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munity； 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 assumes a great degree of importance as soon as it becomes general。 The President possesses but few means of rewarding his supporters in comparison to the kings of Europe； but the places which are at his disposal are sufficiently numerous to interest； directly or indirectly； several thousand electors in his success。 Political parties in the United States are led to rally round an individual； in order to acquire a more tangible shape in the eyes of the crowd； and the name of the candidate for the Presidency is put forward as the symbol and personification of their theories。 For these reasons parties are strongly interested in gaining the election； not so much with a view to the triumph of their principles under the auspices of the President…elect as to show by the majority which returned him； the strength of the supporters of those principles。
For a long while before the appointed time is at hand the election becomes the most important and the all…engrossing topic of discussion。 The ardor of faction is redoubled； and all the artificial passions which the imagination can create in the bosom of a happy and peaceful land are agitated and brought to light。 The President； on the other hand； is absorbed by the cares of self… defence。 He no longer governs for the interest of the State； but for that of his re…election； he does homage to the majority； and instead of checking its passions； as his duty commands him to do； he frequently courts its worst caprices。 As the election draws near； the activity of intrigue and the agitation of the populace increase； the citizens are divided into hostile camps； each of which assumes the name of its favorite candidate； the whole nation glows with feverish excitement； the election is the daily theme of the public papers； the subject of private conversation； the end of every thought and every action； the sole interest of the present。 As soon as the choice is determined； this ardor is dispelled； and as a calmer season returns； the current of the State； which had nearly broken its banks； sinks to its usual level： *a but who can refrain from astonishment at the causes of the storm。
＇Footnote a： ＇Not always。 The election of President Lincoln was the signal of civil war。 … Translator's Note。＇＇
Chapter VIII： The Federal Constitution … Part III
Re…election Of The President
When the head of the executive power is re…eligible； it is the State which is the source of intrigue and corruption … The desire of being re…elected the chief aim of a President of the United States … Disadvantage of the system peculiar to America … The natural evil of democracy is that it subordinates all authority to the slightest desires of the majority … The re…election of the President encourages this evil。
It may be asked whether the legislators of the United States did right or wrong in allowing the re…election of the President。 It seems at first sight contrary to all reason to prevent the head of the executive power from being elected a second time。 The influence which the talents and the character of a single individual may exercise upon the fate of a whole people； in critical circumstances or arduous times； is well known： a law preventing the re…election of the chief magistrate would deprive the citizens of the surest pledge of the prosperity and the security of the commonwealth； and； by a singular inconsistency； a man would be excluded from the government at the very time when he had shown his ability in conducting its affairs。
But if these arguments are strong； perhaps still more powerful reasons may be advanced against them。 Intrigue and corruption are the natural defects of elective government； but when the head of the State can be re…elected these evils rise to a great height； and compromise the very existence of the country。 When a simple candidate seeks to rise by intrigue； his manoeuvres must necessarily be limited to a narrow sphere； but when the chief magistrate enters the lists； he borrows the strength of the government for his own purposes。 In the former case the feeble resou