The daily union., 1852-07-07
SPEECH OF HON. n. TooMBs.
Il OF GEORGIA,

On tie Presidency, dslipsrsd Ia the House of Representa-
lUes July 3, 1852.
The House being 10 Committee OF the Whole on the
state o the Union, and having under consideration The
Mr.. TOoMBS said !. MIR. Chairman, il is my pur-
pose 10 offer 10 this House, and through them to the
country some considerations touching The approaching
presidential election The task, sir, Is not agreeable
one to The facts and the details are dry and unn-
terestng They become important only 10 reference TO
their connexon with that great event bring to this
dsagreeable duty, sir, resentmens, no anpahles. no
disappointments do not Halter myself that shall
agree in the views which about to submit with any
considerable portion othe gentlemen OF this House. and
probably with not great number elsewhere Therefore,
there is but motive that could induce me to submit
these considerations to the countrytha motive public
duty. tg
The political organization with which have acted for
the last years have declared the final settlement Of
the questions which have agia!ed this country Tor the
last el years In with African slavery m be
paramount to all questions Of policy which have hitherto
divided the two parties in this country concurred
sir, most fully in that declaration II had the approba
ton Of my judgment, and | shall adhere to 1t with
fidelity That organization declared that it would sup
port gentlemen OF any political party, in any part OF
this republic, in The North well as the South who
concurred with them in opinion upon these great and
vital questions.
After this long agitation Of fifteen years, my consu
ents desire epose, security and end to this sectional
strife and they intend 10 get j, il can be had by any
action OF theirs upon the presidential election
In conformity with these views Of local though not
sectional organization, during the last session OF Con
of the other branch OF Congress- representing both
northern and southern States aided by that usirious
statesman whom we have here so recently had TO de-
pore the loss OF, declared that they would support
man for President of the United States who was not
known to be in favor OF the acts OF the last session OF
Congress known the Compromise, and TO discounle
all further agitation upon the subject OF slavery.
approved OF that pledge, too, sometimes called IN dersiop
by lis opponents. 'the mutual insurance company" ]
Of that pledge and intend to adhere to
ton and to my future action with reference 10 this pres
dental election.
There are some facts connected with the election OF
the Chief Magistrate of this Union that deserve to be
noted and deeply considered by the American people
That article OF the constitution which provides Tor this
election has already been practically subverted Within
the first fifteen years OF this government became
cessafy TO amend it. 1t was amended The government
on, from 1859 to 1892, with apparent and, 10
great extent, real conformity TO these constitutional
provisions But from 1882 to this moment on account OF
10 which will advert all real control over the
election of the Chief Magistrate of this country has been
of political antos, calling themselves national conyen
lions II the present be the best policy il ought to be
regulated by law. If il be wise, and safe, and proper
mode of selecting the Chief Magistrate of this great
public, that each political party should NEE, in conven-
toa, and present each one person TO the American
people, and, from those thus selected, the President
should be chosen, then, | say, the constitution ough,
10 be amended, and the details of the plan should be
regulated by law that should have security
thai the President should be real representative not
oi the country, at least OF party You have such
curly And apprehend ii this plan for the amend
mpnt OF the constitution and the election OF the President
was submitted TO the American people, IT would find bat
Few advocates even among the most sturdy friends o
regular nominations" Yet we sand Sir practically,
this day upon that very basis Ii is great TACT in
political history The fac, itself and the by which
has been produced, The instrumenaites which have
been used and the objects Tor which II has been accom-
pshed its effects upon system of government all de-
mand the earnest consideration OF the people.
The constitution provides that "each State shall ap-
point, such the legislature thereof may d
rect, number OF electors equal 10 the whole number of
senators and representatives TO which the State may be
entitled in the Congress- whose duty IL shall be 10 vote
for citizen Tor the presidency OF the United States
and the event that person should get majority OF
such electors then the House Of Representatives voting
by States, shall elect the President.
The trainers OF the constitution intended these electors
10 have real discretion They were intended 10 be
agents OF the people, and not the machines OF conventions
SO much Of the plan looked TO any discretion IN the
electors failed al but the power which the electors
lost fell into The hands OF its rgbtful ownersbe people
With this modihcaion the constitutional plan was stead
lily and successfully pursued, unaded and unconr Oiled
except by the lawful agents OF the people, from the
beginning oi The government until 1896. Under this
system the presidential chair was filled by ripe statesmen
and tried patriots II necessarily resulted from the mode
OF selection that oil excluded from the competition
except those who had great experience public affairs and
who had distinguished themselves, and commended them
selves TO the people by virue wisdom and patriotic
vices 10 the country Such men had no need OF hired
biographers and vensl leiter-wrers to inform the
public questions They needed no interpreters of letters
10 The public cunningy contrved TO mystfy what they
pretended to elucidae This system promoted the pub
lie welfare and under it grew great, and prosperous
and happy. But did not suit that class OF people who
prefer their own to the public interest These the
inventors and architects OF national conventions They
were contvances 10 the popular support TO those
who had not and not entitled 10 popular confidence
The power OF association invoked sublugate free
individual opinion. What has been the result The
ancient republican mode of selection gave you Washing
ton, the elder Adams, Jefferson Madison, Monroe, the
younger Adams, and Jackson all marked men all
tried men who had been identified with The great
actions and ideas OF Their timesa OF them identified
with the civil, and three o them with both the civil and
military history OF the country and who bad illustrated
10 then lives their fitness for the highest trust in the
public before il was conferred upon them
What are the fruits OF your national convention 4
over this subject to these untos They have brought
Sod Van Bpreu--have brought you a Harrison,
Folk, and General Taylor Look upon this picture
and upon that and let the American people determine
which by its utswbich mode commends itself most 10
the appreciation OF this great country mean dispar
agemen 10 any OF these gentlemen All ot them but one
has paid the last debt OF nature, and gone TO their long
account and the who yet survives unfortunately for
himself has survived his reputation. Then We cannot
be SAID TO have gained anything by departure from the
ancient mode ol selection The question is becoming one
OF greater. of still greater importance every day With
the enlargement of the republic with the increase OF ex-
pen,ure, this executive power now promises TO over
shadow all the rest and in truth TO be expected.
That problem has yet been solved IN this or any
other country which proposes TO make an Executive
strong enough to be useful, yet weak enough TO be
safe -Nf#H
Impotence or omnipotence seems to be its inevitable
destiny. England alone OF all modern naons seems to
have learned and prohted by this great lesson. Happily
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