The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-02-09

is, that where a State votes as a STATE, D.
a majority of its Delegates, the votes coun
one, be they few or many, or the STATE
large or small. On the contrary, whers
the votes of all the Delegates are counted
they vote individually and independently
each for himself counting one. And |, u
TO he noted, that wherever this latter mode
of voting exists among eoniederated States
il Is IN all cases founded on compact, Il
which the consent of each Stale is required
10 the absence Of compact, the invarablt
mode OF voting in such States, IS, in all ca
scs, by the majority, their vote counting
one. The course which Virginia has re-
solved to take, is in violation of this plan
and fundamental rule, and IT it should be-
come settled practice, would be desiruc
tive of the foundation on which the wholt
structure of the State Right doctrine il
reared.
hold, ia the next place, TO be an indls
pensable principle, that the Convention
should be so constituted, as to give TO each
State, in The nomination OF candidate, the
same relative weight, which the Cons,ilu
ton secures to il in the election of the Pre-
sident, making due allowance for lis rela
tive party strength. By the election,
mean the whole-the eventual choice when
il goes INTO The House Of Representatives,
as well as the primary vote in the electoral
college. The one ls as much part OF the
election 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 we're the result Of compromise be.
tween the larger and smaller States, after
a long and doubtful struggle, which threat
ened the loss of the Constitution Itself
The object of giving to the smaller States
an equality with the larger, 10 the eventual
choice BY The House, was TO counierpolse
the preponderunce OF the larger IN the cleo
total college. Without this, the smaller
would have voted against The whole proyl.
sion, and its rejection would have been the
consequence. Even as il stands, Delaware
voted agaIns! il. 10 conformation Of what
| state, refer to Mr.. Madison's report on
the proceedings Of The Convention.
Having stated what | mean by the cleo
ton, II will require but few words TO ex-
PLAIN my reasons for the principles have
laid down. They are few aud simple, and
rest ca The ground, that the nomination is
10 reality the election, II coucurred IN, as
ar as the party is concerned. Ii Is so IN. (
ended to be. The leading reason assigned
or making II, IS 10 prevent division OF The .
,arty, and thereby prevent The election from
,oing into The House, where the smaller
States would have the advantage intended
10 be secured TO them by the ConstItu-
ton, by being placed on an equality With
the larger.
Such being the Intended object and effect,
| now submit TO every candid mind, wheth
or The Convention ought no. TO be so con.
slituted, as TO compensate IN the nomination
Tor the Important advantage IN The election,
which the smaller States surrender by 90
ing into a Convention Would it not be
unfair-a palpable want Of good faith and
subversiye Of the compromise Of the Con
sliiution 10 withhold il Or, if demanded,
would ii be short OF an insult 10 refuse i,
Can i, be thought, lba, the smaller States
are SO debased and absorbed in the party
politics of the day, as to permit themselves
10 be thus indirectly stripped cl q right,
which their nigh minded and patriotic au-
cestors held SO dear, as even to prefer the
loss of the Constitution Itself, rather than
surrender il.
| oti"ct, then, 10 the proposed Conyen.
ton, 10 this connection, because II makes
no compensation to the smaller States for
the surrender of this unquestIonable aud
important constitutional right. Instead OF
that, lis advocates peremptorily and lndlg.
naDtly refuse any, and treat with scorn eve.
ny attempt to secure it. Some have even
gone so far, as to deny, that the eventual
choice Of the House constitutes any portion
Of the election, and TO manifest open hos
tiIiiy agains. the provision OF the Coustitu
ton, which contains it.
IL 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.
ence 10 this provision. regard il as one
Of the first importance, not because desire
the election TO 90 into the House, but be.
cause believe It 10 be an indispensable
means, in the hands Of the smaller States
Of preserving their just and constitutional
weight 10 the Presidential election, anC
through that, 10 the Executive Department
and the Government itself, which | believe
TO be essential TO the preservation of oul
sublime federal system. regard the ad
lusineni Of the relative weight of the States
N the Government TO DO the Fundamental
'-.t.-e...lea az fha Gepsii ,niinn and thai on
which our whole POLITICAL system depends
LIS adjustment constituted the great diff
Guilty 10 forming CSps,itulion. Thu
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