democracy in america-1-第40节
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rnal dangers； and the election of the President is a cause of agitation； but not of ruin。
Mode Of Election
Skill of the American legislators shown in the mode of election adopted by them … Creation of a special electoral body … Separate votes of these electors … Case in which the House of Representatives is called upon to choose the President … Results of the twelve elections which have taken place since the Constitution has been established。
Besides the dangers which are inherent in the system； many other difficulties may arise from the mode of election； which may be obviated by the precaution of the legislator。 When a people met in arms on some public spot to choose its head； it was exposed to all the chances of civil war resulting from so martial a mode of proceeding； besides the dangers of the elective system in itself。 The Polish laws； which subjected the election of the sovereign to the veto of a single individual； suggested the murder of that individual or prepared the way to anarchy。
In the examination of the institutions and the political as well as social condition of the United States； we are struck by the admirable harmony of the gifts of fortune and the efforts of man。 The nation possessed two of the main causes of internal peace； it was a new country； but it was inhabited by a people grown old in the exercise of freedom。 America had no hostile neighbors to dread； and the American legislators； profiting by these favorable circumstances； created a weak and subordinate executive power which could without danger be made elective。
It then only remained for them to choose the least dangerous of the various modes of election； and the rules which they laid down upon this point admirably correspond to the securities which the physical and political constitution of the country already afforded。 Their object was to find the mode of election which would best express the choice of the people with the least possible excitement and suspense。 It was admitted in the first place that the simple majority should be decisive； but the difficulty was to obtain this majority without an interval of delay which it was most important to avoid。 It rarely happens that an individual can at once collect the majority of the suffrages of a great people； and this difficulty is enhanced in a republic of confederate States； where local influences are apt to preponderate。 The means by which it was proposed to obviate this second obstacle was to delegate the electoral powers of the nation to a body of representatives。 This mode of election rendered a majority more probable； for the fewer the electors are； the greater is the chance of their coming to a final decision。 It also offered an additional probability of a judicious choice。 It then remained to be decided whether this right of election was to be entrusted to a legislative body； the habitual representative assembly of the nation； or whether an electoral assembly should be formed for the express purpose of proceeding to the nomination of a President。 The Americans chose the latter alternative； from a belief that the individuals who were returned to make the laws were incompetent to represent the wishes of the nation in the election of its chief magistrate； and that； as they are chosen for more than a year； the constituency they represent might have changed its opinion in that time。 It was thought that if the legislature was empowered to elect the head of the executive power； its members would； for some time before the election； be exposed to the manoeuvres of corruption and the tricks of intrigue； whereas the special electors would； like a jury； remain mixed up with the crowd till the day of action； when they would appear for the sole purpose of giving their votes。
It was therefore established that every State should name a certain number of electors； *v who in their turn should elect the President； and as it had been observed that the assemblies to which the choice of a chief magistrate had been entrusted in elective countries inevitably became the centres of passion and of cabal； that they sometimes usurped an authority which did not belong to them； and that their proceedings； or the uncertainty which resulted from them； were sometimes prolonged so much as to endanger the welfare of the State； it was determined that the electors should all vote upon the same day； without being convoked to the same place。 *w This double election rendered a majority probable； though not certain； for it was possible that as many differences might exist between the electors as between their constituents。 In this case it was necessary to have recourse to one of three measures； either to appoint new electors； or to consult a second time those already appointed；or to defer the election to another authority。 The first two of these alternatives； independently of the uncertainty of their results； were likely to delay the final decision； and to perpetuate an agitation which must always be accompanied with danger。 The third expedient was therefore adopted； and it was agreed that the votes should be transmitted sealed to the President of the Senate； and that they should be opened and counted in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives。 If none of the candidates has a majority； the House of Representatives then proceeds immediately to elect a President； but with the condition that it must fix upon one of the three candidates who have the highest numbers。 *x
＇Footnote v： As many as it sends members to Congress。 The number of electors at the election of 1833 was 288。 （See 〃The National Calendar；〃 1833。）＇
＇Footnote w： The electors of the same State assemble； but they transmit to the central government the list of their individual votes； and not the mere result of the vote of the majority。＇ ＇Footnote x： In this case it is the majority of the States； and not the majority of the members； which decides the question； so that New York has not more influence in the debate than Rhode Island。 Thus the citizens of the Union are first consulted as members of one and the same community； and； if they cannot agree； recourse is had to the division of the States； each of which has a separate and independent vote。 This is one of the singularities of the Federal Constitution which can only be explained by the jar of conflicting interests。＇
Thus it is only in case of an event which cannot often happen； and which can never be foreseen； that the election is entrusted to the ordinary representatives of the nation； and even then they are obliged to choose a citizen who has already been designated by a powerful minority of the special electors。 It is by this happy expedient that the respect which is due to the popular voice is combined with the utmost celerity of execution and those precautions which the peace of the country demands。 But the decision of the question by the House of Representatives does not necessarily offer an immediate solution of the difficulty； for the majority of that assembly may still be doubtful； and in this case the Constitution prescribes no remedy。 Nevertheless； by restricting the number of candidates to three； and by referring the matter to the judgment of an enlightened public body； it has smoothed all the obstacles *y which are not inherent in the elective system。
＇Footnote y： Jefferson； in 1801； was not elected until the thirty… sixth time of balloting。＇
In the forty…four years which have elapsed since the promulgation of the Federal Constitution the United States have twelve times chosen a President。 Ten of these elections took place simultaneously by the votes of the special electors in the different States。 The House of Representatives has only twice exercised its conditional privilege of deciding in cases of uncertainty； the first time was at the election of Mr。 Jefferson in 1801； the second was in 1825； when Mr。 Quincy Adams was named。 *z
＇Footnote z： ＇General Grant is now （1874） the eighteenth President of the United States。＇＇
Crises Of The Election
The Election may be considered as a national crisis … Why？ … Passions of the people … Anxiety of the President … Calm which succeeds the agitation of the election。
I have shown what the circumstances are which favored the adoption of the elective system in the United States； and what precautions were taken by the legislators to obviate its dangers。 The Americans are habitually accustomed to all kinds of elections； and they know by experience the utmost degree of excitement which is compatible with security。 The vast extent of the country and the dissemination of the inhabitants render a collision between parties less probable and less dangerous there than elsewhere。 The political circumstances under which the elections have hitherto been carried on have presented no real embarrassments to the nation。
Nevertheless； the epoch of the election of a President of the United States may be considered as a crisis in the affairs of the nation。 The influence which he exercises on public business is no doubt feeble and indirect； but the choice of the President； which is of small importance to each individual citizen； concerns the citizens collectively； and however trifling an interest may be； it
