The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-03-06

the Convention was in session the
subject had been touched upon ginger
ly from time to time, but such tenta-
tive discussion had served only to
disclose and emphasize the fundamen-
tai difference of opinion among the
delegates. An able and powerful fac
ton led by Alexander Hamilton ia
vored the election Of a king with
right to his heirs in perpetuity to the
crown. Others of the same faction
were willing to concede the election of
President for life, while still others
of the delegates favored a limited
tenure Of years. AS to the method of
election, curiously enough, but few
favored a popular plebiscite.
The old distrust of the people en-
tertained by the ruling classes of
church and state through so many
centuries, together with the conser-
vatism engendered by vested prop
erty interests, served to obscure the
ideals of pure democracy. In account
ing for this anomalous attitude in a
convention whose members lately had
been in revolt against monarchial in
situations, we should not lose sight of
the fact that the delegates, in addi-
ton to being without experience of
republican government, were them
selves chosen from the wealthier,
aristocratic element in the colonies.
During the fifteenth, sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries, while the Holy
Roman Empire was at the zenith of
its effectiveness as an organized state
and while its electoral college" was
functioning with the approval and
support of the politicians and states
men of Europe, came the discovery
and colonization of America. One of
the incidents Of this great epoch in
world history was the granting by
Charles l, in 1882, to his friend and
partisan, Lord Baltimore, of that part
of North America corresponding to
what is now the state of Maryland
The royal charter, besides conveying
the land by indefeasible title, con-
ferred upon the Lord Proprietor the
most autocratic powers including "the
free, full and absolute power to or
dain, make and enact laws" for the
government of the inhabitants.
After several generations of pater.
nalistic government under this charter
the state of Maryland emerged II
1776 with a constitution which pro.
vided for a legislature whose senate
was to be selected by fifteen electors
1t is interesting to note that this
method of choosing it's state legisla
tors persisted in Maryland long after
the adoption Of the Federal constitu
ton. Here, then, existed a cue to {
compromise by which the troublesome
problem of the presidential selection
could be solved.
Whatever may have been the mo
tives that actuated the delegates i
must be conceded that, despite theil
distrust of democracy, they intended
the College to be deliberative body
free and untrammeled to select whom
it might please, regardless of whethe
its choice had been proposed by an!
group or party, and regardless of thu
verdict of the people as expressed a
any popular election.
For a period of nearly 40 years sue
ceeding the establishment Of the Elec
toral College it functioned as it was
designed to do, usually, but not al
ways, making its selection from ;
group of eligible candidates desig
mated by caucus or other Influential
group of the existing political parties
AS a matter of political eXpediency
and not by virtue of any right con
ferred by the Constitution, the people
were permitted to express their pref
erences or approval at a popular cleo
ton. Such election was merely advis
DRY to the electors and did not bin(
the College in it's official capacity.
In that day party conventions haC
not yet come into being. Any groul
or organization from a county caucu:
to a state convention which propose
and urge the election of a candidate
The essential requirement was tt
bring the candidates, with some show
of authoritative sponsorship, before
the College for it's consideration. The
campaign was not over until the Col
lege had made its choice. From the
standpoint of practical politics it was
more necessary to persuade the Col
lege to vote for a candidate than tt
campaign among the people, for the
College had the last word Inciden
tally, it was feared by many that such
persuasion might take the form Of