The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-27

The PRESIDENTIAL ELEcrIoS-The South
ern Press OF Washington is out in favorl Of
electng the next President in the House of Re-
representatives.. We are glad to perceive such de-
sign avowed and frankly justified on the grounds
which are without disguise. This is far better
than an attempt to accomplish by coalitions or
stratagem the same object indirectly
An attempt systematically to defeat the cleo
tion OF a President by the people, for the pur-
pose OF devolving it upon the House Of Repre-
sentatves, is totally ndefensible It must lead
to faction and corruption, and to entice on dis
regard of principles. 1t substantially places
the election of President in the hands of two
or three great leaders. 1t would destroy the
landmarks between the two great parties which
have always, much to the benefit of the country,
hitherto existed, and substitute in their place,
for period, the personal predictions of fac
tons. The premature expression of desire
for such an event, will effectually defeat its oc-
currence. The election of President has de-
volved upon the House of Representatives but
twice since the origin of the Government. On
each Of those occasions, the country was fear
| fully convulsed This is no period to try the
strength of this Government by repetition Of
the experiment. The only safety of the South
at this crisis, is to be found in tile election of
sound Union Democrat, whose high personal
honor, and moral ntrepidity, and decision of
character, will afford her sure guarantees that
the Constitution will be maintained and protect
ed in all its vigor and in its pristine virtue.
-Nero York Globe
The Globe says that "an attempt systemat-
caly to defeat the election of President by the
people, for the purpose of devolvng it upon the
House of Representatives is totally indefensible"
There is no such thing known to our Const-
tuition as the election of President by the people
The mode prescribed is, to elect electors by the
people of the districts. If there are not ma
jority Of the electors, in enough of the States to
give n majority of all the districts for one can
didate, then the election goes to the House,
where each State has one vote, and majority
of all the States, is required to elect one of the
three highest candidates.
Any attempt systematically, to defeat the cleo
ton by the States in Congress, is totally indie
, fensible, and national convention is the most
systematically comprehensive attempt to accom-
plish that object that could be devised.
The election of President was in the Conven.
ton of 1889, measure in which the federative
and consultative principles of our system, came
into conflict, and compromise was made, Civ
| ing the election, or rather the selection from
three candidates, to the States on the federative
principle. And any scheme or combination to
prevent the election from going to the House, is
a violation of that compromise, and is indefen-
sible As for the pretence that such a mode of
selection "must lead to faction and corruption"
1t is unfounded-the attempts to defeat it hare
led to both. As for destroying " the land marks
between the two great parties" that would be a
good thing, as the existence of two such parties
didate from the three highest by majority OF
the States, instead of being in the hands of two
or three great leaders," would secure the success
of the man having the popular preference more
efectually than any other mode. As the thing
is now done, the man who is nominated by a
national convention, could not generally on his
own merits, receive the vote of third of the
States or the people. But by running more
than two candidates, the people have greater
latitude of choice, and by returning three candi.
dates to the House, give better evidence Of their
preferences, than any national convention can do
The election Of President by the House on
the two occasions IL has occurred, has not con-
vulsed the country so much rs almost every
election has done under The national convention
system If the safety Of the South depends
on the election of sound Union Democrat -
the representatives OF. the Southern people in
Congress will probably be as capable of perceiv-
ing 1t as n national convention, in which North
ern Democrats will have the maiority-Northern
Democrats from Ohio, from New York, and from
Massachusetts, who coalesce with Free-soilers
whenever spells are to be won by the alliance.
Arrival Of Jenny Lind at Charleston.