2477. ELECTIONS (Presidential, 1800), National Convention and.—
I have been
above all things, solaced by the prospect which
opened on us, in the event of a non-election
of a President; in which case, the Federal Government
would have been in the situation of a
clock or watch run down. There was no idea
of force, nor of any occasion for it. A convention,
invited by the republican members of
Congress, with the virtual President and Vice-President,
would have been on the ground in
eight weeks, would have repaired the Constitution
where it was defective, and wound it up
again. This peaceable and legitimate resource,
to which we are in the habit of implicit obedience,
superseding all appeal to force, and being
always within our reach, shows a precious
principle of self-preservation in our composition,
till a change of circumstances shall take
place, which is not within prospect at any definite
period.—
To Dr. Joseph Priestley. Washington ed. iv, 374.
Ford ed., viii, 22.
(W.
March. 1801)
