The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-19
Virtue In the People Our Only Safety

Virtue In the People Our Only Safety
Virtue is nothing but voluntary obedience
to truth, and if the people Of the United
States continue to develop the minds of the
youth by healthful education, and to brinl
them up in the practice of moral duties-it
conformity of life and conversation to tbt
moral law-there need be no fear Of the per
petuity of our Union. Under the title of "T he
Presidency to Avoid tho Convention
System Of President-making," Mr.. Larz An
derson, worthy citizen of Cincinnati, in the
Commercial Of yesterday, commonds new
style Electoral College, suggested by Judge
Nicholas, of Louisville, KY. At this juncturo
in our national affairs, when the North has il
in her power to select President rejecting tho
views Of the maj ajority of the people, the Judge
proposes to her to magnanimously waive her
attained advantage, "to forego the mere sec
tional benefit desirable from its superior power
in President making under our present sys
tenn" He recommends that Congress be peti
toned to amend the Constitution without de-
lay, and submit the amendments to the Statoa
who could vote thereon, aud if approved, pas.
the same before the time for choice the mex
President.
This is the plan proposed:
Amend the Constitution go as TO procure
the form alton of an Electoral College, and AL
election of President and Vice Prosident sub
stantially as follows: .....
/. The people of the States having less thar
million population, to elect one; those with
million, but less than two millions, TO cleo
two; those with two, but less tfan three mil
lions, to elect three; those with three, but less
than four millions, to elect four, and thOs'
having four millions, to elect FIVE Electors.
2. The Chief Justice, or Speaker of the Sen
ate, or Speaker Of the House of Representa-
tives, to be the presiding officer of the Eecto
raj College thus formed, and have the casting
vote in all cases of tie.
8. The Electors to be listed in the alphabet.
ical order Of their names; and arranged, ac-
cording to that order into six classes, as neal y
equal in numbers as may be, and numbered
from one to six. Any surplus numbers to be
distributed among the classes by lot.
4. Class one to nominate an Eector from
class two; the latter from class three; the latter
from class four; the latter from class FIVE; the
latter from class six, which shall nominate
from class one.
5. From the six Electors thus put in nom
ination, two to be drawn by lot; from whom
the College to elect one for President and the
other for Vice President.
8. No Office to be incompatible with that o
Elector.
If this convention meets, selected on tht
basis of the census of 1850, which needs mus
be, as that for. 1850 is not yet taken, New Yorl
would have four votes; Pennsylvania, thre,
Virginia, two; Ohio, two; Tennessee, two; and
all the other States, one each; total, forty ohs
votes; and, in case Of tie, that of the Chiei
Justice making forty two. The connection Of
the Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court with
political decisions, and with the choosing Of q
President, we esteem to be unwise, and faulty
proposition. Assembled and arranged into
four or six classes, nominations of each Other
proceed, and out of the four or six nominated
two names are to be drawn by lot, and one Of
these, the forty-on are to select as President
the remaining one to bo vice. President.
BY this mode would be exhibited the straps
anomaly of the great politicians of the country
clustered in one room drawing straws or
throwing high-die. With the chance of o
little shuning Of the cards and cheating round
tho board.
Let US adhere to the plan we now have,
until we can feel assured that game Of
chance is preferable to choice of the people.
We make mistakes; get sometimes inferior
men; that is not so serious fault as lack Of
virtue and independence Of the people. The
plan as we now view it docs not promise to be
one that will be favored. The patriotism Of
the drawer, and the indorser of the bill ere
beyond doubt.
A PoRrER. RoBs HIS EMPLOYERS or Sc OO0