James Polk was supporting an amendment to abolish the electoral college in 1826

“Reading a biography of James Polk and was surprised to learn that his first speech as a member of the House in 1826 was supporting an amendment to abolish the electoral college, the twelfth amendment passed in 1804. It was the result of the defeat of Andrew Jackson, Polk’s mentor, for president that year by a secret deal between John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay prior to the election. The deal was that if elected president Adams would nominate Clay to be Secretary of State. Adams was elected because Clay delivered to Adams the votes of three states, including Kentucky where Jackson was revered. Adams immediately nominated Clay Secretary of State. Two centuries later we still have the electoral college.”