Year: 1859

! the people would become mere tools IN the
hands of few active and designing men tnat
they would generally vote for some man II,
their own State that the largest States Wouio
have the best chance for the appointment !;
and that the most populous States, by comol-
ming, would be able to decide the choice-an
objection, by the way, which, il valid, might
be urged against the operation of the existing
method. The election directly by the people
found very few supporters. The election by
the Legislature, notwithstanding the prece-
dent in its favor in the method of choosing
their Governors, adopted by most of the States,
was also abandoned. 1t was suggested to give
the choice of the President to the Governors
of the States; also, to small committee, TO
be chosen by lot from the National Legisia-
ture expressly for that purpose. But the meth
cd finally adopted was a choice by electors
specially appointed for that purpose. 1t was
long time, however, before the Convention
could agree upon the method of selecting the
electors. 1t was proposed to have them ap-
pointed by the State Executives, to have them
selected by the State Legislatures, to nave
them chosen by the people. The particular
method of choosing the electors was ilnaiiy
left to be decided by each State for ITSELF
The plan of voting for two candidates, one for
the Presidency and the other for the Vice
Presidency, without designating the office in
tended for either, though made a part OF the
Constitution, was found to work so badly as TO
necessitate a speedy amendment. The idea
also of any actual power of choice to be exer-
cised by the electors proved to be fallacious,
as it was speedily found that those who chose
the electors would vote for nobody who would
not expressly pledge himself to vote for GER
tain candidates.


Practically, too, the National Legislature,
or the members OF it, regained under the Con-
gressional caucus system great part of that
influence over the selection of President.
which the Convention had declined to intrust
to it. The members of Congress, if they could
not choose the Precedent directly, at least as
sumed to themselves the selection of candi-
dates. That system has, indeed, been broken
up but the selection of Presidential candi-
dates by National Conventions SO called while
it is liable to all the objections which exist "a
gainst Congressional Interference, is exposed
to other very serious ones growing out OF the
constitution of those Conventions, and the
character OF many of those who find seat in
them. In fact, the method of choosing a
President, so to secure competent ability
and honesty, and to avoid bargain, intrigue,
and corruption, is quite much problem for
as it was for the trainers of the Constitu-
tion. Experience has indeed developed one
most serious evil, which they do not appear to
have foreseen, namely, that the question OF the
Presidential successorship constantly over
rides all others, and the members of Congress,
and persons generally filling public stations,
instead of having their thoughts and energies
directed to the present interests and immedi-
ate wants of the country, are very largely
almost ively-engrossed in the business
of forwarding the interests of this or that
Presidential candidate.