democracy in america-1-µÚ33ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
In¡¡the¡¡examination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡institutions¡¡and¡¡the¡¡political¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡social¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡struck¡¡by¡¡the¡¡admirable¡¡harmony¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gifts¡¡of¡¡fortune¡¡and¡¡the¡¡efforts¡¡of¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡nation¡¡possessed¡¡two¡¡of¡¡the¡¡main¡¡causes¡¡of¡¡internal¡¡peace£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡new¡¡country£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡inhabited¡¡by¡¡a¡¡people¡¡grown¡¡old¡¡in¡¡the¡¡exercise¡¡of¡¡freedom¡£¡¡¡¡America¡¡had¡¡no¡¡hostile¡¡neighbors¡¡to¡¡dread£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡American¡¡legislators£»¡¡profiting¡¡by¡¡these¡¡favorable¡¡circumstances£»¡¡created¡¡a¡¡weak¡¡and¡¡subordinate¡¡executive¡¡power¡¡which¡¡could¡¡without¡¡danger¡¡be¡¡made¡¡elective¡£
It¡¡then¡¡only¡¡remained¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡choose¡¡the¡¡least¡¡dangerous¡¡of¡¡the¡¡various¡¡modes¡¡of¡¡election£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rules¡¡which¡¡they¡¡laid¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡point¡¡admirably¡¡correspond¡¡to¡¡the¡¡securities¡¡which¡¡the¡¡physical¡¡and¡¡political¡¡constitution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡already¡¡afforded¡£¡¡¡¡Their¡¡object¡¡was¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡election¡¡which¡¡would¡¡best¡¡express¡¡the¡¡choice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡with¡¡the¡¡least¡¡possible¡¡excitement¡¡and¡¡suspense¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡admitted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place¡¡that¡¡the¡¡simple¡¡majority¡¡should¡¡be¡¡decisive£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡difficulty¡¡was¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡this¡¡majority¡¡without¡¡an¡¡interval¡¡of¡¡delay¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡most¡¡important¡¡to¡¡avoid¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡rarely¡¡happens¡¡that¡¡an¡¡individual¡¡can¡¡at¡¡once¡¡collect¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡suffrages¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡difficulty¡¡is¡¡enhanced¡¡in¡¡a¡¡republic¡¡of¡¡confederate¡¡States£»¡¡where¡¡local¡¡influences¡¡are¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡preponderate¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡means¡¡by¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡obviate¡¡this¡¡second¡¡obstacle¡¡was¡¡to¡¡delegate¡¡the¡¡electoral¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nation¡¡to¡¡a¡¡body¡¡of¡¡representatives¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡election¡¡rendered¡¡a¡¡majority¡¡more¡¡probable£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fewer¡¡the¡¡electors¡¡are£»¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡is¡¡the¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡their¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡a¡¡final¡¡decision¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡also¡¡offered¡¡an¡¡additional¡¡probability¡¡of¡¡a¡¡judicious¡¡choice¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡then¡¡remained¡¡to¡¡be¡¡decided¡¡whether¡¡this¡¡right¡¡of¡¡election¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡entrusted¡¡to¡¡a¡¡legislative¡¡body£»¡¡the¡¡habitual¡¡representative¡¡assembly¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nation£»¡¡or¡¡whether¡¡an¡¡electoral¡¡assembly¡¡should¡¡be¡¡formed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡express¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡proceeding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡nomination¡¡of¡¡a¡¡President¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Americans¡¡chose¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡alternative£»¡¡from¡¡a¡¡belief¡¡that¡¡the¡¡individuals¡¡who¡¡were¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡were¡¡incompetent¡¡to¡¡represent¡¡the¡¡wishes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nation¡¡in¡¡the¡¡election¡¡of¡¡its¡¡chief¡¡magistrate£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡are¡¡chosen¡¡for¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡year£»¡¡the¡¡constituency¡¡they¡¡represent¡¡might¡¡have¡¡changed¡¡its¡¡opinion¡¡in¡¡that¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡if¡¡the¡¡legislature¡¡was¡¡empowered¡¡to¡¡elect¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡executive¡¡power£»¡¡its¡¡members¡¡would£»¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡¡before¡¡the¡¡election£»¡¡be¡¡exposed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡manoeuvres¡¡of¡¡corruption¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tricks¡¡of¡¡intrigue£»¡¡whereas¡¡the¡¡special¡¡electors¡¡would£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡jury£»¡¡remain¡¡mixed¡¡up¡¡with¡¡the¡¡crowd¡¡till¡¡the¡¡day¡¡of¡¡action£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡would¡¡appear¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sole¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡giving¡¡their¡¡votes¡£
It¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡established¡¡that¡¡every¡¡State¡¡should¡¡name¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡number¡¡of¡¡electors£»¡¡*v¡¡who¡¡in¡¡their¡¡turn¡¡should¡¡elect¡¡the¡¡President£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡observed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡assemblies¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡choice¡¡of¡¡a¡¡chief¡¡magistrate¡¡had¡¡been¡¡entrusted¡¡in¡¡elective¡¡countries¡¡inevitably¡¡became¡¡the¡¡centres¡¡of¡¡passion¡¡and¡¡of¡¡cabal£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡sometimes¡¡usurped¡¡an¡¡authority¡¡which¡¡did¡¡not¡¡belong¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡their¡¡proceedings£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡uncertainty¡¡which¡¡resulted¡¡from¡¡them£»¡¡were¡¡sometimes¡¡prolonged¡¡so¡¡much¡¡as¡¡to¡¡endanger¡¡the¡¡welfare¡¡of¡¡the¡¡State£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡determined¡¡that¡¡the¡¡electors¡¡should¡¡all¡¡vote¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡same¡¡day£»¡¡without¡¡being¡¡convoked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡same¡¡place¡£¡¡*w¡¡This¡¡double¡¡election¡¡rendered¡¡a¡¡majority¡¡probable£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡certain£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡was¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡as¡¡many¡¡differences¡¡might¡¡exist¡¡between¡¡the¡¡electors¡¡as¡¡between¡¡their¡¡constituents¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡case¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡have¡¡recourse¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡three¡¡measures£»¡¡either¡¡to¡¡appoint¡¡new¡¡electors£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡consult¡¡a¡¡second¡¡time¡¡those¡¡already¡¡appointed£»or¡¡to¡¡defer¡¡the¡¡election¡¡to¡¡another¡¡authority¡£¡¡The¡¡first¡¡two¡¡of¡¡these¡¡alternatives£»¡¡independently¡¡of¡¡the¡¡uncertainty¡¡of¡¡their¡¡results£»¡¡were¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡delay¡¡the¡¡final¡¡decision£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡perpetuate¡¡an¡¡agitation¡¡which¡¡must¡¡always¡¡be¡¡accompanied¡¡with¡¡danger¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡third¡¡expedient¡¡was¡¡therefore¡¡adopted£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡agreed¡¡that¡¡the¡¡votes¡¡should¡¡be¡¡transmitted¡¡sealed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡President¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Senate£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they¡¡should¡¡be¡¡opened¡¡and¡¡counted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Senate¡¡and¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Representatives¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡candidates¡¡has¡¡a¡¡majority£»¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Representatives¡¡then¡¡proceeds¡¡immediately¡¡to¡¡elect¡¡a¡¡President£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡that¡¡it¡¡must¡¡fix¡¡upon¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡candidates¡¡who¡¡have¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡numbers¡£¡¡*x
£§Footnote¡¡v£º¡¡As¡¡many¡¡as¡¡it¡¡sends¡¡members¡¡to¡¡Congress¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡number¡¡of¡¡electors¡¡at¡¡the¡¡election¡¡of¡¡1833¡¡was¡¡288¡£¡¡¡¡£¨See¡¡¡¨The¡¡National¡¡Calendar£»¡¨¡¡1833¡££©£§
£§Footnote¡¡w£º¡¡The¡¡electors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡State¡¡assemble£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡transmit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡central¡¡government¡¡the¡¡list¡¡of¡¡their¡¡individual¡¡votes£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡result¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vote¡¡of¡¡the¡¡majority¡££§¡¡¡¡£§Footnote¡¡x£º¡¡In¡¡this¡¡case¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡States£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡members£»¡¡which¡¡decides¡¡the¡¡question£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡New¡¡York¡¡has¡¡not¡¡more¡¡influence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡debate¡¡than¡¡Rhode¡¡Island¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡the¡¡citizens¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Union¡¡are¡¡first¡¡consulted¡¡as¡¡members¡¡of¡¡one¡¡and¡¡the¡¡same¡¡community£»¡¡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£º¡¡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£º¡¡£§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£º¡¡*a¡¡but¡¡who¡¡can¡¡refrain¡¡from¡¡astonishment¡¡at¡¡the¡¡causes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡storm¡£
£§Footnote¡¡a£º¡¡£§Not¡¡always¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡election¡¡of¡¡President¡¡Lincoln¡¡was¡¡the¡¡signal¡¡of¡¡civil¡¡war¡£¡¡¡¡¡Translator's¡¡Note¡££§£§
Chapter¡¡VIII£º¡¡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¡¡t