The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-20

merce in time of peace and as a commanding
military station in the Pacific in times of war
The sovereignty over them, if possessed by the
United States, would supply very essential
desldcratum to the commercial supremacy of
the Pacific"
MR., CALHOUN HIS posTHUmOUs WORK
volume of the expected work of Mr.. Cal
hom has made its appearance The following
is an extract from ii, in which he develops his
plan of amending the Constitution in order to
secure additional guarantees to the South
Z" How the Constitution could best lie modi-
fed, 50 as to effect the object can only be au-
thoritatively determined by the amending pow
er. 1t may be done in various ways. Among
others it might be effected through reorgdn-
iedtiOn Of The EIecufiue department : so that Il,
poreTs, instead Of beng rested as they nor are,
IN SINGLE officer should be rested IN tro 20 be-
~ elected n that the two should be constituted
The special organs and representatives. Of The re-
sPecIre sections m The Erecatire department Of
he, GQrernmeat. aad requiring eaek 10 dp2rocr
ors 'ror,'g1 ,yy,,ot s.-Drsaf
lars. Sne might be charged with the admin
istTation u ria1S6Is connected with the E'rc:s"
relations of the country and the other of such
aswere connected withts domestic institutions
the selection to he decided by lot II would
thus effect more simply, what was intended by
| the original provisions of the Constitution in
giving to one of the majorties composing the
Government II decided preponderance in the
| Electoral College, and to the other majority II
still more decided influence in the eventual
choice-in case the College failed to elect n
President. 1t was intended to effect an equi-
librium between the larger and smaller States
in this department but which, in practice has
entirely failed and by its failure, done much
to disturb the whole system and to bring about
the present dangerous state Of things.
Indeed it may be doubted whether the
trainers of the Constitution did not commit a
great mistake in constituting single instead
of plural Executive. Nay, it may even be
doubted whether n single Chief Magistrate, in
vested with all the powers properly apperta,n-
ing to the Executive department of the Gov
eminent, as is the President is compatible with
the permanencc of popular Government, cs-
pccialy in a wealthy and popuous community,
with large revenue, and n numerous bodyor
officers and employees Certain it is that there
is no instance of popular Government, 30 con
stituted, which has long endured Even ours
thus far. furnishes no evidence limits favor, and
not little against it; for TO it the present "
turbance and dangerous state of things, which
threatens the country with monarchy or dis
union, may be justly attributed On the other
permanence and power had dual Executive.
! refer to those Of Sparta and Of Rome. Tho
former had two hereditary, and the latter two
elective chief magistrates. ID il true that Eng
land, from which ours in this respect is copied,
has n single hereditary head of the Executive
department of her Governments but it il not
less true that she has had many and arduous
struggles to prevent her Chief Magistrate from
becoming absolute and that, to guard against
it cilectually she was finally compelled to Iii
vest him substantially of the power oi admins
tering the Government by transferring itprac-
ticaly to n cabinet of responsible ministers,
who, by established custom cannot hold Office
unless supported by majority OF the two
Houses of Parliament. She has thusssyolded
the danger of the Chief Magistrate Becoming
absolute, and contrivcd to unite, substantially,
u single with aplural Executive, in constituting
that department of her Government We have
no such guard, and can have none such with
out nm entire change in the character Of our
Government and her example of course fur
nishcs no evidence in favor of single Chief
Magistrate in popular form of Government
|
and our own thus far, furnish strong evidence
against it.
But it is objected that plural Executive
necessarily leads to intrigue and discord among
its members, and that it IL inconsistent with
prompt and efficient action This may be true
when they are all elected by the same constitu-
ency and may be a good reason where this is
the case, for prcicrring single Executive, with
all its objections, 10 plural Executive. But
the case is very different where they are elected
by different constituencies, having conflicting
and hostile interests rs would be the fact in
the case under consideration. Here the two
would have to act concurringly in approving
the acts of Congress, and separately in tho
sphere Of their respective departments The
effect in the latter case, would he 10 retain all
| the advantages Of single Executive, as Tar ~
| the administration Of the laws were concerned;
| and, in the former, To insure harmony and con-
| cord between the two sections and, through
them. i'm the Government For, IA no act of
Congress could become a law without the as
sent Of the Chief Magistrates representing both
sections, each in the elections, would choose tn
candidate who in addition to being faithful TO
its interests, would best command the esteem
and confidence of the other section. And thus
| the Presidential elections, instead OF dividing
the Union into hostile geographical parties. the
stronger struggling to enlarge tspowers and the
weaker to defend it, rights-as is now the case
would become the means OF restoring harmony
and concord to the country and the Government
1t would make the Union Union in truth u
bond of mutual affection and brotherhood; and
not n mere connection used by the stronger Us the
instrument Of dominion and aggrandzcment,
and submitted to by the weaker only from the
lingering remains Of former attachment, and
the fading hope Of being able to restore the
Government to what IL was originally intended
to be. blessing TO all.
Such is the disease, and such the cha2ncter
of The only remedy which can reach Il. In
conclusion, there remains 10 be considered
the practical question, Shall it be applied
Shall the only power which can apply it be in
voked for tho purpose
"The responsibility Of answering this solemn
question rests ON the States composing the
stronger section" &c.