The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-17
The Peoples Forum.

of that state. This was again debat-
cd, but not changed. This draft of
the constitution was then referred to
the committee on Revision and
Style" which reported the constitu-
ton providing for the election of
president, as it stands in the consti-
tuition today, except as amended in
some details, which do not affect the
principle, by the 9th amendment. 1t
will be seen, from the foregoing brief
outline of the history of the adoption
Of the Electoral College. that it was
not a hap-hazard provision, but the
result Of searching debate. careful
consideration and earnest consulta-
ton by those wise and patriotic men.
who framed .the Organic Law, which.
when ratified by the several states.
created the Federal Cor as it is now
called the NationaD Government.
OF course my authorities are the
Journal of the Convention, Yates,
Minutes, which terminate very
abruptly on the 5th day of July, 1887,
the Documentary History of the con-
stitution, printed by authority of con-
gress. and the Madison papers.
Though the method of election of
president received as has been said.
more of the attention and COnsidera-
ton OF the convention, than did any
other part of the constitution, it re-
ceiVed very little attention after it left
the hands of it's trainers. There was
violent opposition to the plan of the
convention submitted by the conven-
ton and the letters written by Madi-
son, Jay and Hamilton, contained in
the "Federalist," were directed to
those objections with view of re-
moving them, but the opposition was
to other parts of the constitution, and
not to the part providing for the cleo
ton of the chief executive. The OPP
position to the plan was largely to
omissions, as reference to the above
named letters will show. These OBJ
jections were met and removed by the
first ten amendments to the consti-
tuition. Luther Martin. who had been
one of the delegates to the convention
from Maryland, but who withdrew be-
fore the completion of it's labors. in
a letter addressed to the speaker of
the house of delegates of Maryland,
disapproved of the entire and every
part of the proposed constitution. But
his objections to the executive part,
were to the powers vested in the pres
ident, and not to the method of cleo
ton. Mr.. Yates and Mr.. Lansing.
who withdrew from the convention on
the jth day of July, leaving New York
with General Hamilton as her only
delegate, in n joint letter to Governor
Clinton, gave their reasons for with
drawing but none of these reasons
were objections to the proposed
method of electing the president.
Again. little attention was given this
part of the constitution in the differ
emit state conventions, which ratified
the constitution, as win be seen by
perusal of Elliots Debates. In the
Virvinia convention in a debate with
Mr.. George Mason. who had been a
delegate to the federal convention. but
who refused to sign the draft OF the
constitution, Mr.. Madison said. Il have
found no better way OF selecting the
man in whom we place the highest
confidence. than that delineated in the
plan of the convention, nor has the
gentleman told us" / apprehend, that
the reason this part of the constitu-
ton was not opposed after 1t was in
grated into the plan of the cOnstitu-
ton. by the convention, was that II
was thoroughly understood at the time
and generally approved. 1t has been
truly said that a system OF govern
ment must be satisfactory to the
habits and genius of the people IT is
to govern and must grow out Of
them" Now. l Will consider the reas-