New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
uo,rsr ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT.

HONEST ELECIlON ECiN AeA@0iN'--'A'
"a. Edttor Of me Tribune.
sR: In a recent address in New-YOrk by DIT,
n u Adams IT.. advocating reform in the method
20 alectino the President, he truthfuly says thai
-. 81 a direct vote of the whole country would DO
onr,hs,some and open for fraud at all points. lie
oIso saws the reform is essential to pohuCal
health and that change Is imperative. no
therefore advocates the proposed amendment Oh ni'
Lawrence of Ohio, which provides for the chpo, 'i's
OF Presidential Electors by districts ana ne 'nlio
that it is not Objectionable It is obectohaOe' i"'
,nueh as il continues the injustice OF votes vi en"
torial representation, and also provides lol 'no'o
useless respectable dummies caHeu Iiosuon''''
Ilectorsn who may some day be SUBJECTS loI oIiDeI
have drawn the following proposed aiilellul'en''
md | submit il 10 your readers DeheNlhg II 10 DC
The most perfect and practical YET presented anu
tLey are Of the same opinion would urge that they
nrenare petitions in favor of the same, and forward
chem 10 their member of Congress Immediately:
Article 16 The President and ViCe-President shall
no chosen bv ballots of the qualified electors OF the
several States, To be cast and counted as IoHOWs'
Zach State shall be entitled TO as many votes LOT
president and VicePresldent respectively as II IS
entitled To Representatives IN Congress; the state
ahaU he divided into districts, equal IN NUMBER 10
;fs Representatives IN Congress, each uslrcI 10 DC
Of cnntiguous and compact territory, and contain
ing as nearly rs possible, an equal amount OF pOpu-
laton. The electors IN each oil the sara uistIicts
sba meet in general election and cast their ballots
for President and NiCe-IrcSldent respectively, ana
1be persons receiving the highest number of votes
for said offices IN each district shan be entitled 70
and shall receive the votes OF salu ulstIct 10 De
eounted as one vote The citizens receiving the vote
Of fine largest number of sand districts shall be de
clared 10 be duly elected said offices PrOUded
5hevOteS received shall he AT least eq9a 10 one
fhird of the whole number OF districts. lhe time,
pIaces and manner OF holding such elections shall
6a prescribed IN each State by the Legislature
thereof but Congress may at any time by law make
cr alter such regulations. Congress shall prescribe
tie mode OF determining the validity OF the vote OF
each district and of cuntestIng the night 10 the
offices of President and Nice.Presdent; and shall
also provide tor the punishment OF persons VINO may
vote or attempt 10 vote more than once at each
election or who may vote or attempt 10 vote on any
persons name other than their own, or who shall
place fraudulent ballots III the balot-D0A' or VINO
shall fTaudulenly count any ballots or VINO may DC
accessory to these crimes at any election 1Or freS
dent or REPRESENTATIVES IN Ce"==sSTTSSS:
would briefly commend the above for three
points viz: 1t gives the people the direct vote so
much desired. No fraud can in district, affect
more than one vote. 1t gives to the people and to
each State their full measure of power IN electing
their President according to population. AS mem
bers of Congress would probably be chosen at the
same time it makes every candidate for Congress
and his friends particular guardians OF the polls III
each District their interests being identical with the
one vote of the District. While leaving with each
State to decide who legal voters it gives Congress
voyer TO punish the four chief specific crimes against
the elective franchse-viz; repeating, stealing hon
est mems votes stuffng boxes and false counting.
Believing that ii is only by earnest measures, thor
ouChly enforced that we can overcome the foul
wrong and outrageous frauds now practlced IN tins
CITY, ask the aid of TIE TRIBUNE in securing the
adoption of this measure by the coming Congress
C.w.w.