The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-08-08

political enemies, and thereby 10 strengthen itself
that IL exists Has this an application IN The
organization Of National CoHvcntionf There are
10 be enemies either al home IN The eonsfessona
districts or IN the Couventin TO be thrust down and
destroyed. A National Convention is an assembly OF
friends Why should the voice Of any portion Of me
party be kept o Of the Convention, or Their pfeie-
rences be suppressed To act upon the reason
which induces the consolidation OF State power by
election by general ticket by State Legislature
is al 10 throw 10 the wind all hope OF Conven-
ton. IL the Convention is 10 be arena where en-
emies are TO meet 10 mighty contest Tor mastery
and power the fact that Is voluntary Kills the Con
sention. Who that is weak will voluntarily put him
self in the power Of enemies powerful who are
intent aggrandizing themselves, by his subsection
aud runi The reasons, therefore, for adopting the
general ticket system, or appointing electors by The
State Legislatures, not german TO the orgaDiza-
ton Of a National Convention
2. The object Of consolidating the strength Of a
State by elec,ng electors by general ticket BY State
Legislature is 10 throw its whole power 10 favor oi
one favorile individual for the Presidential Office.
The object of National Convention, is not 10 elect
any particular individual. On all hands this 10 dis
claimed. Its object is, to produce unanmity ia 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 suppressiDg
these preferences IN all those States which do moi
agree with the ma ority in the Convention. Let il
would be ovcrrued at all evenls--and therefore, IN
surrenderng their preferences in the Convention they
make no sacrifice. This is not The Constitution
requires that in the electoral colleges the President
shall receive majority Of all the votes cast in the
Union. A plurality does not elect IL majority is
not cast for OF the cand dates the three highest
go into the House Of Representatives, and that body
poing by States elects TIE President I the States in
the electoral colleges, carry out simply their prefer
ences, uncontrolled by the action of Convention, no
oil hn and a. al,
into the House Of Repres natives those who may
be minority IN the Convention, may be in an over
wheming majority IN the House. Five of the larger
States, may, in the Convention, dictate the nomna-
ton but in the House of Representatives il requires
fifteen 81 ties 10 elect the President.
hose who make the majority in a Convention may
thus in the final election Of the President be in a
wretched minority OF one TO five. The surrender OF
preferences therefore, in National Convention, is
positive sacrfce--tbc sacrifice it may be of the
Presi entail 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 10 be fatal to any argument from analogy be-
tween the consolidated action of the electoral collie
ges in the States, and National Conventon
g. But look TO the result contemplated and openly
avowed, by National Convention. II is to prevent
the contingency provided for in the constitution, OF
the election gong into the House OF Representatives
The most successful method of carrying on the Pre-
concerned, would be, TO permit each State and
ton to the man who with them is the most popu-
lar NORTH east west and SOUTH lei that man be voted
for who can carry ST strength TO 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 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 at no cleo
ton be made IN the Electoral Colleges; and the
ala tt into fbaH IF Pom
resentati'es, to your immense advantage. You will
them according to the clear provisions OF the Const
tuition, be equal m power TO the larger States and
consequently will make the President Now come
into convention with US, by which this constltu-
tiona advantage you possess, may be put aside for
our b neft 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 we do not preier-whilst do thus surren-
der prelerences-surrender the advantages Of an
equal vote in the House of Representatives,-sur-
render in fact the Presidential Office ITSELF let at
least amidst all these concessions, have the coDsola
ton OF producing patriotic well as selfsacrifcDg
result. Let us believe that IRE yielding TO the
voice of the people, fairly and clearly expressed in
manner Of representation known and daily practsed
amongst them. Let us not by the Conye ltion, be
"bubbed" out OF our preferences and right, by re-
presentation no: from the people by which the voice
Of thousands and tens of thousands Of party
will be suppressed and the rod Of political Juggers
and unprinc Piled control and them How
ever weak aud humble, you ought not to require this
Of us, and we ought not to submit to it. Is not
this fair and reasonable and lust and ought
not its requests TO be granted But suppose, in
stead of prompt, cheerful and friendly compli.
ance, the larger States should reply something
after this fashion. 9" We perceive, mischief in you
You certainly design TO break up and overthrow
the Democratic party for you know such propositions
will be conceded We will do as we please in
the matter of Representation, and will take it
shall be so arranged that power in the Conyen-
ton shall be entirely consolidated and the opinions and
feelings OF every man within our limits in congeni-
atty sympathy with yours shall be utterly sup
pressed. We will neither act upon the principle Of
State sovereignty, nor the principle Of the popular
will. Neither viii answer purpose but we will
have a hybrid combination Of the two principles ex-
actly suited 10 give US in the Convention, the mastery
over you. We will act and vote by States but al
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 vote
as his constituents desire, but ma ory 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 State ~
IL 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 dderent-the object ana re-
suit contemplated are different. Yet, we by no
means indulge the expectation, that If the differences
thousand times multiplied anaogies could not
be seen, amply sufficient 10 make good the preten-
sion Of the larger States, TO control the Presdena
election. The affected disdhin of amenably to
other States-the refusal TO assent 10 any common
systep OF representation; their steadfast opposition
10 that mode which man deny, is the most ef-
fectual, to carry up the popular will 10 the Conven-
ton-ther forced analoges, and shallow sophstries,
all the usual devices Of power seeking conques,
writer in the Richmond Enquirer, described as dis.
tinguishod member Of the late Virginia Convention,
concluded his review Of the position Of the South
Carolina Convention, by saying Ills il better, that
the people-a fair majority OF the popular principle,
should elect Executive power, or that a minor faction
should be enabled TO embarrass and defeat the udg-