New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-30

The Chicago Dtmocrat objects to our suggestion
Of plan whereby the People may vote their first
choice respectively for President and Vce-Presi-
dent superseding all necessity for holding National
Conventions and nominating exclusive party candi-
dates. (We have no objection to either COnyen.
tions or candidates-,he more the merrier-Only
leave every citizen free to vote for the of his
own choice, without throwing away his vote or
casting it against his psrty) The objection of
The Democrat, as We recollect it, is that, under
our plan, three or four of the largest States may
combine and elect President against the wishes
Of the (disded) smaller ones.
Undoubtedly, if New-YotA, Pennsylvania and
Ohio were to combine their votes on common
ticket, while the smaller States were divided among
half dozen, the fayortes Of the former would be
elected. But
/. The large States never did, and probably
never will, so combine. Never yet, when the
choice of candidate for President was dubious,
have New-Ycrk, Pennsylvania and Ohio gone to-
gether in the National Convention of either party.
New-York and Pennsyivana are morally sure TO
have diverse preferences Whenever the choice is
not practically unanimous. Ohio has often diff
ferent choice from either Of her taller sisters The
chance of these three combining to elect q candi-
date whom the smaller States dislike, is just equal
to the chance Of catching ever so many arks when
the sky falls. And
III. II these three States wsr. united in their
choice, it would scarcely ever be Oyerrulod IN
National Conrention. 1t would be quite as easily
made triumphant there as before the People. For
III. The fact that the three great States had
combined to make President obnoxious TO the
smaller States would inevitably lead to an adverse
combination. Candidates having no chance would
be dropped Ike shot, until the strongest of the
candidates preferred by the smaller States could
receive nearly all their votes. And those votes
would largely oyeIbasnce those of the great States.
So there is really nothing in this sma-State appre.
hension.
| The Mdueh ChunL Gazette proposes Instead of
our plan, the appointmen Mt Of day certain by the
| Republican National Committee on which the Re-
publicaIs of every State shall assemble in their
several townships or election districts and vote
directly for Republican candidates for President
! and ' ce-PIesident-ther votes to be returned to
their several State Committees, which would report
| the aggregates 10 the National Committee, which
would proclaim the persons having the highest
vote, respectively, The Republican candidates for
| President aud Vice President.
Our objections to this plan briefly are
|. Ii subjects The country 10 the expense excite
ment and loss of time OF two Presidential Eec.
| tlODs instead Of one The cost OF this extra or
nominating election could not be less (for both
parties) than Five Millions Of Dollars qusdrennally
! Every penny Of This is saved by our plan.
| .. There could in the nature Of things, be no
efficient safeguards against the voting by members
of one party a. the Primary Election Of the other.
Such yotrg is extensively carried on row; it would
certainly be aggravated by having Presidential
| Primary election. The members Of one party
might extensively vote BY precoDcert at the Pri-
mary Election Of the other in order to foist upon
their opponents an unpopular and easily beaten
candidate. But under our plan no man can vote to
make the candidates Of the Republican or Of the
| Democratic patty who does not at the same time
vote to elect the candidate Of majority Of that
party, whoever Re may be. And no man could vote
10 make tie Republican or Democratic candidate
who was not decided by the Inspectors to be a
legal voter.
We beg every citizen to consider tbs matter
thoroughly. Can there be better way of deter.