[in copyist’s hand]

1819 May 24

Defence of Ballot

Canvassings, from Fearon

2

Since the first choice of M r Jefferson, the presidential Elections are managed by private Meetings (or Caucus) of the democratic Members of Congress, previous to Elections: they settle among themselves who shall be president. This is what is called getting “the appointment in Caucus”, and an instance never occurs of the votes being in opposition to Caucus. When they have determined upon who they wish to be President, they sent Circulars to their different states, pointing out, by a sort of congé d’elire, who they have resolved should be elected: and as the right of voting for Presidents is confined to a very limited number, there is no instance of the Caucus being disobeyed. M r Munroe being a Democrat was, as a matter of course, voted for by the democratic states; and those of New England being federal, would not, I believe, give a vote upon the occasion. It appears that the Members of the Washington Caucus were almost equally divided between M r Crawford and M r Munroe; but that some accommodation being agreed upon, the latter got “the appointment”. Had his rival obtained this, he and not M r Munroe would have been voted for by the democratic states, as a matter of course. These are alarming facts; for thus we see that the very men (the Members of Congress) who are directly excluded by the Constitution from voting, become, by means of a secret something unknown to that Constitution, and at variance with both its letter and Spirit, the real Electors to the Presidentship. How necessary are the most unceasing vigilance, and the greatest degree of public principle and public virtue, to preserve even the best Institutions from gross perversion! No oligarchy can ever be more dangerous than this, which deludes the people with a belief

that