful candidate for the distinguished
,fiice of President. 1t will not be too strong to
ay, that there l0iH be q constant probability Of
eetng the station filled BY characters Pre-emt-
rent for ability and Virtue."
How sadly may great men be deceived to
he practical operations OF system OF Govern
nent. the theory Of which had been elaborated to
he utmost of human wisdom 1t need not be
sked whether this sanguine patriotic anticipa-
ion OF the great man has been fulhlled There
; no Durp6se OF intermeddiing with the personal
rediiections and antpathies of any one. 1t
elonas not to an abstract dissertation ON the
tuess OF a particular feature of the Constitu-
ion to weigh or disturb existing political preju-
ices. But it may be allowable to look into
he future, and ask who of any party anticipates
uch result for the next any future election, !
o long as it remains dependent, as ii now does,
non the effect of mere party combinations
uch may or may not be the result of the next 7
r any future election, but no man lookes for it !
ow, as a necessary consequence of the system |
man may be pre-eminently qualified for the Of 4
80 of President, without being at all qualified c
" the head of party. The latter qualification b
now the principal requisite to attaining the b
Presidency II was vain for the Convention to S
ave anticipated such results from the system, e
Mess the influence of parties had been better
uardcd against. MIR. Randoph's remarkable !
rophecv, that the American purple would never :
oaip Iiabt on the shoulders of gentleman, has :
cen ialsiied, but how wide spread and earnest
) the fear that it was only a little premature in
IS utterance. 1t was but yesterday, as it Were,
when we all looked with chilled hearts upon !
...4 AL