The North-Carolina standard., 1843-11-01

lue eltC6Ou Ol Iu6 u6I68dI6S nome 10 the OeO-
| pie, and giving free expression and representa-
ton of the opinions of the minority, and its adapt
alton to bring out full and fair expression OF
the public will. The plan has, accordingly re.
ceived the sanction and appreciation of the New
England and all the other States which have vet
pronounced their opinion, except Pennsylvania
Georgia can hardly be considered an exception,
as it adopted the general ticket from necessity,
there being no congressional districts laid off 1t
will probably be adopted by great majority, if
not all the rest of the States
The second system has been distinctly adopted
! by Pennsylvania only, being considered anti-Dc-
mocratic inasmuch as 1t takes the election of the
delegates to the Convention from the people, and
transfers it TO a body removed from them, and
therefore liable to be controlled by selfish and in
tri9uing politicians and because it destroys the
just influence of the smaller States while on the
contrary the district system with the per capita,
or independent individual voting, just and equal
to ALL and while tits essential for the preservation
of the rights of the smaller States cannot possibly
injure the large.
The third plan has been adopted by Virginia
only, and as her example has been followed by
none it is probable that seeing the election by dis
trict and voting per capita adopted by nearly all
the other States it will adopt them also after ma
ture reflection, and from magnanimous spirit of
concihation
AO SCuCkdI tNhSL SyStCIhSOI dppOIdIluS
delegates and of voting has been advocated by
several highly respectable journals in New York,
as well as some of her leading and influential po-
itcians, and therefore, entities it to respectful con-
sderation in comparison with the Mary land plan.
A nomination of candidates for the Presidency
and Vice-presidency by National Convention is
proceeding, it is hardly necessary to say, un-
known to the Constitution, and, if acauesced In,
substitute, so far as party is concerned, for an
nI4
of the Constitution, the spirit of the Constitution,
SO far as practicable, should dictate the mode of
the election and action of the delegates in Con
vention. The great commentary on the Consti-
tuition, which led to its adoption, by Madison
Hamilton, and Jay, the first being the principal
writer, leaves no doubt that it was intended by its
trainers that the choice ofthe President and Vice
president should be in conformity with the will OF the
Union, without giving the States any distinct and
separate influence except so far as to add to the
nuInber of electors to which each State from IT'S
federal numbers was entitled combining to this
extent, and no farther the federal with the popu-
lar principle That such was their intention IS
proved by the express declaration to that effect IN
the commentary of those great men, In the 0Sth
number, they say Kit was desirable that the sense
Of the people should operate in the choice of the
person to whom SO important trust was to be
confded This end will be answered by COM
tabtished body. but to men chosen By the peopIe
for The special pxrpose and al the particular
conjuncture" Again 'they have referred t' 0he
election OF the Presilrnt) sin the first instance TO
an immediate act Of the people Of America, to be
ercrtcd IN the choice Of persons for the temporary
and sole purpose of making The appointment" -
That it was their intention that the voice of the
people should prevail in the presidential election.
is farther proved by the early practice, which it is
believed was general, of choosing electors by dis
tricts 1t is proved, moreover by the mode of vo-
ting per capita being prescribed by the Constitu-
tion, which implies that each individual elector
shall have an independent voice; for as voting
per capita is the corollary of district election, so
It is evidence that election by separate districts
was in the contemplation of those who pre-
scribed that mode OF voting which, without dis
trict election, would be nugatory Finally, it is
proved beyond all doubt that it was the intention
of the Constitution that the election of President
should not be bV States in the first instance mas
much as it provides expressly that it should be by
States in the last resort, each giving one cote as
equal sovercigns in default of election by the |
people
Such is, undoubtedly, the spirit of the Consti- |
ution and the intention of its trainers, who Let II
o the States to prescribe the mode of electing the
presidential electors, in the expectation, no doubt
hat, in the exercise of this power they would full
IL the intention of the Constitution; but this pow
,r has been abused by both parties to promote
heir respective views against each other; and
he adoption of the general ticket system by |
majority of the States, left option to the rest
,ut to adopt it also, or lose all influence in the
election The necessary effect of this has been
O diminish the direct influence of the people
n the choice Of. electors, and to throw it INTO
he hands of political managers in each OF the
States. Congress perceiving this to- be the ten
Icncy of the general ticket system IN the cleo
ion of its members, has provided by law for the
district system in future and it is to be hoped that
he people viii call so loudly for the restoration
# the Constitution to its original meaning as to
,ring about uniform mode of choosing electors
# President and Vice-president by district: 1
But the people, in the selection of their dele
rates to National Conuention, are, fortunate
v. trammelled by no laws prescribing the gene
al ticket and it is their duty as well as right /
reject the general ticket system, so destructive
# their own influence, and so irFeconclabe to +
he snirit of the Constitution, and adopt the origin
i nractice under it ofchoosing electors by district,
md applv it to the election of delegates tothe
National Convention.
From the above remarks it will be seen that,
houoh the general ticket or State system is all
owed bv the letter of the Constitution, it has
,een adopted for party purposes in their conflicts
or the mastery, in contravention OF its spirit
hat the district system of election, on the contra