The American Law Journal and Miscellaneous Repertory (Volume 3) - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1810. Excerpt: ... mony. The seeds of discord will be sown in families, among friends, and throughout the whole community. In saying this, I do not mean any thing to the disadvantage of either of the candidates. They may have no agency in the business. They may be the involuntary objects of such competition, without the power of directing or controlling the storm. The fault is in the mode of election, in setting the people to choose a king. In fact, a popular election, and the exercise of such powers and prerogatives as are by the constitution vested in the president, are incompatible. The evil is increasing, and will increase, until it shall terminate in civil war and despotism. The people, suffering under the scourge of party feuds and factions, and finding no refuge under the state, any more than in the general government, from party persecution and oppression, may become impatient, and submit to the first tyrant who can protect them against the thousand tyrants." To suggest a remedy for this great and growing evil, is the leading object of the propositions Before us. "It can be remedied," Mr. Hillhouse observes, "only in two ways: Either the office of president must be stripped of its high prerogatives and powers, or some other mode of appointing a president must be devised than that of popular election." He is of opinion that both of these means ought to be employed. He proposes to reduce the president's terms of service from four years to one; to reduce his salary from 25,000 to 15,000 dollars per annum; to transfer from him to the legislature the power of appointing to and removing from office; and, as to the mode of appointing the chief magistrate, he intends that he shall be annually chosen by lot from a certain number of the senate. Mr. Hillhouse intends likewise,...