New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-07

staple OF National Convention are quite aware that
the candidate whom they may make " if chosen pres
dent owe FAR more TO them, and be likely 20 evince
deeper gratitude, than one whom they, echOing tie
Peoples voice simply proclaim. And besides, great
men have convictions, prepossessions past, and pre-
sent some sharp and angles to the public obser
walton: tLey ere Oh the record having setel deci
syey and iIfueDtally at great ePocas in the Nations
history they cannot easily tie tmid and obscure
mediocritest De commended IS having been which
ever eide Of great sectional other distractng qles
ton happens to be popular in the locality where the
representation is made. So long as these Conventions
of spolhunters shall be permitted in effect to choose
two persons Of whom one inevitably be the Presi
dent e must expect 20 have feeble trimming Chief
Magistrates at least three terms in four.
So far we believe there is little difference of sen.i
ment among rejecting men but when we come to the
consideration Of remedies wide diversity of opinion
is n snifested large number among whom Gov JOHN
son of Tennessee is conspicuous throw the blame on
our Electoral machinery aud propose that future cleo
tiors Of President be made by Direct Vote of the
People But what would this effect The evil is not
want Of correspondence between the Peoples votes
and those of the Electors chosen by them but rather
the lack of essential practical liberty to vote they
please l may be perfectly consciOus that A. Is far
filter to be President than B. bat if A. be not, while
B. is, regularly nominated candidate for the post
IT is sheer faulty to throw away few dozens
Of votes on . candidate whom they only expose
TO ridcule when they might be so cast as to effect
some good if not. the highest On the score OF con-
veneDce and economy, it may be expedient to dis
pepse with tie ElectOrs but nothing would be gained
thereby to the cause of personal independence and IN
tranmeed voting.
Nor will the People ever consent to make their Chief
Nagstracy the prize of what may be termed 1" scrub
race To put three, four, ten or dozen candidates
in the field and leave the result to the accident OF one
or another receiving votes than any competitor
this will not be tolerated revolt protest to
be succeeded BY q and more beara6le adjustment
of the party harness. Every intelligent voter, with
many who might be more intelligent without hurting
them wish to vote as to affirm uphold certain
principles which seem to him sound and important;
and none would be willing for second time to cast bis
vote that convictions opposed to his should pre-
vail in the conduct of the Government while those who
agreed with him were found by the vote at that
election to be majority of the Nation
The following bas long appeared to the best prac
teal solution of the debated problem
i. retain tHt as HON luahb
it useful and effective as follows:
2 Let there be 20 National Conventions; and should
ony be held let every voter treat its recommendations
just he would treat the haraDgues Of any barrOOm
where the merits of rival candidates discussed
accepting whatever commends itself to his experience
and reason and rejecting all beside.
3. Let as many candidates as willing TO run and
can find proposers be put on the track and let the
People be appealed to for decision Of the case Oa It's
merits and 10 facilitate this, let Electoral Tickets DO
nominated by each psrtyin every State, pledged to
vote for that candidate whom the largest number of
their supporters respectively may by Endorsement on
their several ballots, direct.
4. Election day having arrived, and the merits of
each candidate having been freely cauyassed, not ia
journals Of the adverse host but in those of that party
by whose vote he is Gf all to be chosen, let each
voter fiji at the baOtboxes the Electoral Ticket Of
his party, ndorsed with the of-say, Scott Ev
erett Fillmore, Clayton Crittenden, Bell, &c.-and
then let him deposit the Electoral ballot of his party,
Endorsed with the name of his fayOrte, aud counting
one not merely toward indicating the ascen iancy of
that party but toward making hsfavortets candidate
and (if the party shall preponderate) making him
President unless other of its candidates is pre-
ferred by still larger section of that party.
5. The Election being over, the ballots counted, aud
the QocaD result declared, let the inspectors AID
turning officers of each party revise the ballots thrown
by their party, count the Endorsements and certify
the actual result under penalty Of punishment as for
fsgrant perjury in of any betrayal of faith But
that would rarely or never occur.
This plan thus rudely outlined, requires no
amendment of the Constitution, and combines the
utmost personal freedom of choice with the assured
performance Of the more numerous party. Why not
give il trial
THE ERIE DIFFICyLrIEs.