Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-02-08

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would ~ not DO unair-a palpable want of rood |
iaith and subycrsive of the compromise OF The
constitution 10 withhold it! Or, il demanded. |
Wouiu IL De short OF an insult 10 refuse III Can
~ oe thought that the smaller States are so de- |
oaseu and absorbed in the party politics of the |
oay, as to permit themselves to be thus Indirectly
stripped OF right, which their HIGH minded and |
patriotic ancestors held so DEAR as even to prefer
me loss oi the Constitution ITSELF rather than sur
render it.
object Then, TO the proposed Convention, in |
'niS conhecuon, because ii makes no compensa.
oh 10 The smaller States for the surrender of this
unqus suonaOIe and important constitutional right
instead oil that, Its advocates peremptorily and
Indignantly refuse any. and treat with scorn every
attempt 10 secure it. Some have even gone so
,ar' us 10 ueny, that the eventual choice Of the
itousc constitutes any portion Of the election. and
TO manifest open hostility against the provision
oil the Constitution which contains it.
Al mere was no other objection. the one under
consideration would be insuperabe with me- I
diiier utterly from the advocates of the proposed
convention, In reference to this provision. | re-
CARA IL as one oil the first Importance not because
desire the election TO 90 into the House, bu, be-
cause believe IT To be an Indispensable means
| IN The hands OF the smaller States of PRESERVING
! ther Just and constitutional weight in the nresi-
Dental election, and, through that i'm the Execu
i've department and the Government itself
which believe to be essential TO the preservation
OF our sublime federal system. regard the add
Ius'neht oil The relative weight of the States i'm
! me government TO be the Fundamental compro-
mise OF the Constitution, and that on which our
who're Poiliical system depends. Its adjustmen,
constituted the great difficulty in forming the
! Constitution. The principle on which it was f.
nary eHected was, that, while due concession
should DC made to populations, provision should
DE also made in some form, to preserve the ori.
gc"di equality OF the States in every department
OF The Government. The principle was easily
carried out In constituting the Legislative depart
"'eht' oy preserving the equality of the States i'm
one branch, (the Senate) and concedipu TO M
pulaiion its full preponderance i'm the other. But
me great and difficult task of reducing il to prac-
,ico, was In the Executive Department, at the
neau Oh which there is but single officer. So
ed' was IL, that 1t occupied the attention of the
Oo".eh''oh, from time to time, during the whole
sessions ana was very near causing failure AT
'"s.. 1T would have been an easy task 10 consti
'u'e mat department, either on the principle of
'ne eIuallty oil the States in the Government, or
'na' OF population. TO combine the two, in the
etrc"on oil single officer, was quite ii difficult
analr; but, however difficult, it had To be perform-
ca, at the hazard OF losing the Constitution
IL was finally accomplished, by giving to the
'"iSei states nearly the same preponderance in
.he electoral college, as they have in the House,
ana TO The smaller, In the event of choice by
me house, the same equality they possess i'm The
/ Senate; thus following closely the ANALOGY or
'he Legislative Department. To make it as ciose
"s possible, 1t was at first proposed 10 give the
eventual choice 10 the Senate, instead of the
rouse, out IL was altered and the present provi-
s'o" duopted, Tor reasons which did no, affect The
J principle. "
| IL was believed by the trainers, the practical
operation OF lie provision would be that hr cleo
."'a' coIieSe In which the influence OF the iaruer
states preponderates, would nominate, and tina,
me House voting by States, where their eouaIitv
is preserved would elect who should he the Pc
s'dent 10 give ii that operation in practice. the
provision, as 1t originally stood in the Consii,u
tion' was that each elector should vote for two
mn mn, iouais without discriminating which should
De PRESIDENT or Vice President and if no one had
majority OF the whole votes, then out of the
iiVe highest, the House voting by States, should
eiecl one, and the person not elected, having the
nighest number of votes, should be the Vice
iiesiueht. III has been Since altered, SO that the
electofs should designate which should be Presi-
aent, and which Vice President, and the selec-
'ioh oil TIE House was limited to the three hi h.
est. II IS manifest, that If this provision of The
0ohs'itu'ior. had been left to operate by itself,
"H'oul the Intervention of caucusses, or party
conventions between the people and the election
.lIHI ,he practical operation would have been such
as nave stated and such as was clearly intended
oy inc trainers of the Constitution
lie OBJECT intended is important. The preser-
a'i % me relative weight of the States, as es-
laOIIshed by the Constitution in all the Depart |
ments, is necessary TO the success and duration
oi our system OF Government; but it NAV be
doubted, whether the provision adopted to effect
II In the Executive Department. is not too refined
oi ''ie strong, and may add, corrupt passions |
Which Inc Presidential elections will ever excite |
Nci,aih IL is that if the practice OF NOMINATING
cahdi dates for the Presidency, by Conventions,
constituted as they proposed, shall become the |
'shed usage 1t Will utterly defeat the intcn-
tIon al the trainers of the Constitution. and wouId
DC followed by radical and dangerous chance. (
no' only In the Executive Department, bu. in the
Government itself.
ihiS danger was early foresecn. and TO avoid
II, some OF the wisest and most eyperienced
statesmen OF former days so strongly objected 10 |
congressional caucusSes to nominate candidates
lot me Presidency, that they never could be in
Guceu TO attend them among these it will be suf-
lucent lucent 10 name Mr.. Macon and Mr. owndes-{
a,i,'',;' oeheVihg mat this provision of the Con-
su'u'lon was too refined for practice, were soil
c''ous to amend it, but without imparinr the in
n"ehce oil the smaller States in the election -
Among THESE, rank myself. With that object.
resolutions were introduced, in 1928 i'm the Sc.
n Mn Dy COL benton, and in the House by Mr. |
nILD June providing for dlstriciing the States,
ana lor referring the election back 10 the people
r. case mere Should be no choice to elect one
Win me Two highest candidates. The principle
10 give governed IN The amendment proposed was
for The snnr compensation TO the smaller States
tnal choice bjer of their advantage in the even
make the mode House and at the same time to
strictly in conformity r ,';'% inc PRESIDENT more
! ruption. than The eTis,;n be less liable 10 cor
ceived the GENERAL sr,saS provision They re-
| objected to by few, as not bee party Dnt were
lent to The smaller States. The Df iuii equiva-
Geo. Is Identical with that which vtP'e e"lora-
J 10 constitute the Baltimore Convention proposed
mas been so dictatorialIy objected IN hy Whlch
VINO 'hen TOOK so prominent part hits vTre'
u you nave not succeeded. there is at Iqast souc
consolation IN refeclng that if others hals since
] o., W her d.