Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-02-10

should be so constituted as TO give to each
State, in the nomination ola candidate the
same relative weight, which The constitu-
ton secures to il in the election of the
President, making due allowance for its
relative party strength. BY the election |
mean the whole-the eventual choice when
il goes into the House Of Representatives,
as we'll as the primary vote in the electo-
rial college.
The one is as much pnrt Of the elec-
ton as the other, the two make the whole.
The adoption of the one in the convention
which framed the constitution, depended
on the adoption of the other. Neither
could possibly be adopted alone. The two
were tho result of compromise between
the larger and smaller states, after long
and doubtful struggle, which threatened
the loss of the constitution ITSELF The OBJ
ject of giving 10 the smaller States an
equality with the larger in the eventual
choice Of the house, was TO counterpoise
he preponderance of the larger in the
eiec torai college. Without this the small.
CIR would have voted against the whole
provision, and lis rejection would have
been the consequence. Even as 1t stands,
Delaware voted against it. in conhrnia-
ton of what | state. refer to Mr.. m2dI-
sons report of the proceedings of the con-
vention. Having stated what | mean by
the election, it will require but few words
TO explain my reasons for the principles |
have laid down. They are few and sim
pie and rest on the ground, that the nomi-
nation is in reality the election if concur
red in, as far as the party is concerned
1t is so intended to be. The leading rea-
son assigned for making it is 10 prevent
division of the party, and thereby prevent
the election from going into the house,
where the smaller states would have the
advantage intended to be secured to them
by the convention, by being placed on an
equality with the larger. Such being the
intended object and effect, now submit to
every candid mind, whether the conven-
ton ought not 10 be so constituted as to
compensate in the nomination for the inn
porant advantage in the election, which
the smaller States would surrender by 90.
ing into a convention? Would it not be
unfair, palpable want of good faith and
subversive of the compromise Of the con-
sttntion TO withhold ii? Or, if demanded,
would il be short of an insult 10 refuse il?
Can it be thought that the smaller States
are so debased and absorbed in the party
politics of the day, as 10 permit them
selves to be indirectly stripped of right,
which their high minded and patriotic an
cestors held so dear, as even to prefer
the loss of the constitution itself, rather
than surrender it. object then to the
proposed convention in this connection,
because it makes no compensation to the
smaller States for the surrender of this I'M
questionable and important constitutional
right. Instead of that its advocates per-
emptorily and Indignantly refuse any, and
treat with scorn every attempt to secure
It. Some have gone even SO far, as TO
deny that the eventual choice of the house
constitutes any portion Of the election,
and to manifest open hostility against the
provision Of the constitution which con.
tains j.!
If there was no other objection, the one
under consideration would be insuperable
with me. differ utterly from the advo.
Gates Of the proposed Convention in refer
encc to this provision. regard i, as one
OF the hrSt Importance, not because | de-
sire the election TO 90 into the House, but
because believe it to be an indispensable
means, in the hands of the smaller States,
OF preserving their just and constitutional
weight in the Presidential election, and
through that, in the Executive Department
and the Government itself, which believe
10 be essential to the preservation OF our
sublime federal system. regard the ad. |
lustment ofthe relative weight of the States
in the Government to be the fundamental
compromise of the Constitution, and that
on which our whole political system de-
ponds. Its adjustment constituted the great
difficulty in forming the Constitution. The
principle on which it was finally effected
was that, while due concession should be
made to population, provision should be
also made, in some form, to preserve the
original equality of the States in every de-
partment of the Government. The prin.
ciple was easily carried out in consulting
the Legislative department, by preserving
the quality of the States in one branch
(the Senate,) and conceding to population
its full preponderance in the other. But
the great and difficult task of reducing it
to practice was in the Executive depart
ment, at the head of which there is but
single officer. So great was it that it &C.
cupied that 1t occupied the attention of the
Convention from time 10 time, during the
whole session, and was very near causing
failure at last. 1t would have been an |
easy task to constitute that dep rtment
either on the principle of the equality of