Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-07-17
OLD DOCUMENTS ARE DANGEROUS THINGS
GOV. JOHNSON AND HIS AsSAILANTS-CoN-
gTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.


As stated in the course Of our article Of yester-
day underthis head our purpose is not to argue for
ourselves or for Gov. Johnson the Propriety OF
amending the Federal Constitution in the manner
referred to, but simply to furnish the country with
some facts of history in connection with this ques-
tion. that will not only eonfound but render ridicu-
lous the constant cry and pretended alarm of the
opposition press the bare fact that Gov. john
sou thought and still thinks, that the Constitution
could be amended in three important particulars
without endangering any thing or any body. We
have shown that Gov. johnson is entitled to the
credit of having first suggested these Improvements
Ia the constitutional law, but that they originated
with jefferson, Madison Macon and the early faith.
ers of the Republic. That they were endorsed,
urged and enforced by the Hon. John Bell, as far
buck as 1927, long before Andrew johnson ever en-
tered public life. We propose next in order to give
the opinions Of
ANDREW JACKSON IN FAVOR OF AMENDING THE CON-
srITUTIoN.
The year after Mr.. Bells famous circular from
which we have previously quoted, President Jack
sOn in his annual Message to Congress, said:
al consider it one of the most urgent of my du-
TIES 10 DTluK 10 your dtteullOu lue pFOpitety vi
amending that part of constitution which relates
TO the election Of president and vice president
Our system of government was by its trainers deem
ed an experiment, and they therefore consistently
provided a mode of remedying its defects
TO the people belongs the right of eleeting their
chief magistrate it was never designed that their
choice should, in any case, be defeated, either by
the intervention of electoral colleges, or by the
agency confded under certain contingencies, TO the
house of representatives. Experience proves that,
in proportion agents to execute the will of the
people multiplied there is danger of their wish
es being frustrated. Some may be uniahful-all
are liable to So far, therefore, The people
with convenience speak, it is safer for them to
express their own will.
The number of aspirants to the presidency, and
the diversity of the interests which may influence
their claims, leave little to expect choice
in the first instance: and in that event. the election
must deyOlye the house of representatives, where,
it is obvious, The will Of the people may always
be ascertHined; or If ascertalned may not be re-
garded From the mode of voting by states, the
choice is to be made by twenty four votes; and it
may often occur that one Of these may be controlled
by an individual representative. HOnOTs and offices
are at the disposal of the successful candidae.-
Repeated ballotings may make 1t apparent that a
single individual holds the cast in his hands. May
he not be tempIed TO name his reward? But even
without corruption-supposing the probity of the
representative TO be proof against the powerful mo-
tiVes by which he may be assailed-the will of the
people is still consistently liable TO be misrepresent
ed One may from ignorance of the wishes Of
his constituents; another from conviction that
ii is his duty 10 be governed by his own judgment
of the fitness Of the candidate; finally, although
all we're inhrXibly hOnest-all accurately Informed
of the wishes of their cOustiluents-yet, under the
present mode OF election, minority may often elect
president; and when this happens, il may reason
ably be expected that efforts will will be made
the part of the majority to rectify this injurious op
Grafton of their institutions. But although evil
of this character should result from such perver
sion Of The first principles Of our system-that the
aag0Tty 10 gOUsrH-it must he very certain that
president eec cd by a minority cannot enjoy the
confidence necessary 10 the successful discharge Of
his duties.
:" In this in all other matters Of public concern
policy requires that few impedimenis possible
should TO the free operation Of the public will
Let us then endeayOr so 10 amend our system, that
the Office OF chief magistrate may not be conferred
upon any citizen but in pursuance Of fair express
sion of the will of the majority.
al would therefore, recommend such an amend
ment of the constitution may remove all iuterme
diate agency in the election Of president and vice
president. The mode may be so regulated as to pre-
each state It's present relative weight IN the
election; and failure ia the first attempt may be
provided for, by combining the second to a choice
between the twO highest candidates. In cOnnexion
with such an amendment, 1t would seem advisable
10 limit the service Of the chief magistrate TO sin
Rle term OF ellueT Jour OF SIX years IL, uOMeNtF
il should not be adopted, it is worthy of considera
tiou whether provision disqu ifying for Office the
representatives IN Congress on whom such an cleo
ton may have devolved, would not be proper"
The foregoing is worthy of a second perusal It
covers the entire ground. It contains good
common sense than all that Know Nothing speakers
aud editors ever have or ever will say on the subject
If Gen. Jackson was living now we suppose they
would denOunce him as demagogue and a radical
and be as much alarmed that such man should be
President. Notwithstanding Gen. jackson was ac-
eording with the views of the Hon. John Bell, and
re-echOing the sentiments of Thomas Jefferson, he
would have shocked the patriotic q sensibilites of
modern Know Nothingism had it existed at that day.
No doubt their prototype, the Federalists, were
equally indignant at these propositions when first
suggested by our republican fathers, well when
recommended at later period by Gen. Jackson.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS TUE TENNESSEE
LEGISLATURE OF 1927
There is no State in the Union so thoroughly COM
mitted to Mr. jefferson idea of amending the Fed
eral constitution in such manner as to elect the
President directly by the people as Tennessee. And
of all of our public it first to have been
advocated by Mr.. Bell After the appearance of
circular, from WHICH we nave previously VuOeu,
the Hon. Aaron v Brown introduced into the Senate
of the Stat, October 1921 of which he was tuen
. member, the following, among other, resolutions
RssolU.d b., The genera Assembly Of The State Of
Tennessee That the Constitution Of the Uni'ed States
should be so amended to give the ele jtiOn Of
President and VicePresident directly and conclusive
" to the people, preserving the present relative
wright of the several States IN the election"
To these resolutions were attached written ar
sument, from which we extract the following:
ain the first place, by giving the election direct
" and exclusively the people, we shall conform
to the fundamental principles Of our government,
which was departed from in the formation of the
constitution, from apprehensons, which ext erience
as far il has gone, proves not to have been well
founded. Another benefit will be that the DEEPEN
deuce of the governor the governed, desirable
70 a republic, will be thus eiiectuay secured
consideration Of equal moment, both as regards the
theory and practice Of our government, is TO be
found IN the fact that an election placed entirely in
the hands of the people, must result in the express
sion of their choice. This viii exclude the formi-
dable evils Of previous cabals, concomItant corrup-
tiop and subsequent resentments. The people VIII
he satisfied with their work, and at succeeding
elections will deliberately confirm or pr"dently cor
rect their former preference
"Besides the people Of the United States are
further advanced in the knowledge Of self govern
mani than thew we're when the Constitution was
adopted; more capable of forming prudent choice,
and Of avoiding those commissions, 10 which a less