The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-11-13


The project Of change 10 The mode Of elect.
Jog the President, 10 direct vote " the peo-
pie, Las been sdvocsted for some time by many
Of the Opposition pssssss and orators 10 the
North, aud by = few prominent men in the
South, foremost among whom IL Col. BEsros,
Of Missouri. OF course this scheme has been
uniformly opposed By the Democratic party ~
intensely federal. On utter ignoring Of the grea,
doctrine Of States righn--the sheet anchor Of
our equality under the Consultation. The idea
however. b still fully Cherished BY great many
this side Of MAsox and DIIoxs lioe. On this
suhject, We nod in m exchange paper the FOL
lowing article, which embodies our own view,
10 completely, end presents them no iorcibly
that ~ cordially endorse them, and - such
submit the article 10 our readers
"A New York journal proposes that. in Tho
election Of President, the electoral colleges
should be abolished; hat the vote should bt
by tho aggregate majority. and not By States
snd that ths candidate receiving the highes,
number Of votes should be President. while III,
one receiving tho next highest should be- Vic
President.
"Ihn h not the first TINA such psopositiot
has been. sdvsoced. Its advocates dwcll ON th,
fact that. under the present system, Presitlcn
Ia sometimes CHOSEN, who has really y minorit,
Of the popular vote. Such result. for exam
pie, 10 now likely 70 happen 1t this election. viii
three candidates in tin field; for the succxsiu
one, from present appearances, will not be sp
10 get more than plurality. II seems pausi
BILE, therefore, TO desire q change.
And II tho United States were consolida
ted government, the alteration could not b,
made too soon. II IL in forgetting that TIN
Union IL democratic, federal government
virtually but compact between indepndcn
States the error Of those who call fo
this change lies. The founders Of the Consti
be elected by the people at large. but by th'
pcoplc Of the several States. They designet
that the State element should be preserved II
the choice OF the Executive, and not swalowet
up IN that OF the nation aud hence ths pro
vision II the time should ever come when thu
mode Of electing President should be altered
M proposed. the result would b. radical change
In the balance Of the ConAtitution, for not on
ly would the smaller States lose one Of thei
principal guards. but the State element woulc
b. weakened, and the federal power vastly
strengthened. We do not think that all who
advocate this alteration have duly weighet
these consequences.
''Some of them. however. have. 10 fact
many call for this change, precisely because
they ave II Is centIalising From the iounda
ton OF the Union. there have always been mel
dcsirous Of stretching the federal authority
eager % reduce the States to the condition o
mere Proynccs resolutc 10 govern the whol'
by an absolute majority, Us u the several mem
bers Of the coufisieracy had even been melte
down 10 one. The election OF President by
an aggregate majority Of oil the votes. would
bc. they know. u considerable step in that d.
rection, In fact, this proposed measure Is on
y one. out OF many. which are continually be
ing made. now In one shape, y ia another
to treat the American Eol 1 ~ citizen,
OF different States, united TO- ,Iain specific
purposes. but as wholly the people Of one na
ton. to be governed aud moulded to one uuva
wing VT Of institutions. But all this Is cleur
y against the spirit Of the federal compact
ljeit better or worse. IL Il not constitutional
and ill the constitution IL altered, till the States
arr consolidated. 1t Is wrong
When, therefore you hear II proposed "a
change the mode Of electiDg the President, r,
member that II is u radical change In the con
stitntion. IL Is direct step towards legal
zing Capitalization, and that every man wis
wishes State rights, ought 10 be Immediately
on his guard"