it was admitted that frauds had been committed.
What will he the effect of his course now? The
amendment proposes that the elections for Presi-
dent and Governor shall take place in 1852 and
1856, and on the same day in every fourth year
thereafter: and that the Legislature shall he
elected in 1852, 1854, and every second year.
He says this will increase the corruption of elec-
tions, and in the same breath almost he goes for
a plan that will bring these elections in different
years. If one election produces evil, one would
think that the more we have the more evil will
follow. But his argument would diminish the
corruption by multiplying its sources. The more
fountains the smaller will be the stream. This
seemed to be the result of the argument. His
(Mr. T's) experience had been otherwise. If the
election of President and Governor were held on
the same day the frauds and corruptions—all the
evils attending elections would come together—
and scarcely more would grow out of both than
would attend one: at any rate the alternate year
would be one of rest from the turmoil and strife of
party contests, in which very few persons found
any profit, whatever pleasure they may afford
those who participate in them.
The gentleman had said that the candidates fur
Governor were now usually, and necessarily taken
from a particular profession, because required lo
canvass the state. The proposition of the gentle-
man from Kent, (Mr. Chambers) would meet
this view, and gratify the purpose which the gen-
tleman had so much at heart, by relieving the
gubernatorial candidates from the necessity of
canvassing the state, in which Mr. T. united with
the gentleman. He thought the means required
to obtain first the nomination and then the elec-
tion to the office had greatly diminished the dig-
nity of the station, and he was sure no gentleman
was willing to undergo what is now necessary to
success but for the behests of party, which too few
among us are able to resist. He congratulated
the gentleman from Qeen Anne's, (Mr. Grason) on
having attained the honor of presiding over this
State as its chief Executive without having been
compelled to resort to the means since employed
by other candidates for the same office, if the
Governor were elected on the same day with the
President, the Electors would canvass the State,
and thus do the electioneering for the gubernatorial
candidate, for we know that the same issues
are generally involved in both elections. In this
way a competent merchant, farmer, or other fit
person out of the legal profession might be the
candidate; and if he were to go over the State
for the purpose of seeing the people, there would
be no occasion for his addressing them. If the
faculty and talent of popular oratory be requisite
in a candidate for that high office, none other
need ever aspire to it, however eminent his other
qualifications. If the Legislature, President and
Governor were elected on the same day, there
would be less necessity still for a speaking Gov-
ernor.
The gentleman has spoken of executive pa-
tronage. The reason is good as far as it applies.
But is our governor to have no patronage? If |
you take all from him, who is to have it? He
(Mr. T.) was on a committee who had under
charge some thing connected with executive of-
ficers—their appointment, compensation, &c.—
Our difficulty has been less about disrobing the
governor, than as to the other department to be
robed. We curtailed inspectors, and many oth-
ers that could be named. We did not see how the
governor was to be deprived of all patronage.
You may take away agood deal, yet much must
necessarily be left where it is,
Mr. T. was of opinion that a majority of the
Convention were in favor of electing many offi-
cers by the people. He would desire very much
to see those civil offices kept clear from the pol-
lution of party contests, it could not be done
altogether; but let us do what we can. We can
have the political elections on the even years,
and the judges and officers connected with the
judiciary, such as district attorney, clerks, reg-
isters, sheriffs, magistrates, &c, held on the odd
years. Then they would be kept separate and
distinct from each other He would not go into
the question of the judiciary at this time—suffi-
cient for the day is the evil thereof,
Mr, T. read the 5th section, to show that it
would be an easy matter to alter it to conform ?
to the view presented. As to the first elections,
he would say there might be one for the year
1851; and in 1852 the biennial elections might
commence. If the object be agreeable to the
Convention, there can be no difficulty in altering
the language of the article, or in framing new
sections in the different articles corresponding
with the object in view. He made these re-
marks in view of the fact that his colleague
would offer an amendment retaining the present
governor in office until the expiration of his
term. He had no disposition to displace him
before that time.
Mr. CHAMBERS said—one of the chief grounds
of objection urged by the gentleman from Queen
Anne's was, that the proposed arrangement
would conflict with the action of the Conven-
tion upon the third section of the legislative
bill. He thought there was no difficulty in re-
conciling any such apprehended difficulty, if
gentlemen will turn to their files of the register
of debates, page 135) they will find the proceedings
of the Convention on this third section, on
the 17th of February. It will there be seen that
the amendment offered by his friend next him,
(Mr. Donaldson,) was prepared expressly in re-
ference to the arrangement now proposed for the
election of State officers. No final action was
had on that amendment, and the third section
of that bill was informally passed over for the
express purpose of settling that question in a
full house. He read that amendment from page
155, and said it was perfectly obvious that if his
suggestion, now before the house, was adopted,
they had only to adopt the amendment of his
friend, (Mr. Donaldson,) making the same day
there as we have here, and entire conformity
would be produced. The result would be, that
an election for delegates would be held in No-
vember, 1851; who, with the present senate,
would remain in office till 1853, when the first |
