The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-03-01
TIle nrncmdnaent Of the CoIIstitIltiOn


Thc amendment OF the Constitution
A special committee has been appointed 70
consider and report upon the expedIency Oh al
amendment of the constitution OF the Unlteu
States. This is subject we approach with al
that Difference which is due from the experience
of the present to the wisdom Of the past. Inc
constitution of the United States embodies the
wisest statesmanship of the age, which the ira
mers of that instrument consecrated by the de-
voion of g their lives their fortunes, and their
sacred honor to the great cause Of human hD-
erty. As an original system OF government,
defined by prescriptive rules, il stands unparal-
leed liz the history of the world. And its won
derful efficiency and power are only equailed by
Its remarkable adaptation TO the expansive
growth of this young and vigorous nation
| Nevertheless, il Is not to be inferred that the
best sy stem of government that could possibly
be devised, under one class of circumstances, is
not susceptible of Improvement under the ex-
perience of another. Hence we find that the
constitution of the United States has been mod
flied, changed and "anended," at the suggestion
of current experience, heretofore. Twelve arti-
cles of amendment now appended to the
AAAS'eSS3
some notifications of the original mode of elec-
ting the President and Vice President of the u
States.
la the original, however, as in the amendment
the electoral college constitutes the primary fea
ture of the system, and it has continued up to
the present time, always involving more or less
involuntary personal subsection of the people to
artificial political influences. Such influences
exered through the machinery of party, are, of
course, not TO be counteraeted by any constitu-
tional provisions. Bnt when an arbitrary fea-
ture of the system imposes upon the people a
cumbersome apparatus, and conpels them to use
it, suspend their suffrage. it effects inuol-
untary subsection to party influence, to which
no man ought to be exposed. 1t is for the cor
rection of this defect, and to bring the choice o
candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presden-
cy directly to the popular vote. that the select
committee of Congress referred to above has
been appointed. The movement was made BY
Mr.. Ewing, of Kentucky, whig, and is credta
bic to his discernment, progressive spirit ant
independence of character. Il is an importan
and liberal proposition, and commends itself tt
popular approval, without respect to party, o
any other division Of the people.
, Mr.. Walbrdge, of New York, democrat, init
mated his purpose to move, that thesselect com
mittee ON the amendment Of the constitution b
also instrue ted TO inquire into the expediency Q
making provisions for the election by the peopl
: Of postmasteTs and collectors of the revenue
: This is another very important and essential pro
: position of reform. 1t is founded in justice,
entirely consistent with propriety, and con
Gorms to the institutions of the country at large
q q The justice ot the measure appears in submittin
+ to the people, from whom the officer is to be Sc
e lected, the choice of the individual. He is thu
D responsible to them for the faithful, coutteou
and efficient performance of his duty, while the
must be faithful to themselves to ensure sucl
a seruice at the hands of the man of their choice
1t is proper, in that il will relieve the Presiden
of great source of perplexity and annoyance, a
!, the same time that it confides the matter to tn
e people, to whom it Justly belongs. Andit con
! forms to the general principle Of the republic
: in devolying upon the people, as much as posi-
e Bile, the selection of public officers and impo
) sing upon such officers direct accountability Il
J, public opinion.
We connot say that we have much confdenc
: in the adoption of the amendments thus propo
: sed to the committeeship on the case. Shoul'
: the committee report favorably, the amendmen
can only be adopted by the consent OF two-third
of both houses of Congress, with the subsequen
ratification q by the Legislatures of three-fourth
of the several States, or by conventions in three
fourths thereof" as Congress may propose
u Nevertheless, the project will induce popula
= consideration of the subject; it will lead to
just perception of the inconsistency of the pres
ent system, and, in the end, the reform thus con
9 templated will beyond doubt be effected
The two things thus proposed have been here
tofore suggested and advocated in the Sun. In
fluential and respectable journals, in other cit
: les in different sections of the Union have dis
! cussed the same topics, and with general appro
] val of the end proposed. Indeed, we have no
yet seen any direct opposition to the project
t Opposition, however. will no doubt arise. Pol
. iticians will discover something at which tc
a take alarm. Some of them will apprehend
a loss of influence, and an abatement Of the means
e by which to cajole and control the people,
y Some will be afraid of the people, as they al
ways are, and desire to adhere TO that machinery
t by which they have been able, heretofore, to eff
feet their purposes, without much regard to the
9 popular will. The proposed measures, however
e contemplate an ampler recognition Of the sub
: stantial independence of the people in their po-
itical relation the officers Of the national gov
) eminent, and therein we find an inAexible argu-
ment for the projected reform.