Different plans were proposed, including: The interests of slave-holding states may have influenced the choice of the Electoral College as the mode of electing the president.

When the entire draft of the Constitution was considered, Gouverneur Morris brought the debate back up and decided he wanted the people to choose the president.

Another factor here was the so-called Three-Fifths Compromise, which gave added power to the slave-holding states under the Electoral College, which they would not have had under any likely form of popular vote.

Second, the electors would be: ...men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station and acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation, and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice.

Such men would be "most likely to have the information and discernment" to make a good choice and to avoid the election of anyone "not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications."

Hamilton expressed confidence that: It will not be too strong to say, that there will be a constant probability of seeing the station filled by characters pre-eminent for ability and virtue.

The writer further speculates, "Is it not probable, at least possible, that the president who is to be vested with all this demiomnipotence—who is not chosen by the community; and who consequently, as to them, is irresponsible and independent—that he, I say, by a few artful and dependent emissaries in Congress, may not only perpetuate his own personal administration but also make it hereditary?

[3] Hamilton, James Madison and the other designers of the electoral college never expected the emergence of organized political parties who would choose their candidates in competition with each other.