Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-14

another chapter OF Col. Benton's "Thir-
~ Years In the U. s. Senate" published
In the N. Y. Post.
Col. Benton, after giving an intereat-
ing review Of the circumstance Of the
Presidential election OF 1924, and speak
ing OF nominations by caucuses among
members Of Congress, till then practIced,
remarks:
They were dropped, and a different
mode OF concentrating public opinion was
adopted-that OF party nominations by
conventions OF delegates from the States.
This worked we'll at frat, the will OF
the people being strictly obeyed by the
delegates, and the majority making the
nomination. But ID quickly degenerated,
and became obnoxious TO all the objee-
tions to Congress caucus nominations,
and many others BESIDES. Members OF
Congress still attended them either as
delegates or as lobby managers. Per-
sous attended as delegates who had no
constituency. Delegates attended upon
cquiyocal appointments. Double sets
OF delegates sometimes came from the
sume State, and either were admitted or
rcpulsed. as suited the views of the ma
jority. Proxies were invented. Many
delegates attended with the sole view OF
establishing a claim for Office. and voted
accordingly. The two-thirds rule was
invented, TO. enable the minority TO con.
troll the majority; and the whole pro-
ceeding became anomalous aud irre-
sponsible, and subversIve Of the will Of
the people, leaving them no more con-
troll over the nomination than the sub
iects Of kings have over the birth OF the
child which Il born TO rule over them.-
King caucus IL as potent as any other
king In this respectj for whoever gets
the nomlnation-no matter how effected
becomes the candidate Of tho party,
from tho necessity Of the union against
tho opposite party, and from the lndispo-
sltion Of the great States TO 20 into tho
House Of Representatives 10 be balanced
by the small ones. This is the mode OF
making Presidents, praetissd by both
parties now. IL IL the virtual electionl
and thus the election OF the President
and Vice President Of tho United States
has passed--not only from tho college
collectors 10 which the constitution con.
hded Il, aud from the people TO whom the
practice under the constitution gave
u, and from the House Of Repre-
sentative which the constitution proyI :
ded a. ultimate arblters, but has gone
TO an anomalous, irresponsible body, un-
known TO law or constitution, unknown
10 the early ages OF our Government, and
much larger proportion VI interlopera
affaUAIna ..sL .sl....s In. a.
tending or Ia promoting the nomination
Of any particular man than 10 get one
elected who will enable them 10 eat OF
the public crib, who will give them key
TO the public crib. The evil IN destruc-
tive 10 the rights and sovereignty OF the
people and To the purity OF electIons.---
The remedy Ii IN the application OF the
democratic principle, the people TO vote
direct for President aud Vice President,
and a second election To be held immedi-
ately between tho two highest, " no one
the first trial. But this would require
an amendment OF the constitution, not 10
be effected but by a concurrence OF two.
thirds Of each house Of Congress and
the sanction OF three.lourths OF the States
Ia contamination TO which the strength
OF the people has not yet been equal
but OF which there II no reason 10 de.
spair. The great parliamentary reform
In Great Britain was eniy carried after
forty years Of continued, annual. pefse.
vering exertion. Our constitutional 70.
form, In this point OF the Presidential
election, may require but a few years. In
the meanwhile | am for the people 10 80,
lect a. we'll ne elect their candidates. ana
Tor reference 10 the House 10 choose
one out OF three presented by the peo,
pie, instead OF caucus Nomination o
whom u pleased, The House Repre-,
sentatiyes IL no longer tho small and
dangerous electoral college that II once
was. Instead OF thirteen States, We
now have lhifty.ose. Instead Of sixty
flye Representatives, We now have above
two hundred. Responsibility In the
House Il now we'll established, aud po'
lltieal ruin and personal humiliation A.
tend the violation OF the will OF the
states, No man could be elected now
or endeayof 20 be elected, (aitef the eg.
perIenee OF 1900 and isab,) who IL not
~ W. tr"N ~ WV ft-ff NtfN AHH tHHitp nl
majority Of the Union, The lesson oI
those times would deter imitation, ans
the democratic principle would agair
crush all that were instrumental IN
thwarting the public will. There Is no
longer the former danger from the House
OF Representatives, nor anything In u 4
justify apreyious resort 10 such assem-
biakes a. our rational conventions hav'
got 10 be. The House IL legal and re
sponsible. which the convention Is mol
with better chance for integrity, a
having been actually elected by the peo
pie, and more restrain, ID by position, b.
public opinion, and clause in the con
stItution from the acceptance Of oifiel
from the man they elect, IL s the con
stitutlonal empires and, until the eonsti
tuition Is amended, | am for acting upol
IL as IL Is.
0crA good old North carolinIan con
ceiving most violent, intense desire 4
4ohra Al a