Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/101

Rh by repeating the whole proces, are reduced to twelve econd electors, the firt of whom names three, and the ret two a piece: thee twenty-five draw again from as many balls, nine of which are gilt; this reduces them to nine third electors, each of whom chooes five: which forty-five are reduced, by a repetition of the ballot, to eleven fourth electors, and they have the appointment of forty-one, who are the direct electors of the doge. The choice generally turns upon two or three candidates, whoe names are put into another box, and drawn out: the firt whoe name is drawn retires, and proclamation is made for objections againt him; if any are made, he comes in, and is heard in his defence: then the electors proceed to determine by ayes and noes; if there are twenty-five ayes, he is choen, if not, another name is read, and the fame deciion repeated, until there are twenty-five in the affirmative.

The grand council, ever anxious to limit the power of the doge, oon thought it improper that the public act hould be igned by chancellors appointed by him, and accordingly determined to appoint this officer themelves.

The enate then began to think it too great a repect to the people to have the new doge preented to them for their acclamations, and ordained that a yndic hould congratulate him in the name of the people on his election. The populace, who had weekly urrendered their rights, were very angry at being deprived of this how, and proclaimed a doge of their own; but he was afraid of the contet, and retired, and the people having no man of weight to head them, gave up this point.

The new doge, who had much contempt for popular government, and ome reentment for the light