PRESIDENT HARRISON.

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The tendency of the general government for years past has nevertheless been to concentrate, as much as possible within itself, the reserved power of the individual States; to strengthen and consolidate such power, by the appliances, and means it possesses in the control and distribution of the patronage at its disposal. The revolution in public opinion, with the induction of the Whigs or Federal party into office, in 1841, as of its consequence, has had a tendency to check this anti-democratic learning, and to guarantee the independence and irresponsibilities of the several States within their respective jurisdictions. The late President Harrison, in accordance with whose principles the last administration had been formed, has perhaps, gone further than any of his predecessors in this respect, and in the first public exposition of his policy, has laid down a theory of government, at variance, in some respects, with all former or general practice, in which is not only recognised the entire and perfect irresponsibility, and exemption from all

sent connection of these States was established, not by the States, but by the whole people of the Union in their corporate capacity, assembled in conventions, and thus only could it ever be abrogated. Till then, the States are bound to bear the mandates of the Supreme Government, when issued in execution of its appointed powers; and any act inconsistent with these orders is in its very nature null and void. The only plea that could be urged would be one of such extreme necessity as to be extra and ultra the constitution, when all the bands of law are broken, and revolution succeeds."-Story's Commentaries, vol. i. pp. 302, 308, 330-332.

control of the several States within their respective limits, but in which he earnestly condemns all interference of the general government, "as leaving to the States only the shadow of that independent action, for which they so zealously contended, and on the preservation of which they relied, as the last hope of liberty."

But the principles that are thus inculcated are in direct controversy with the experience of all former usage. The tendency of all power is to extend its limitation, and augment its influence, frequently, by the most unjustifiable usurpations; such, the direction and aim of all authority-the very natural bias of both federal and state governments; whose successful encroachments, are so many unwarranted invasions of the rights and privileges of one upon the other. The conduct of the Federal Government has scarcely been a whit more extravagant than the usurpations of the different States; and who have, in more instances than one, arrogantly assumed the rights appertaining to the supreme government of the country, especially in its connection and direct intercourse with foreign nations; and have so pertinaciously adhered to these recently asserted principles in their constitution, that foreign governments are sometimes at a loss in what form to direct their negotiations, or to know, with what particular intersection of these States, they continue to hold amicable, or friendly relations. The difficulties that must necessarily arise from this unsettled and undefined position, have been

instanced in the embarrassing progress of many of the negotiations, undertaken even by our own government with the United States, in which have been included the local or sectional interests of individual States; at the same time, involving questions of great international concern, and that it were of the utmost consequence to the future good understanding between both countries, to bring to some definite and satisfactory conclusion; such as the lately undefined state of our north-west boundary, that has only been brought to a close, under a conventional arrangement with the State of Maine, and supreme government--the embarrassments arising from the incidents connected with the late troubles along our Canadian frontier, and that have been the frequent and near occasion of open and direct hostilities between both countries. It would certainly appear to be the interest of the American people, as no doubt it is of European States, with whom they are in daily intercourse, that these difficulties should be speedily removed by some better and general understanding, by a further limit to the unreasonable exactions of individual States-by some clearer definition of the administrative power of the Republicsome responsible representative authority, invested with a more unrestricted, or better defined control, in all, or every matter of controversy between the United States generally, or any individual State and foreign nations; that would disencumber its negotiations of the many difficulties and embarrassments, with which they are liable to be surrounded, and tend to

ensure that peace and good understanding, that should subsist between individual members of the one great family of civilized nations.

Article 2nd, section 1st, of the Constitution of 1787, and article 12th of the amendments thereto, points out the mode in which the President is to be elected, and declares, that he shall hold his office for the term of four years, from the date of his appointment:—this does not prevent his election for a second term, which may enlarge the period of his service to eight years.*

Under this provision of the law, each State appoints in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of senators and representatives that such State sends to Congress; but no senator, or representative, or person holding any office of trust or profit under the United States can be an elector. electors meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President; one of whom at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves. The lists of the votes are then sent to the seat of government, directed to the Presi

The

* The first Administration under Washington continued 8 years.

CHOICE OF ELECTORS.

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dent of the Senate; who, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, opens the certificates, and the votes are counted; the person having the greatest number of votes for President is declared to be elected to that office, provided he has the votes of a majority of all the electors appointed. If not, then the House of Representatives selects the President by ballot from the persons, not exceeding three, having the greatest number of votes.*

No person, except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, is eligible to the office of President. In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability, the appointment devolves upon the Vice-President; and Congress may, by law, provide for the case of re

* The following, shews the number of Electors to which each State was entitled, at the general election in 1841, amounting, in the aggregate, to 294; viz.-Maine, 10-New Hampshire, 7-Massachusetts, 14-Rhode Island, 4-Connecticut, 8-Vermont, 7-New York, 42-New Jersey, 8-Pennsylvania, 30Delaware, 3-Maryland, 10-Virginia, 23-North Carolina, 15 -South Carolina, 11-Georgia, 11-Kentucky, 15-Tennessee, 15-Ohio, 21-Indiana, 9-Mississippi, 4-Illinois, 5-Alabama, 7-Missouri, 4-Louisiana, 5-Michigan, 3-Arkansas, 3: -Grand total, 294.

The present Congress is chosen according to the Act of Congress of 1842, the ratio being one representative for every 70,680 persons in each State, and of one additional Representative for each State, having a fraction greater than one moiety of the said ratio, computed according to the rules prescribed by the Constitution of the United States. Present number of Representatives

223.