60 CONSTITUTIONAL SOLUTION. 



for both the President and Vice-President — and these qualifications 

 are of commanding importance. Now, article twelve merely requires 

 the lists of all persons voted for as President and of all persons voted 

 for as Vice-President, and the number of votes for each to be dis- 

 tinct, which the electors shall sign and certify and transmit sealed 

 to the seat of Government of the United States directed to the Pres- 

 ident of the Senate. There is nothing in these provisions requiring 

 the certificates of the respective electoral colleges either to recite 

 the provision themselves or manifest any compliance with them 

 whatever. So that every possible non-compliance with them in form 

 and substance may take place, and it may even result in one small 

 electoral college or even one spurious elector defeating unlawfully a 

 candidate, or electing one against these wise regulations; or foisting 

 upon the people totally disqualified persons for either office! Such 

 monstrous results wise and patriotic statesmen never could have 

 meant to be the legitimate meaning of their constitution, which has 

 been the admiration of the political savants of Christendom. They 

 must then have effectually and clearly guarded against them by com- 

 manding the presence of the most August legislative body in the 

 world to witness the opening of the certificates or more accurately 

 the mere breaking of the seals, and themselves to examine the votes and 

 ascertain whether there was any election of a qualified person, and 

 if so of whom. There is much in the language to enforce this con- 

 struction, and every reason and circumstance to require it where the 

 most transcendent interests of the nation could only thus be sub- 

 served and preserved. The recent alarmingly disordered condition 

 of this country demands the adoption of these items as the first 

 which could well have been entertained by the founders of our novel 

 and indigenous Government. 



How could the President of the Senate examine and ascertain? 

 What method has he as such to obtain the correct information in 

 regard to the above threatened abuses V How send for persons and 

 papers ? Where are the ways and means ? Where is the time or 

 opportunity? Why should one man have the egregious responsibil- 

 ities, and have no means to accomplish the most important achieve- 

 ment in modern times, the permanency of the United States of 

 America? And this, too, with suitable and capable legislative bodies 

 idly looking on ! Nothing appears more absurd as the work of wise 



