The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-11

disputed elections, snow unprovided for
"by the constitution and "annihilate
"party and party spirit" would make the
senate more respectable, "give talents and
"modest merit an equal chance y give
the people, not party, the president re-
move the temptation to use power for per-
sonal ends, and direct, powerful and dan
gerous influence Of the general government
ouer individual states and would secure the
country against the usurpation of power.
And this, If we understand it, is, substan-
TALLY, the line of argument adopted by Mr..
O'Conor.
Some thirty years later-in 1S30-Mr.
Hillhouse, then in retirement, renewed his
proposition, and sought the opinions of
several of the most eminent men of the
country thereon. James Madison, who
drafted the constitution and had been twice
president, while acknowledging the ''in-
genuity" of the plan, regarded it as ella
" BILE to the following remarks )" That the
large states-New York then having "more
than thirteen times the weight of several
"of the states"-would not consent to being
placed on perfect equality with the small
states; that a president 30 elected would
be without national reputation, and there
would be danger of state partialities, or, at
least, injurious suspicious of them; that
the danger would be that the "~ffmer of
the prize" would be incompetent, and he
asks, ''ou review of composition of the
senate" from its very origin down, show
often will names present themselves,
which would be seen with mortified feel
ings at the head of the nation ?" and that
the president would be too much controlled
by the body of which he was member.
John Marshall, the chief justice of the
supreme court of the United States,
thought there was something captivating
in the idea of the chief magistrate being
elected by the whole people, and he was
opposed to the proposition when made, but
his convictions had been shaken and his
views very much changed since 1908 he
regarded, however, the proposition rather
as an affair of curious speculation, than of
probable fact, because there are so many
opposing interests and deep rooted preju-
dices, that he should despair of its success,
were its utility still more apparent. Never
theless, he is inclined to favor it, and con-
cludes as follows: Reasoning a priori, !
"should undoubtedly pronounce the sys-
stem adopted by the convention, the best
Z" that could be devised. Judging from ex.
perience, am driven to different con.
" clusion."
William H. Crawford, a senator, mem.
Der of two cabinets, and a candidate fol
the presidegs.s who supported the propo'
stion when origins ally introduced, writes
that he had not, in 1908, definitely decided
upon the principle of the amendment, bu
reflection and experience has convinced
"me that the amendment is correct" HI
says that great talents are not necessary fol
the presidency, but that moderate show
of talents, if coupled with integrity o
character and conduct is all that is neces
sary. Under the principles of the amend
ment, he says 81 think there ia little proba
bility that president would he elected
weaker than Col. Monroe, or with les
practical common sense thai Mr.. Ad
ANS" He thinks, however, that tn
country is not prepared for the amendment
but urges Mr.. Hillhouse to use his influ
ence with the New England legislatures t.
obtain call of convention to revise tn
federal constitution, for he is "persuadet
/" that unless the measure is brought about
we shall have an explosion in the repuh
lie, and that in our time"-the explosion
came, but not in his time, and the resul
of presidential election was made pre-
text for it.
Chancellor Kent was in despairin
mood. The present system of electing
president tended to "intrigue, corruptio
"and tyranny" and was that part of th
machine of our government which wa
doomed to destroy u.s." 1t is not true
he says, that " the people will act disir
terestedly and virtuousiy, when free
"act," but, on the contrary, "self intel
est, passion, prejudice, fanaticism, etc
"will continue to inflame the huma
breast, and sway the actions. I'll
proposed manner of selecting a presider
by lot would be vast improvement
though he utterly despairs of any atteml
to alter the present system, and presume
that Mr.. Hillhouse's plan twill be regarde
"by the community generally as Utopia
"or impracticable.
If these distinguished statesmen ho
lived to the present day, and witnessed tt
presidential elections of later years, the a
lion Of the courts, returning boards ar
congress, they would have seen no occasic
to change the opinion of Chancellor Kel
that "self interest, passion, prejudice, fai
" atheism, ETC., will continue to infau
4" the human heart, and sway the actions
: and, recalling the failure of every atteml
TO change the system of electing pres
dent, they would regard Mr.. O'Connoi
measures of constitutional reform, as
. Mr.. Crawford that of Mr.. Hillhouse, as
affair of curious speculation rather than
: probable fact.
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