The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-08-10

political enemies, aud thereby TO strengthen itself
uat II exists Has this application IN the
organization Of National Convention. There are
TO DC no enemies either at home in the congressional
districts or In the Convention to be thrust down and
destroyed. National Convention is an assembly of
friends Why should the voice of any portion of the
party be kept ont of the Convention or their prefe-
rences DC suppressed 10 act upon the reason
which induces the consolidation of a State mower by
election by general ticket, by State Legislature,
is at once to throw to the wind all hope of Conyen
ton. 1t The Convention is to be arena where en-
emies are TO meet, in mighty contest for mastery
and power, the fact that it is voluntary kills the Con
yention Who that is weak will voluntarily put him
self in the power of enemies powerful, who are
intent on aggrandizng themselves, by his subsection
and ruin The reasons, therefore, for adopting the
general ticket system, or appointing electors by the
State Legislatures, are not german to the organiza-
ton OF National Convention.
2. The object of consolidating the strength of a
State by eectng electors by general ticket by State
Legislature, is to throw its whole power in favor OF
one favorite individual for the Presidential Office
The object OF National Convention is not to elect
any particular individual. On all hands this is dis
claimed. Its object is, to produce unanimty in the
Democratic party, and this is DONE not by carrying
out the preferences of each State, in the electoral
colleges, but directly the contrary-by suppressing
these preferences in all those States which do not
agree with the majority in the Convention. Let it
III lndt tnOSe states III minority,
would be overruled at all events-and, therefore,
surrendering their preferences the Convention they
make no sacrifice This is not so. The Constitution
requires that in the electoral colleges the President
shall receive majority of all the votes cast in the
Union plurality does not elect If majority is
not cast for one OF the candidates, the three highest
go into the House OF Representatives and that body
roting by States elects tie President If the States in
the electoral colleges, carry out simply their prefer
ences, uncontrolled by the action of Convention no
election may be made, and when the election comes
INTO the House OF Representatives, those who may
whelming majority in the House Five of the larger
States, may, in the Convention, dictate the nomna-
ton but in the House Of Representatives it requires
fifteen States to elect the President.
hose who mako the majority in Convention, may
thus in the final election of the President be in
wretched minority of one to FIVE The surrender Of
preferences, therefore, in National Convention, is
positive sacrifce-the sacrifice, it may be of the
Presidential Office itself. No such sacrifice is produced
in the action of the electoral colleges in the States
The object of National Convention is to induce such
sacrifice. Is not this difference in object, wide,
itself to be fatal to any argument from analogy be-
tween the consolidated action of the electoral cole
ges in the States, and National Convention?
3. But look to the result contemplated and openly
avowed, by National Convention. 1t is to prevent
the contingency provided for in the constitution, of
the election going into the House of Representatives
The most successful method Of carrying the Pre-
sidenal election, SO far the Democratic party is
concerned, would be, to permit each State and Sec
ton to run the man who with them is the most popu-
lar north, east west and SOUTH let that be voted
for who can carry most strength 10 the party and best
unite their effort. But this, it is supposed, would
bring the election into the House OF Representatives
where the small states are equal to the large. The
small states are virtually told we of the Democra-
tic party differ to the individual who shall be our
Chief Magistrate; and the result will be that cleo
finn he mod. in ba tbo
election will consequently go into the House of Rep
resentatlTes, TO your immense advantage You will
then, according to the clear provisions of the Cons-
tuition, be equal in power TO the larger States and
consequently will make the President. Now come
into a convention with US, by which this consttu-
tional advantage you possess, may be put aside for
our benefit. The smaller States do not object They
reply, we are willing to concede your request; but
whilst IN doing so, we put ourselves in position TO
be controlled in our Electoral Colleges and to vote
for one we do not prefer-whist we do thus surren
der our preterencessurrender the advantages Of an
equal vote in the House of Representatives-sur
render in fact the Presidential office ITSELF let us at
least, amidst all these concessions, have the consola
ton of producing patriotic as well as sefsacricing
result Let us believe that we yielding to the
voice of the people, fairly and clearly expressed in
manner OF representation known and daily practised
amongst them Let US not, by the Convention, be
"bubbled" out of our preferences and right by
presentation no: from the people, by which the voice
of thousands and tens of thousands Of our own party
will be suppressed, and the rod Of political Jugglers
and unprncipled trcksters control us and them How
ever weak and humble you ought not to require this
of US, and we ought not to submit to it. Is not
this answer fair and reasonable and Just, and ought
not lis requests to be granted: But suppose, in
stead OF prompt, cheerful and friendly compli
ance, the larger States should reply something
after this fashion. ave perceive, mischief in you
You certainly design to break up and overthrow
the Democratic party, for you know such propositions
will never be conceded. We will do as we please in
the matter OF Representation and will take care il
shall be so arranged that power in the Conven-
ton shall be enre consolidated and the opinions and
feelings of every man within limits in congeni-
atty or sympathy with yours, shall be utterly sup
pressed. We will neither act upon the principle OF
State sovereignty nor on the principle of the popular
will. Neither Will answer our purpose but we will
have hybrid combination of the two principles ex-
acy suited to give us in the Convention, the mastery
over you. We will act and vote by States but at
the same time, claim the power of numbers We
will have vote for every Congressional District in
respective States, but the Districts shall not send
the Representatives if they do he shall not vote
as his constituents desire, but as majority of Dele
gates sent from other parts of his State shall dictate
And as to your sacrifices when did the President
come from a small Stalein
If these views are correct the mode Of electing
Presidential electors with the action of the electoral
colleges, affords no analogy for the organization of
National Convention. The reason for their forms of
election and action are dHerent-the object ana re-
suit plated different Yet, we by no
means indulge the expectation, that if the differences
thousand times multiplied, anaogies could not
be seen, amply sufficient TO make good the preen-
sion Of the larger States, to control the Presidential
election The affected dsdan of amenability to
other States-tbe refusal TO assent TO any common
SYSTEM OF representation their steadiast opposition
TO that mode which man can deny, is the most ef-
fectual, to carry up the popular will TO the Conven-
tion-ther forced analogies, and shallow sophstries
are all the usual devices of power seeking conquest,
writer in the Richmond Enquirer described dis.
tingusfed member of the late Virginia Convention
concluded his review of the position of the South
Carolina Convention, by saying els it better, that
the people-a fair majority of the popular principle,
should elect Executive power, that minor facilon
should be enabled TO embarrass and defeat the judg-
ment and will Of majority, and throw the election
into the House Of Representatives This is the a,es-
,fd dor