Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-08
Origin Of the Electoral system.

! No subject gave the ifamefS oil tne COn-
stituton so much trouble or caused so
much discussion in tho Convention as the
mode of choosing the Executive Of the ma
ton. Tho plan first submitted was that of
Edmund Randolph of Virginia, which
provided for the choice oflhe Chief Magis-
trate by tho National Legislature. This was
objected TO as likely 10 mako him depen-
dent upon that body and his choice the sub
iect of cabal. Mr.. Wilson of Pennsylvania
was strongly in favor Of direct election by
the people, but this did not seem to COM
mend itselfto many Of the delegates. The
principal objection was that the people
could not properly judge OF the fitness of
men, and would be led by a few persons
who would virtually determine tue choice.
Mr.. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts saw
in the order of the Cincinnati set of
men who would be very likely 10 choose
the President if the matter was LEFT TO the
people. He proposed that the National
Executive should be chosen by the State
Executives, who would be most likely
TO select the fittest man. This plan met
with little favor. Alexander Hamilton
proposed that one branch of the National
Legislature and the Chief Executive should
be chosen for life, and submitted plan
providing that "the supreme executive au-
thority OF the United States should be vest
ed in a Governor, TO be elected to serve
during good behavior, the election 10 be
made by Electors chosen by the people in
election districts"
The various plans were referred 10 COM
mittee, which after many consultations re-
ported in favor of election by the National
Legislature. There was a long debate in
which the objections TO this plan were full
ly canvassed. A proposition to substitute.
election by the people was voted down to
l, each Stale having one vote in the Conven-
tion. A proposition that the Executive be
chosen by electors appointed by the several
State Legislatures was defeated by avote of
10 2, and the plan of choosing by the Ma
tional Legislature was adopted unanimous
ly. This was reconsidered the next day
and the plan of choosing by electors ap-
pointed by the State Legislatures was
ad opted by a vote of 10 8. This action was
afterwards reconsdered and the PROPOSE
ton that tho National Legislature elect
was renewed. Pending this Mr.. Gerry
moved that the Legislature OF the States
should have the power TO elect the Presi-
dent. This was laid on the table and the
plan OF election by Congress was again
adopted, by a vote of Z 10 4. The subject
was again reopened and further discussed
in connection with the length of the Execu-
tive term of Office. 1t was then voted, to
3, that the Executive be chosen by the Ma
tional Legislature for term of seven years.
4; rod
TO committee of detail and the Conven-
ton adjourned for ten days. In the report
of this committee it was provided that the
President should be "elected by ballot by
the Legislature during the term of seven
years. Alter further discussion the whole
scheme of gUvernme ent was again referred
to committee. 4 few days later Mr..
Brearly of New Jersey reported plan OF
electing the President, as 4 substitute for
that adopted in the Convention, which was
in substance the present Electoral system,
except that in case there should be no cleo
ton by the Electors the Senate should
choose the President. The portion of the
plan providing for an election by Electors
appointed by the States in manner 10 DO
prescribed by their Legislatures, was
adopted by vote Of nine States against
two. An amendment providing that the
Electors should meet at the capital and
cast their votes was defeated, 10 10 l, and
an amendment was adopted adding the
words, "but the election shall be on the
same day throughout the United States"
The provision for an election by the Senate
in case no person received majority OF the
Electoral votes was changed so as TO place
the election in the hands Of the House of
Representatives, the members from each
State having but one vote. The vote in fa-
vor of this was 10 to /.
Thus it will be seen that the method OF
electing the President was a subject of
thoughtful consideration on tho part of the
Convention of l7s7 and that the plan final
ly agreed upon was the result of a conf
promise of widely different views. Some
favored choice in the first instance by
Congress, some by direct vote of The peo-
pie, and some by the States either through
their legislatures or their executives. The
plan adopted, is method OF election by
States through the general body of
thoir citizens voting for proportional
number OF Electors TO exercise the
choice in the last instance, leaving TO
the House of Representatives the duty of
choosing the President in case majority
of all the Electors failed to agree. Over tue
choosing of Electors Congress received no
authority whatever. Each State was 10 ap-
point its own in its own way, and when it
had decided who they should be, their
choice was untrammeled except that they
could not vote for men of their own State
for both President and Vice President.
Their votes when cast were TO be sent TO the
President of the Senate, who should open
them in the presence of the two houses,
when they were merely TO be counted for
the purpose of ascertaining what persons, If
any, had been elected.
ANECDoTE OF PRESIDENT GRANT.-This
neat Bit OF humor of President Grants ap-
pears now for tie first time in print:
Just before the close ofthe last session of