Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16)United States. Congress
History
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. 3 (of 16)
United States. Congress
Law -- United States; United States -- Politics and government
Mr. JACKSON said, that though coming from a small State he had not been
instructed, and was therefore at perfect liberty to act according to the
best of his judgment; though his State was now, in regard to population,
small, and though it were to remain so, he could have but one opinion on
this subject. He saw abundance of reason for preferring three to five.
The constitution under the present form has directed the choice to be
made from five. But the reason of this was consistent with the result to
be produced; the electors were to vote for two persons indiscriminately,
but with the restriction of voting for one only belonging to the State
where the vote was given. The voting for two would necessarily bring
forward four candidates, and a fifth possibly, for we saw in the two
elections before the last that there was one more than the four, though
in each case the fifth had but one vote; he alluded to the vote for Mr.
Jay. In the amendment proposed you are called upon to designate for each
office, and there can be little apprehension of having more than two
or three principal candidates; and for twenty years to come he had no
apprehension of a greater number of candidates if this amendment prevails.
Mr. WRIGHT.--We need not be told in this house, that the constitution was
the result of a compromise, or that care was taken to guard the rights of
each State; these things we must be very ignorant, indeed, not to know.
But does it therefore follow that it is not susceptible of amendment
or correction under experience? Does it follow, because, for mutual
interest and security, this compromise was made, that we are precluded
from effecting any greater good? No man would accuse him of a wish to
see the interest of any State impaired. But we can preserve the spirit
and intention of the constitution in full vigor, without impairing any
interests. And this is to be done, by the discriminating principle; it
fulfills the intention, and it forefends the recurrence of that danger
from which you have once escaped. By this principle, each elector may
name his man for each office, and this can be done whether the number be
three or five. For the latter number he was disposed; because already
adopted by the other House, and he did not wish to delay its progress.
If we were to form a constitution, he would provide that there should be
only two candidates presented to the House. But he did not rely on any
number so much as on the discriminating principle.
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