New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-12-18

what was true OF this machinery in TIC PAS! Is .9e
of IL 10 TIE future A we'll

what was true OF this machinery In tae PAS! IS .Cge
Of i, 10 TIE future ss well,
Let US suppose for one moment that the man
aging politicians Of sll parties were really desr)us
that the People should selec; well as elect the
Preside ut-should decide not merely between the
candidates of the great rival parties but should
actual Y designate those candidates by their votes.
Does any one believe that there would BE- sny diff
emily in giving effect 10 that desire Con.ider tcat
the three 6rst Presidents were chosen without the
Intervention of auy Convention or Caucus machine
~ whatever. each being the uuquesilon,ble ffst
choice of q majority of the People at the time OF
his election The next two were designated r.
spectively by Csucus composed OF the Members
Of Congress Of the then dominant party; but this
machinery utterly broke down IN the attempt 70
elect a third. and was abandoned-we trustforever.
Then come two Presdents-J. Q. Adams and jack
,ou-escted without the aid Of Any Caucus or
Convention machinery whsteyer and then the
system of ncnlnstipg By National Convention
which dates back barely TO leS, was hrst IN
PRODUCED. not to grind out canddstes for Prerdtnt
for .Jack,on AID Clsy were the rncoubted and
urch.pcesble fist choce Of their respective par
,;es-but TO select TIE rival candidates Tor Vice
President. Gen. Harrison in 1-36 was agsln
,pcu,sneous candidate though nominated ey
National Convection for the contest oil Io'o.
since then. our Presidents have in effect been
made made by National Conventions, ard We do
not think the average product speaks well for the
machinery by which it was turned OUT. AT AL
events. we are confident that We should have mad
better Presidents. better Government and more
indt pendert spirit among the People, had there
been no National CONVEX tons and 10 exclusive
party csndida'es on either side, but every voter
permitted and invited to inscribe on his electoral
ballot tie names If the men Of bic Individual
choice for President and YicePresdent, with tee
assurance th,t his ballot would count one, not
merely to sard toe OF his party, but toward
making bis fay, rite the choice Of that psrty, and
thence the President, in ease that party should
choose msjority of The Electors throughout the
Union.
Let us repeat that the plan We advocate requires
no change in the Constitution, nor In its Electoral
machinery. All this is as Is would be II made e1-
pres.ly to allow that freedom and efficacy OF indl-
yidual choice for which we contend. All that Is
needed is simply that the Peoples Endorsements
on their ballots shall be counted AZ well as the BAL
lots themselves. And why should they not be
Who has any right to forbid and seek to obstruct
such count But if we suppose there are poilt'
clans who would make the attempt, we know 1t
can avail nothing if the People really want to select
their own candidate for President, as we believe
they do. law of ten lines Will settle the business
in each State beyond artifce or cayiL Here 10 rs
substance:
enable the People to vote directly FOX President and
Vice Presiden (.
Stc l. BE IL enacted, &C, That if any voter at any
election for Presidential Electors hereafter held IN this
State sha pee fit to indorse by writing or printing on
sucb ballot the of the persons be desires said
Electors to support for President Vice President or
both he may lawfully 30 so; and it shall be the duty
of the cany 10 @o--' .-a .V'oin Sucu ihuctse-
feIts alorg with the votes for Electors to which they
h,loru