The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-07-29
Presidents Message.
Tothe Senate and House Of RepreSentatlr

4
Experience has fully demonstrated the
wisdom of the trainers of the Federal
Constitution. Under all circumstances
the result Of their labors was as near an
approximation to perfection as was COM
pstible with the fallihility of man. Such
being the estimation in which the Consti-
tuition is and has ever been held by our
countrymen, it is not surprising that any
nroposition for its alteration or amend
snent should be received with reluctance
and iistrnst. Whilst this sentiment de-
serves commentator and encouragement
as useful preventative of unnecessary
attempts to change its provisions, it must
be conceded that time has developed I'M
perfections and omissions in the Constr
tuition, the reformation of which has been
demanded by the best interests OF the
country. Some of these have been rene
died in The, manner provided in the Con-
st;tption itself. There are others which,
although heretofore brought to the atten-
tion Of the people,. have never been SO
nresented as TO enable the popular judg-
ment to determine whether they shonld
be corrected by means of additional Ell
actments.e My object In this communlca-
tion is to suggest certain defects in the
Constitution, which seem to me to require
correction, and to recommend that the
Judgment of the people be taken on the
amendments proposed.
The first of the defects to which de-
sire TO direct attention, is in that clause
of the Constitution which provides tor the
election OF President and Vice President
through the Intervention of electors, and
not by an Immediate vote of the people.
TIE impoytauce of SO amending this clause
as to secure to the people the election OF
President and Vice President, By their
direct votes, was urged with great earn
estness and ability by President Jackson
in his first annual message, ana the re-
commendation was repeated in i've OF his
subsequent communications to Congress,
extending through the eight years OF his
administration. In his message OF 1879
he said:
ITO the people belongs the right Of
electiug their Chief Magistrate; it was
never. designed that their choice should,
in apv case, be defeated, either by the in
intervention of Electoral colleges, or by
the agercy con6ded, under certain con-
tingencies, to the House of Representa-
tives."
He then proceeded to state the objec-
t;ons to an election of President by the
House of Representatives, the most i'm
portant of which was that the choice OF a
clear majority of the people might be
easily defeated. He then closed the ar
,ument with the following communica-
ton:
81 would therefore recommend such an
amendment of the Constitution as may
remove all intermediate agency in the
election of President and Vice President.
The mode may be so regulated as to pre-
serve to each State its present relative
weight in the election; and failure in
the first attempt may be provided for by
confning the second to choice between
the two highest candidates. In connec
t;on with such an amendment, it would
seem advisable to limit the service. of the
Chief Magistrate to a single term OF either
four or six years. II: however, it should
not be adopted, it is worthy OF consldera-
tion whether provision disquailying for
Office the Representatives in Congress on
whom such an election may have devolved
would not be proper"
Although this recommendation was re-
neated with undimnished earnestness in
several of his succeeding messages, yet
the proposed amendment was never
adopted and submitted to the people by
Congress. The danger of defeat of the
peoples choice in an election by the House
of Representatives remains unprovlded
for in the Constitution, and would be
greatly increased if the House of Repre-
sentatives should assume the power arol-
trarily to reject the votes of State winch
might not be- cast in conformity with the
wishes of the majority in that body. But
IS President Jackson failed to secure the
amendment to the Constitution, which he
urged so persistently, his argument con-
tributed largely to the formation OF party
organizations which have cffectualy
avoided the contingency OF an election by
the House of Representatives. These or
carnations, first by resort to the eau
Gus system of nominating candidates. and
afterwards to State and National Gonven-
lions. have been successful in SO uniting
4he number of candidates as to escape The
danger of an election by the House u
Representatives. :, :. -
it is clear, however, in thus limiting the
number of candidates the true object ard
spirit of the Constitution has been cva{ed
and defeated 1t is an essential feature
in our Republican system Of Government
that every citizen, possessing the consti-
tntional qualifications, has right to be-
soroa q candidate for the Office ofPresident
and Vice President and that every quail
fled elector has right to cast his vote for
any citizen whom he may regard "a as
worthy OF these offices: But under tn, the
party organizations which have prevailed
Eor years, these essential rights OF the