Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-09-01
TO TIE EDITORS OF THE ENC UlarR

organization of The approaching National Convento,
for the nomination Of candidates for the chef Exa
cutiye offices of the Union, il becomes the duty al
those who sincerely desire to preserve the integrity and
union of the party, to endearor 10 prevent If possible
so fatal an occurrence. The manner and SPIRIT IN VIII
The subec, has already been discussed IN some of ,b
journals of the South, we'll as those of Virgins
would Justify IMPRESSION that there was b
more probably intended than the simple discussion Of
political principles and important public measures
aude of course TO the election oil distinguished and
parlcular individual TO the Presidency Sh6ad b.,
be So !, adds TO the motives endeaVor once by p
per explanations 10 place the subject in lis just pa
per position. The writer of this article, as you know
Messrs Editors, can have no other object in view
He therefore, lattsrs himself with the hope that g.
explanations which be is about TO offer, may, al lea.
prove satisfactory to those of your readers, who
not themselves had leisure or opportunity tor me- a,
an investigation Of the subject.
NV present object is TO call you! attention, and :,
of your readers, more particularly, 10 late essay IN
Charleston Mercury, under the signature Of so h
Carolina re published in the Petersburg Republic.
and which demands, think, early and promp. -
tice The grounds assumed by this writer arr Qs,
there is, in the first place, analogy whatever t.
tween the organization Of the Electoral Colleges an!
National Convention to select and nominate a car
date for the Presidency-and secondly, that ST..
has exclusive ght TO determine for Itself the H.
ner in which it shall be represented IA such Conner.
n. , u.
off into districts, and each district entitled TO SEM
number of delegates equal to the number OF Flee.
that such State may be entitled TO IN the Corg II
Eectors,) who are to give their votes per capita Tor
individual whom each delegate may prefer.
whole argument of "Sou,h Carolina" rests upon
basis, that to vote by States, on the principle Of
Electoral Colleges, in any such Convention, would %
unjust TO the small States and would suppress, ia
degree, the voice of the minores IN each State.
10 sacrifice the Will Of decided ms jorty of the g.
Pile. Hence, he maintains, that the District SgstrC
the most congsnla TO our institutions, whilst t.
of the General Ticket tends most 10 subvert and def
The fair expression of the will of majority OF the
pie in the Presidential Election. Now, these O.
trines of ''South Carolina" there 10 nothing uew
They have been urged by all the friends and atyo.
Gates of the numerous amendments. which have beer
proposed 10 the Constitution since the year 80 "a
favor of District Election of President, and wfca
have uniformly proved unsuccessful, as they vii.
trust, ever do The last and most signal failure y;
that of 20. The whole doctrine, and the argum-0
by which is supported, are more spec'ons ar ing
NOUS than solid and conclusve-and they rest uF. 3
the ption, that the choice of the chef Exec
Of the Union is Ia spring Immediately from a ma
of the people of the United States, as forming e..
common mass or political community. THIS assump.
ton DENY and the Constitution in It's origin, es;st.
lishment, and provisions IS appealed TO for lis e!4a
tion You we'll know, Messrs Editors, that one Q,
the most difficult questions, if not the most so m the
Convention
aon 10 that part of it, which provided for the e!sctoa
of the Executive branch of the Government. Tbs
arose. doubtless, from the great difference which exist
ed, and was kely TO continue IN the relative power a.
population of many OF the States In some, ihe's
existed common political interests, peculiar IN its
character, and closely connected with their 'h'efn
peace and security. The natural situation and adyar
iaacs of Others and the habits and character OF The
eeops were likewise very dsslmllar. Systems OF td
cation and particular habits of thinking, had esabs
ed in many Of the States very different notions N
many of the principles which enter into the distrbuu
of political power in Representative government
reconcile these various and conflicting interests, VS.
found a difficult and delicate mater, especially N ne
adopon Of any scheme for the election OF the Che
Executive officer The difficulty, however, was t
nalIy overcome, and The Convention settled down %
on the existing system, as one the best calculated
preserve the separate sovereignty oil the States, IN
the relative influence and Interests OF each The Con
sttulion was intended TO be, II is IN fact Compact
tween the people Of the several States with each ohf
as distinct, sovereign political communities, and 70!
as one people The vital error which runs threugI
the argument of South Carolina and his allies, In'
they regard system of Government, not IN t'stt
fsderatre Character, but as founded IN pure Fogs
representatire principals. This IS not so. The trt
raj Government was founded on no such prInclp.s
The Senate established on such bass-n a'
the House of Representatives the mos popular bran
of the system. Ii 1t had been SO intended We shoe
not have been entitled TO three fflhs OF slave
puation nor would the email States have been sser'
in the privilege of having one RepreSentalre, wdh'
regard to their population or numbers. Moreos"t n
right Of suffrage for members of the House OF Rtf
.entalives rests upon different bases, in different Sn
Had the Constitution been the act OF the people NJ
habting The Territory Of the United States, tbs
would have been made uniform. Adopting the \
stitution, however, separate State sovere'gnie'
right Of suffrage was suffered IN remain as II had
or might be, settled by each State And again, E
/ 1917 e H. nuN.f II u
TO the House of Representatives. by general uc.'
las some do,) and however they may district itr
selves, by their act and Tor their feas Va
the recognizance of Stale individuality by the Coz NJ
tuition is strong as # it had not done so j. IL
election of President the will Of the people o. ts NJ
yeral States, distinct political communities, Wa n
tended to be nviolabIy preserved. The right OF CT H
ing Electors in their ocn acay, was retained bs
Stale as a vital and essential right, and was 10 be
ercised in the manner they might deem best fo'
preservation OF their political importance IN The l.
federacy.
That the Constitution so provides and that Il 'fs
intended by its wise trainers, shall proceed to III
by brief retrospect to the history OF that part
Constitution. IL
The first proposition in the Convention which 'l III
ed the Constitution, made by MIR Ed Randcg II
Virginia. II was that "The National Executive 80 ~
be- appointed by the National Legislature IL
Mr. Wilson Of Penn, moved to strike out"Ahffs
Legislature, and insert illustrating the Union ~
proposition the Convention refused To con'de' ~
never did consider This on the first OF jon III
the ninth, Mr.. Gerry moved "By the Executive III
several States" which vas lost-ten States 20 III
against il, and divided. On the Eth, The ''' III
ton of the Committee was reported TO The hous' II
it was moved to strike out "NatIonal Legislature td
insert "Peope ofthe q. Sta'es"-lost by ITO III
was then moved TO insert, "Electors chosen b! ~
legislature lost, To =. The resolution the
an election by Congress agreed to. On the
OF July, the subject reconsidered. II vas
to strike out and insert "Electors chosen By SsN
gisatures;" and carried, to = July -, aga | 4
considered, and "Nalionul Legislature" subsu9D'
II to 4. IL
The whole subject was then referred 10 "a C"na
Of detail of 5 members, who reported, that ne 7.
shonld be by the Legislature. 1t was again m'r
strike out Legislature and insert "PeoPIe. ~ II
to 2. Then by ELECTORS, chosen BY the people II
Saies-which was lost. Then by "Electo's, ~
lost On the 3lst of August the clause was fe's'
committee Of eesen, Tone from each state II
Committee Of Compromise, and they reported
listing provision in the Constitution declaring,
State should appoint as its Legislature m's"'
which was adopted,
These were the proceedings OF the Conssn." 4
they show clearly, that il was inter ded thai WV
ton of President to be Federal and not p'P III
r.