MARCH 16, 02:10 EDT </P>

By LAURIE ASSEO
Associated Press Writer

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) - Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas

says people who want to abolish the Electoral College should think

carefully about why the Constitution's framers created it.

Speaking Thursday at James Madison University, Thomas said,

``Before people go making changes to something that was thoughtfully

implemented, they should be as thoughtful in what the consequences

would be.''>

George W. Bush won the presidency by electoral votes even though

he lost last year's nationwide popular vote to Al Gore by more

than a half-million votes. Some exasperated Americans suggested

amending the Constitution to do away with the Electoral College.

``They should understand why it's there, as a protection so

regions won't dominate other regions,'' the justice said. ``They

should see that before they go and change these things just because

they don't like a result.'' </P>

Thomas also said it would be a ``huge mistake'' to view the

nation's highest court as basing its decisions on politics. </P>

>During the presidential election case in December, ``I just

wish that there was some way that the American people could truly

have seen the court function with this thing that had everybody

else torn apart,'' he said. ``I still say after almost 10 terms,

I have yet to hear the first unkind word.''

The court issued a sharply divided 5-4 decision that ended

the Florida ballot recount and the effort by Gore's campaign to

save his candidacy.

Asked whether he believed there would be a new effort to overturn

the right to abortion under the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, Thomas

said, ``I don't have a clue. I have one vote.''

Thomas said Americans should not get into a ``major food fight''

over issues such as affirmative action but should be thoughtful,

as the Constitution's framers were.

>``Now it's a war of words, it's a war of politics, and I don't

see where it does any good,'' he said.

Thomas said he had always thought affirmative action was intended

to help disadvantaged children instead of helping more well-off

children based on race.

>Thomas, one of the court's most conservative justices, noted

the court has been criticized for recent rulings that have tipped

the federal-state balance of power toward the states. But he said

state power puts a check on the federal government and protects

individual liberty.

>Such emphasis on state authority should not be blamed for the

evils of slavery and segregation, he added.

``The men and women who perpetrated both slavery and segregation

were those who committed the wrongs and who perverted the American

system of government for their own ends and their own prejudices,''

Thomas said.

The justice said he once was questioned by a man who thought

he interpreted the Constitution too narrowly. He said he told

the man he sought to follow the framers' intent and added, ``Would

you like me sitting up here 40 years doing as I pleased?'' The

man replied, ''`You know, you've got a point,''' Thomas said.