New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-09
THE TRIBUNE.
PoEisica. EKissory....No. Elk.
tPteparyd for The Tribune by E. WILLIAMS.

Il would be an interesting subject Of inquiry to
ascertain The mode 10 which the Electors of Presi-
! deat ard Vice President have been chosen in each
State since The formation of the Constitution Re
serving this task for some future occasion, may
nov remark that it was probably the intention and
expectation Of the trainers of the Constitution that
Presidential Electors sneuld be chosen by the
people in the respective States, but it was thought
expedient TO leave the mode 10 the State Legisla-
lures. In many of the States, however, Electors
have been at times chosen by the Legislatures
themselves; although the custom has been recently
discontinued in all the States except South Caro-
Ina At the first election of Washington and Ad-
ans the Electors in Massachusetts, and perhaps
some other States, "ere chosen by the people in
Districts, which mode was proposed by Hamilton
inthe Convention that framed the Constitution
Massachusetts then gave unanimous vote for
Washington and Adams, while in several States
the votes were divided as to Vice President, even
where the District system was rot adopted 1t
will be found that Electoral Colleges chosen by
Legislatures have frequently given divided votes
both for President ard Vice President It's possible
that The District system for the choice of Electors,
in preference to either the General Ticket plan
which has been in use for several past elections
or choice by Legislative bodies, may at some fu-
tme day become party question, and a fruitful
source of agitation.
we have already mentioned that the State Of
Ncw-York did not vote fer President and Vice
Presiden, at The Election in 1889, in consequence
ofro appointment of Electors having been made
Ii may BE- well to state the causes Of this omission,
by glaucpg at the politics of this State at that
period The United States Constitution was
adopted by New-York in July, 1888, by State
Convention of ,sixty-seven Delegates, chosen by |
the people, which met at Poughkeepsie The |
Couaties of New-York, Wes,chcster, Kings and
Albany, Columbia, Duchess, Ulster Orange, |
Montgomery aud Washington chose Anti-Feder.
aists and the Counties Of Suffolk and Queens,
sent divided Delegations. Although decided
majority OF the Convention were elected as Anti
Federalists, the Constitution was finally adopted
by majority of three votes
The Legislature were called together by the
Governor, George Cinton,) who had been the
leader et the opposition to the adoption of the
purpose Of laying before them the proceedings Of
the Cony4ntion at Poughkeensie The Fetierais,s
had majority in the Senate: the Anti-Federalists
majority in the Assembly, and on joint ballot
The Senate early sent to the Assembly bill pre-
yidDg for the appointment of Presidential Elec-
tors, bat the Assembly rejected it, by vote of 33
p2l Other attempts were made to effect the |
same purpose at this Session, but all were OF no
avail The Electoral vote of the State was losti
this difference between the two Houses. Four
years after this aud preparatory to the second
Presidential term, law was passed, in l702, pro-
ylins>ioy the choice Of Presidential Electors by |
the Legislature, which law remained in force until
after the election Of President in 1924; when the |
agitation of the :. Peoples question" broke down
the system and the law was repealed; leaving the
people, since that period, the privilege of voting
for P, ,esiJential Electors, viz from 1925 to 1910
inclusive.
The New-York Legislature of 1888, in tie hos
tity of the majority of one branch thereof to the
United States Constitution, disagreed as to the
mode OF choosing Senators to represent the State
in Congress. Consequently no Senators were
elected by that Legislature, and New-York was
rot represented at the first session of Congress
They however passed law dividing the State
into six Districts fer the election of six Members
of the House OF Representatives OF the United
States. These Members were elected by the peo-
pie in time tc take their at the frat session
In April 1899, the State Election took place in
New York, parties having then been completely
organized for the contest. Gov. George Clinton
was nominated for reelection by the Anti Federal
ISIS, and Judge Robert Yates by the Federalisls.
The latter had been opposed to the Constitution,
and. ss Delegate to the Convention which framed
the Constitution, had withdrawn, with Mr.. Lam
sing, in obedience 10 what they considered the in
suuc,isns OF the Legislature by whom they we're
elected Delegates, namely; that they were to assist
in revising the Articles of the old Confederacy, and
not TO make q new Constitution. Alter the Cen
s,itu,ion had been adopted by the State, Judge
Yates publicly declared that before it was ratified
he had been opposed to it, but 1t was now his and
every other mans duty to support IL" At this
Election, Col Aaron Burr and a few other Anti
Federalis,s acted with the Federasts in the sup
port Of Judge Yates The contest was most
spirited one resulting as follows as to the vote for
Governor:
For George Clinton .6,S9l
'' Robert Yates. ......-.--. ,962
Majority for Gov. Clin'on..... 429
The above shows the fun vote of the1State in
1889, the Governor and Senator's being then elected
by the ireeholacrs.
For members of the Legislature the Federal
lists were successful in electing majority in both
branches. The Counties of NewYerk, West.
n.,,.ka,s sthuny f,,lur,h;a a,d Mo,s