Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-04-20
THE PAST THE GREAT TEACHER.
H EXECUTIVE.

EXECUTIVE.
Every mar Of good sense, land there
were many in the Convention of I7S7),
must feel the impossibility Of continuing
an unmixed democratic system OfNatiOn-
al disagreement; and the absolute ne
eessity-if numbers alone and the popu-
lar caprice Of the moment have to be
represented, heard and considered any
whereof combining that representation
within the narrowest limits consistent
with its freedom Of expression, and that
leave it the power OF originating and de
feating measures. Not less viii he feel
the necessity Of providing checks and
CONFERENCE.-The elsewhere, to maintain,
IL il be possible to be done, something
like an equilibrium, and to secure some
thing OF stability and permanence ia
measures and independence in men.
From what we know of the views Of
the leading members of the Convention,
and from the Constitution itself, such
was the prepOnderating opinion Of that
body. They had, at least, studied the
history Of former republics and confed-
eracies we know that from the de-
hates,-not profoundly, but sufficiently
10 know the general features OF their
Constitutions and the general nature Of
the causes that led to their destruction
OF decay. History is full of lessons as to
the fckleness Of the people, the ease
with which they are sedueed, the facility
with which they listen to the bAbblings
Of folly and the temptings Of knsvery.
The large States wanted sn unequal
representation, not in order hat q ma
jority OF the people Of all the States, as
people, should control, bnt that they, the
States might, by their majority in the
Houses. They also, by their electors,
wished to elect, that they might control,
the President. They desired a popular
representation, g popular vote for Presi-
dent, as the means OF effecting these
objects. Their zeal for the rights Of the
people had no other basis, IN respect to
his. The popular vote was but the
instrument, not the principal object.
They did not leave the choice OF the
President to the people at large, but pro-
vided for his election by colleges of
Electors, themselves to be appointed mot
sleeted) By each State, in such manner
as the Legislature might prescribe. Thus
not only the electors, but even another
appointing body or officer, the Legisla-
ture, for example, or the Governor,
be interposed between the popular
vote and the offices OF President and
President and the Electors, more
over, did not represent popular numbers
alone, but were 70 be as many in each
as It's Senators and Representative
together; and in the Slave-States three
fhhs Of the slaves were counted, to in
their number. The former fes-
increased the electoral vote Of the
small States III a ratio out Of all proper
lion with that in which it added to the
vote Of the large States. Thus Della
ware, with a population only emitting
her 70 one Representative, had three cleo
votes; that is, three times the
number which her numbers would give
her; while the two additional votes Of
New York only added to her weight in
sleeting a President, from six to eight per
cent.
1t was supposed that the Electors Of
.aeh state would be left free to vote for
shom they pleased, aud not that they
xould be merely automata, to repeat or
-egister e vote already given by the
in mass. II the Electors failed to
.lect, then the House Of Representatives
vas 10 choose the President, each State.
mall OF large, casting a single vote
md the Vice-P President was to be chosen
" the Senate.
In each case, it was the States that
to elect these officers; only that,
a the former case, each was to cast a
'ote sometVhat in proportion to its pepu-
alton, because equal to its representa-
on in the two Houses Of Congress; and
is plain, not only because each State
.oted separately, by its electors; but be-
Delaware, aud Arkansas when
Irst admitted, gave three votes. while
he same number Of people in New York
ave little more than one.
II it was unfortunate that even with
hese notifications in favour Of the
mall States and Of the slave States. this
oneession to the principle Of govern
lent by vote Of the majority was made.
was yet more unfortunate that
ne immense mistake was made.
T elec.ing the President and Vice Presi-
emit for four years only, instead Of ten.
his was a concession TO the doctrine Of
,tation ia Office as the former was to
faeSH-Qf the Nationalist, that the
,onle Of al the States, acting as one J
son,e. were making the Constitu-
!, and that the will Of that "a peo !
and not The joint wills Of the States.
81 he the Government. 1t is a pfty G
e4,bs statesmen Of Virginia, South I
lima ead Georgia, IN their anxiety I