New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-06-19
rbs O,..dox Election Bill.

\ concerted howl is set up III liic L'So-i oe'
periodicals. over the loss oil the bill requiring that
Electors of President and Vice President shall
be chosen in every State on the same day-to
wit, the day OF our own State Election, the Tues
day succeeding the first Monday IN November
winch i.le this year on the 5th of that month.
We believe this clamor is intended TO cove! and
excuse fraudulent voting next Fall, and as such
shall expose lis futihty.
We are favorable TO the object of this bill, and,
if it had passed the House the first mouth IL the
Session, we should have urged the prompt con-
cufrcnce of the Senate Bat, simple as 1t is, 1t
did not pass the House I'LL about the lst Of JunS,
after The Legislatures OF nearly every State thai
holds Session in the year before the Election
had adjourned The passage OF this act would
have required the Resembling OF a large num-
Der OF the Legislatures IN Special session. at
heavy expense to the People, merely 10 put the
day OF Election one or two forward or back
Would the object repay the expense We think
not.
We know that the advocates Of the bill asser
that il would override all the State Laws, and
change the day By its own unaided force. Per-
maps so yet we do not thiak any Governor
would be safe in assuming that the State Laws
had been so nuiiicd by an act Of Congress, and
giving notice for the day Of Election accordingly.
Where is the Governor who would hazard the loss
Of the State vote by pursuing such a course
Bear in mind that the House now in being, which
IL
ample of multiplying law of the last Congress,
and admitting twenty Members who were chosen
in express, avowed violation OF it. Who would
t-Ist them with q new ground of cavil
But then, If it were safe TO assume that the
State law is nullified by une Of Congress, no man
will contend that this effect extends beyond the
choice of Electors. The day of choosing State
Officers is certainly not changed Cyan act OF Con-
gross. Blu; Massachusetts, DelawQre, MiSSiSSip-
pi, .Michigan and New-JerSey (for Congress- hold
State Elections at the same time with the Pres-
DENTAL. All these must at any rate have special
sessions of their several Legislatures hold State
Elections on one day and Presidential day or
two before or after, which would create great con-
fusion and needless expense. South Carolina too
must call her Legislature together out ol season,
to provide for conformity with the new Manda-
mus Act Is tins reasonable? We see no ade-
quate motive for it, The Wings ready to
pass the bill so as to take effect all future EIec-
tons, giving The States opportunity to conform to
it without cost or difficulty. But not must
take effect now or never, said the other party.
Perhaps they Will be wiling TO have it pass next
winter, and take effect thcnceiorth. Atany rate,
IRE shall.
We suspect these gentlemen arc not DESTROYS
that Ono and PENNSYLVANIA, which vote the
Friday before all other States, shall be reporting
ia Newly ork, Indiana, Michigan, New-Jersoy,
SC while the voting is going on But they had
the advantage OF this when those States went
with them ; now we do not think many States
should be put TO expense merely TO silence the
eloquent voices which we confidently expect 10
hear uttered by these leading States FOR CLAY and
FRELIyGnuysEN. STILL we weuld have advocated
the passage OF the One. Day bill, II The House
had prOmptIy rnatured 1t.