United States of America: Supreme Court of the United States, Oct. Term, 1892. Term No. 1170. William McPherson, Jr., Et Al., Relators and Plaintiffs in Error, Vs. Robert R. Blacker, Secretary of State of the State of Michigan, Respondent and Defendent in Error. Brief for Plaintiffs in ErrorLaw reporter Company, printers, 1892 |
Common terms and phrases
act of congress appoint the electors appointed an elector candidates chief magistrate choice of electors choosing electors choosing the electors clause colonies commonwealth convention counties crown declaration dential disqualified district method district system divided elec election of 1800 electoral college Electoral Count electoral system electoral vote electors appointed electors at large electors chosen Elliot's Deb equal protection existence fact favor federal fifteenth amendment fourteenth amendment framers Gouverneur Morris governor house of representatives implications Jefferson John Adams joint ballot judgment judicial officers Justice lature legislative Madison majority Maryland Massachusetts meet ment mode national legislature North Carolina number of electors number of votes opinion Pennsylvania person Plaintiffs in Error political popular election president and vice-president presidential election purpose qualifications reasons resolution Resolves of Mass result right to vote senate special session stitutional suffrage supreme court ticket system tion tors trict ture United Virginia voters wholly York
Popular passages
Page 14 - THE mode of appointment of the Chief Magistrate of the United States, is almost the only part of the system, of any consequence, which has escaped without severe censure, or which has received the slightest mark of approbation from its opponents.
Page 65 - ... 21 years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens 21 years of age in such state.
Page 31 - If done, the motive ought to be frankly avowed. In your communication to the legislature, they ought to be told that temporary circumstances had rendered it probable that, without their interposition, the executive authority of the general government would be transferred to hands hostile to the system heretofore pursued with so much success...
Page 30 - I am aware that there are weighty objections to the measure ; but the reasons for it appear to me to outweigh the objections ; and, in times like these in which we live, it will not do to be over scrupulous. It is easy to sacrifice the substantial interests of society by a strict adherence to ordinary rules.
Page 31 - ... be transferred to hands hostile to the system heretofore pursued with so much success, and dangerous to the peace, happiness, and order of the country ; that under this impression, from facts convincing to your own mind, you had thought it your duty to give the existing legislature an opportunity of deliberating whether it would not be proper to interpose, and endeavor to prevent so great an evil by referring the choice of electors to the people distributed into districts.
Page 77 - The district mode was mostly, if not exclusively, in view when the Constitution was framed and adopted; and was exchanged for the general ticket and the legislative election as the only expedient for baffling the policy of the particular States which had set the example.
Page 30 - The moral certainty, therefore, is, that there will be an anti-federal majority in the ensuing legislature ; and the very high probability is, that this will bring Jefferson into the chief magistracy, unless it be prevented by the measure which I shall now...
Page 10 - Resolved, That a national executive be instituted, to consist of a single person ; to be chosen by the national legislature, for the term of seven years ; with power to carry into execution the national laws; to appoint to offices in cases not otherwise provided for; to be ineligible a second time...
Page 15 - It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station, and acting under circumstances favourable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements that were proper to govern their choice.
Page 15 - It was desirable that the sense of the people should operate in the choice of the person to whom so important a trust was to be confided. This end will be answered by committing the right of making it, not to any pre-established body, but to men chosen by the people for the special purpose, and at the particular conjuncture.