It is not to be supposed that the
supporters of Mr. Lincoln were very anxious about their ticket in
Alabama, or those of Mr. Breckinridge as to theirs in Massachusetts.
In Alabama, a Democratic slave ticket would, of course, prevail. In
Massachusetts, a Republican free-soil ticket would do so. But it
may, I think, be seen that in this way the electors have in reality
ceased to have any weight in the elections - have in very truth
ceased to have the exercise of any will whatever. They are mere
names, and no more. Stat nominis umbra. The election of the
President is made by universal suffrage, and not by a college of
electors. The words as they are written are still obeyed; but the
Constitution in fact has been violated, for the spirit of it has
been changed in its very essence.
The President must have been born a citizen of the United States.
This is not necessary for the holder of any other office or for a
Senator or Representative; he must be thirty-four years old at the
time of his election.
His executive power is almost unbounded. He is much more powerful
than any minister can be with us, and is subject to a much lighter
responsibility. He may be impeached by the House of Representatives
before the Senate, but that impeachment only goes to the removal
from office and permanent disqualification for office.
