In his John Marshall and the Constitution, Edward Corwin makes the astonishing (to me) remark: "He [Marshall] foiled a scheme which his party associates had devised, in view of the approaching presidential election, to transfer to a congressional committee the final authority in canvassing the electoral vote--a plan all too likely to precipitate civil war." (Emphasis added) I think I understood why such a plan would be controversial, and I have a decent grasp of the political culture during this period that resulted in the "revolution of 1800." But what were the particular historical circumstances that would render a House vote a trigger of a civil war? If the answer to this question is obvious, I'd be happy to be instructed off-list. Thanks.
Bobby Lipkin
Widener University School of Law
Delaware
