Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-30

teCt Ot ticCttOtl anu Sudiu against TUE e.
wills of vacancy, a secondary mode is
provided: an election Of some one Of the
candidates, previously voted for, by the
single, equal voice of each State, announ-
ced by its Representatives in Congress.
This secondary mode is almost in entire
conflict with the FIRST. The certainty of
securing an election in this latter mode,
constitutes its chief recommendation =
And doubtless the trainers Of the Con-
stitution considered the advantage Of
having a President, Of greater weight.
than the. objections tn the mode, and
preferable To the hazard of consequences
which might flow from au entire failure
to ill the Executive chair. Even in this
mode, however, the Trainers Of the Con-
stitution did not wholly abandon the j.
dea Of an election according TO the pre-
valing sense Of the People. They COM
nit 10 the House of Representatives all
the materials Of the first unsuccessful eff
fort by the colleges. and restrict tie
choice to one formerly Of the five high
est Of the three highest on the list. BY
this mode, an individual NAV be .prorao-
ted to this eminent station, who. accnr-
ding to the evidence IF the electoral COL
leses, possesses small share Of the pop
uar confidence. in converting the
House OF Representatives into college
of electors, and prescribing the narrow
extent of its vote, the basis OF its organl-
cation is disregarded, and its mode Of
action wholly changed.
The Limitation to one Of the three high
est on the list of candidates, affords ne
satisfactory assurance that the sense of
the people will prevail in the choice;
and experience proves. that an election
thus made may be fepusnant to their
will. The primary mode has always
been preferred and advocated by the
Democratic State Rights Republicans
The great civil revelation which effected
the election Of Thomas Jefferson, and
secured the ascendancy Of Republican
principles and doctrines. was signa}IZed
by the adoption Of an amendment to the
Consultation in relation to the election
Of President and Vice President. The
amendment recommended, and subse-
quently adopted, was sustained and car
RED by the vote Of the Republican party
in the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives. and was vehemently opposed in
hoth>by the Federal party. The object
of the amendment was the more certain
ly to secure the election of both officers
by the popular vote. and to prevent the
choice OF either from devolving on the
Senate Or House Of representatives.. =
This amendment, ratified and adopted
by three-fourths of the States. and con-
shutting part OF the Constitution, re-
qnlres the electors to designate for whom
they vote for President. and for whom
for Vice President. The want Of such
designation produced in the House of
! Representatives the memorable contest
between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron
+ Burr. Jefferson and Burr were indis-
crininateIy elected, according TO the eX-
| rsfing provision of the Constitution, and
without designation Of office; and yet it
was Notorious throuhgout the Union, that
the former was desired far President,
and the latter for Vice President
The Constitution. precluding a formal
! Shftf CSSlOD III SuCu h'Si y
theory, in opposition to well known fact,
left this preference matter OF Doubt
( Political honesty required of the House
of Representatives conformity of the
votes, to be given, to the we'll under
stood intentions of the Electors, and the
emphatic wish Of the People. The at
tempt to fost Aaron Burr into the Pres
idency. BY the Federalists, was loudly
and solemnly condemned by the Ameri
can public Moral .treachery 80 the
popular will. sought in vain for a justlh-
( cation under theoretical subterfuge.-
1t is true, that the constitutional power
existed to select Mr.. Burr; but the Con
stltution did not enioin such preference,
and the popular voice did not require 1t.
It is equally true. that the constitutional
privilege existed of declining to vote for
Mr.. Burr, and of giving the preference
to Mr.. Jefferson, as desired by the peo-
pie. and accordant with the views of the
wise Trainers of the Constitution, who
thought that SIT was desirable that the
sense of the people should operate in the
choice of the person to'whom so impnr-
tant trust was to be confded." In
such contingency, what ought love o.
the Constitution, respect for the public
/ will. and upright motive TO have dlcta-
tedp .
No good man. no pure prtriot can stu
DIV the history of that eventlul struggle.
without a rising desire to prevent SINH
lar occurrence. and without commencing
the wisdom of the plan of designation in
corporated by Repuhlicanism into the
Constitution. AS part Of the amend
ment. in case the election should, not.
withstanding the designation by the e.
Ieetors. devoive on the House of Repre-
! sentaiives, that body is restricted, IN rs
selection, to the three highest on the
list, instead of FIVE, as formerly. The
1.-TWO provisions together tend greatly tt