US Presidency
1891

If this is accomplished, we shall then have the three great departments of the Government in the grasp of the gerrymander, the legislative and executive directly and the judiciary indirectly through the power of appointment. An election implies a body of electors having prescribed qualifications, each one of whom has an equal value and influence in determining the result. So when the Constitution provides that each State shall appoint ( elect ), in such manner as the legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, etc., an unrestricted power was not given to the legislatures in the selection of the methods to be used. A republican form of government is guaranteed by the Constitution to each State, and the power given by the same instrument to the legislatures of the States to prescribe methods for the choice by the State of electors must be exercised under that limitation.