Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829 [Speech in favor of the twelfth amendment]

Pickering argues that the proposed twelfth amendment, which would reform the Electoral College, would help realize the intent of the framers and give the Constitution "stability and duration." Referring to the contentious, drawn-out presidential election of 1800, he asks who would have answered for the consequences, if a president had not been elected by March 4th, and the Constitution had thus run out. He notes that the framers expected amendments, and points out that "it is a well known fact that the amendments already incorporated into the constitution have greatly increased its friends." Pickering comments on disagreements between big and small states re division of power. He questions whether opponents to this amendment are afraid that it will "also increase its [the Constitution's] friends and stability and in that way prevent and destroy a favorite object with some, namely a division of the Union between the northern and southern states."