The New York herald., 1868-05-31


States. Nj. Ashley further exposed the objection
able features q the present system of voting By
how from the refusal neglect or INABILITY Of fbs
electoro assemble and vote upon the day designated
by law. The adoption Of his amendment would do
which now often defeat the viii Of the people TSers
bad been two Presidential elections by the House Of
ton would be 80 amended that we shall
never have another. At such an election,
nority Of the people may and as rule do elect the
President. A majority Of the representatives OF
nineteen states representing not onefourth Of the
nny-two members from those States controlling the
votes OF their States In an election Of this character
the new States just admitted, with less population
than the county in which he resided would exercise
as much power and influence as New YORK
an equal division Of their representatives as
| the larger States may: When six new States are
States will give one hundred and seventy.two cleo
toral votes, while the remaining thirty-twO will have
but one hundred and sixty.three. When that time
comes thirty 1--we men in the House of Representa-
tves, when composed Of two hundred and forty nine
members, can elect President, should the election
devolve upon the House Of Representatives. It
would thus be for the interest OF political adven-
turers to combine and force the election House
OF Representatives. The amendment which he pro-
posed prevented the possibility of such contingency
Under this amendment the people will of necessity,
elect President at the second election Experience
taught that small bodies OF men may be cOrrupted,
but the great body Of the people never. The people,
II clothed with the power, would never permit
R poraR aRon prs4oraVe as Of S
electing President he would directly to the
norty Of the House of Representatives might cause
revolution. Mnorities cannot long administer a
fraud apd piSne as e,t ours Is 1nd IN ss country by
shed. The present system of elections invites cor
ruptlon and fraud. The domination of the slave
power lot SO many years was a case in point The
history OF all republics teaches that liberty VIII perish
II the people permit the establishment OF any substi-
tute for popular elections OF the Executive and ap
pointing power. Mr.. Ashley said the power of the
President under our constitution made him little
else than king for the time being. The appoint
ment of forty thousand onlce holders, with salaries
amounting to millions OF dollars, depended directly
have ali seen how dangerous ',rs Prcsldent
may become, even when manaced by the
Tenure Tenure OF ONCE law. For the sake Of place and
century have abandoned conviction and betrayed the
people Let any one read the political history OF the
not to a representative OF the political party is
more potent than the wiz Of his constituents. Prac-
men nominated to important positions py an Execu-
tive ambitious for reelection is Wl you support
% s M Asey spke of s
many districts known to have the system had been
adhered to so rigdly that they never reelected a
representative to Congress, no matter how faithful
or capable. Let the constituents who have so re-
peatedly suffered under this stupid system and
been Inundated and disgraced by incompetent
representation apologize to the nation for sending
such men into her council halls by speedily changing
system which is the nursery OF demagogues He
would, at least, suggest to the constituencies to
select capable man to represent them, though he
district when at home. The men who secured ONCE
by the rotation system are as class, those who for
s Ras H S5 e Of e snyea
few Congressional districts in which President
Of character and good standing In his party may not
by the full use Of his vast power and patronage de-
feat any Congressional asprant OF his party who
may be obnoxious to him. AS the nation grows and
uncontrolled and and uncontrosbie power we ''ha, in,
creases and becomes more dangeroas. As to
the remedy OF impeachment, Mr. Ashley quoted the
language Of JEFFERSON that the clause Of the consttu
tlon providing for impeachment would prove no
it was dead letter The late melancholy failure cor or
refusal OF the High Court to convict and depose an
admitted ID criminal and usIrper who was without
to come All this Is done under the sanction Of a
t'' they must % not go behind that ' to ' question:
the judicial verdict. The viest enormties ever in
s0lemnties Of judicial OATH To him the only hope
OF the nation was In the power which can make
men shoald be adopted the necessity Of securing the
elective franchise TO every citizen without aistinc
o1e Would be coneded BY
who desired the the unity and nd. stability OF our
Ee had presented propostion Substantially like ike
the one Just presented TO the House. lie did 30
again because he believed the question Of Citizenship
and sunrage ought to be met and settled now. True
democracy pleads for the equal rights Of all be-
fore the law: It demands the ballot for every man,
lection and defence 1t gives him dignity and power.
1t makes the government his agent instead of his
master. Pass this amendment and shall cor
form to our new constitution As nation we shall
then place in the hands OF each citizen new power
for the nations preservation.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHARGED WITH BEING RE-
sPoNsIBLE FOR ALL THE EVILS THAT CURSE THE
Mr.. MORGAN, tdem.) Of Ohio addressed the Com
mittee on general political matters He declared
that the republican party was responsible for all the
evils that curse the land; that half OF the national
debt was the result OF robbery and peculation, and
that the aggregate debt OF the country was So 5OO
o,ooo-neary onehalf Of the estimated property of
Mr. LAwREScE Eep:) of Ohio, inquired how his
Mr. MORGAN replied that the ascertained li1uidat-
ed debt Of the country was s25oOooO, and that
the noating debt amounted to "a 900 900 900. His
colleague would not deny that.
Mr.. LAWRENCE inquired whether the value Of the
slaves emancipated In the Southern states entered
into his colleagues estimator
Mr. MORGAN said II did not embrace the value of
single slave but that the outstanding claims against
the government constituting the floating debt
amounted to 81 coo 900 600. TO prove what he SAIL
he had read from the Congressional Globe state
ment made In the Thirty ninth Congress by Mr.. De-
lanO, Of Ohio, Chairman Of the Committee on Claims.
Mr. LAWRENCE inquired whether 1t would pay for
property destroyed In the Southern States during the
Wharf.-The property OF rebels AZ well as loyal men
Mr.. MORGAN said he would give the same answer
to that which was given be the republican Chairman
OF the Committee on Claims Ia the Thirty ninth Con-
gress
Mr.. LAWRENCE asked whether the democratic
party, II II in power would consider the claims
Of shareholders for emancipaed slaves just and valid
claims upon the government
Mr.. MoRGAN-Undoubtcdly not. The policy OF the
party Is at Just wise and patriotic
and being so we have nothing 10 do with the dead
carcass OF slavery IL IL gone and we have no desire
to see 1t inspired with life again. The democratic
party will cut down the expenditures Of the army,
abolish your negro regiments, reduce by one-half
the expenses OF the navy, drive from power the
thieves and plunderers who are now drinking the
lifes blood Of the nation and put honest IN their
places.
Mr.. briggs, (rep.) OF Mich remarked that II the
gentleman could convince him that his party would
do oil that he would promise TO support IT,
Mr.. MORGAN said that he expected TO convert tne
gentleman to the democratic party n he would give
him his attention. The republican party, ne de-
cared, was about to be driven from power Dy pun
dered and outraged people As to investigat-
ing the frauds and robberles committed on
the people, that was impossible SO long as
that party remained In power. Every far
mer merchant and mechanic In the land
understood that the existing abuses IN tue govern