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
In the article which obliges the Electors of President to vote for one
person not an inhabitant of the same State with themselves, is discovered
State jealousy. In the majorities required for many purposes by the
constitution, although there were other motives for the regulations, yet
the jealousy of the small States is clearly discernible. Indeed, sir,
if we peruse the constitution with attention, we shall find the small
States are perpetually guarding the federative principle, that is, State
equality. And this, in every part of it, except in the choice of the
House of Representatives, and in their ordinary legislative proceedings.
They go so far as to prohibit any amendment which may affect the equality
of States in the Senate.
This is guarding against almost an impossibility, because the Senators
of small States must be criminally remiss in their attendance, and
the Legislatures extremely off their guard, if they permit such
alterations, which aim at their own existence. But lest some accident,
some unaccountable blindness or perfidy should put in jeopardy the
federative principle in the Senate, they totally and for ever prohibit
all attempts at such a measure. In the choice of President, the mutual
caution and concession of the great and small States is, if possible,
more conspicuous than in any other part of the constitution.
He is to be chosen by Electors appointed as the State Legislatures shall
direct, not according to numbers entirely, but adding two Electors in
each State as representatives of State sovereignty. Thus Delaware obtains
three votes for President, whereas she could have but one in right of
numbers. Yet, mixed as this mode of choice is, with both popular and
federative principles, we see the small States watching its motions and
circumscribing it to one attempt only, and, on failure of an Electoral
choice, they instantly seize upon the right of a federal election, and
select from the candidates a President by States and not by numbers. In
confirmation of my assertion, that this part of the constitution was
peculiarly the effect of compromise between the great and small States,
permit me to quote an authority which will certainly have great weight,
not only in the Senate, but through the Union, I mean that of the present
Secretary of State, (Mr. Madison,) who was a leading member of the
Federal Convention who formed, and of the Virginia Convention who adopted
the constitution.
In the Debates of the Virginia Convention, volume 3, page 77, Mr. Madison
says, speaking of the mode of electing the President:
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