Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-08-05
Sketch of the Remarks Of Mr.. Lakin.

In the Senate upon an amendment propo-
sed by him to the bill providing for Presi-
Dental Electors. 1t was proposed to in
sert an additional section TO stand as section
two, as follows:
@ Sec. g. Said electors shall he elected
in single districts, and for the purposes OF
the ensuing election the counties of
shall constitute the first electoral dis
trict The counties Of
shall constitute the second electoral district.
The counties of shall con
stitute the third electoral district. The
counties Of shall constitute
the fourth electoral district.
Each Of said districts shall be entitled to
To one elector."
Mr.. The time has arrived
it has begun TO be conceded that minoriIles
have some rights, and are emitted To pro
portiouahIe representation in the election OF
all officers, as well as in all other OF the nj
fairs Of government. assume for my po-
sition, a principle, which none here dare
deny, however repugnant 1t may be 10 their
illibera natures, that pure Ienoeracy,
wherein the people meet aud enact their
own laws, is the most liberal aud perfect OF
human governments. In nation embracing
large extent of Territory, as does ours,
this is not practicable, and hence arises the
necessity of delegatng power, for the time
being, to few, for the purpose of enacting,
and administering the laws.
Our national government, as well as that
of the several states, is formed upon the
Representative plan, and when they were
formed they were doubtless supposed to be
as liberal and democratic as the nature of
their several cases would admit of. The
constitution of The United States was fra
med mt a comparatively remote period. ~
that time, Republican system was an ex-
pertinent, which many patriots and wise
men were slow to hazard. IL IS well known
that there were many who were IN favor Of
the senators of the United States holding
their offices during life, and Of framing that
branch of Congress upon the basis of the
British House of Lords No evil intention
is to lie attributed to them, on account of such
things, but it Is too plain TO be Disguised that
much of IIibernlity, Of monarchy--of Fed
eraLisa found it, way into that grand mas
ter-piece of human wisdom, called the CON
stitntion of the United States. Among these,
and that too not the least, is the Executive
veto power, that most tyrannical, dcspotic,
finds its warmest advocates IN the present
Dominant party IN this nation. II j. well
known that the Wings have ever been con
tending against executive usurpatiOns, and
for Wrestling from that department, much
Of the authority which it has claimed the
right of exercising If a pure democracy he
inpracticahIe, "a Of course il is, in this wide
extended country, il becomes Us, IN all of orr
elections, to approximate rs nearly 10 that
principle as it is possible 10 do. For this
purpose it i necessary To bring the office
holder, or the person who j. delegated 10
act for the mass, ~ near 10 the voters, and
the ballot box "a may be. II would be a
glorious thing, If every legal voter in the
United States could directly exercise the
right Of suffrage in the election of President
and Vice President Of these United States,
instead of the present mode Of electlns
through the intervention Of electors. ] would
also much rather that senators were elected
by direct vote of the people, than by eau
cusing Log-roLLing Legislature. The con
siitutiOn does not admit Of this, and that is
the only objection in my mind, against IL
Yet there are doubtless many here, who are
among the advocates Of the pefo power,
who will think of many rise and SubsfgniiaL
objections to this tchiggish doctrine. Il will
not be at an surprising, If such members Of
this Honorable body should oppose this
Ny doctrine is 10 be as Fiber
al, a. temperate ~ the constitution If the
United States will allow ~ 10 be. Wiilany
senator attempt 10 show, or even hazard
the declaration, that this amendment = 10
any wise opposed 10 that constitution: No