New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-09

stata Iesla,uros ara always unbought If not I'M
bought uninnuenced by influences foreign 10 tue
duty they ought to PERFORM Ihus' ONO u
few more members might decide INC 'no,o'
Of President They hare decided it, ana the c"p", Ia
trlrne and corruption intended to be prevented nave
onerotcd or This fact the scene which prompted Hai
toms suggestion OF choice of electors by the peopo III
districts prescribed by Congtcss pregnant most oaon
ing evidence Aaron Burr and Jefferson were competing
for the Democratic vote in opposition 10 John Au"nS
who had lost the confidence, never fully enjoyed anu
never deserved Of the leaders Of the Washington party
The success of the Democratic effort depended upon the
vote OF the State of NewYork To gain the Legislature
was the great object While throughout the interior OF
the State the strife warm the City OF Newfok was
the chief arena Of the contest Jeers0s letters snow
how intensely he watching the result The aDors OF
Burr were incessant and he triumphed. How ala ne
Triumph
Hamilton expressly states by the foreign vote OF that
city, To insure his in controlling the Legislature,
he was elected member of 1t interior county, not
his residence Thus was proved the truth Of Jcersons
remark that great cities are the sores OF the body
polite" 1t was to prevent the recurrence OF such
scene that Hamilton framed the amendment providing
the dsrctng OF each State by Congress, TO choose
the Presidential electors. Had the expression OF pubic
opinion been fairly obtained SINCE this might have been
regarded only as a caam0us exception in our history
by those who have forgotten that tho result OF this cleo
ton established the dominion OF the slave power and the
continuance of slavery In this republic Tor sixty years. buV
have not recent events justified Hamilton's precau-
tionary prudence How was the recent election In New
York carriedi How the Republican party cheated
OF the votes of that State Who can honestly deny that
it was carried by cabal intrigue and corruption by
crossest frauds will tester and prevail unless TINS
amendment shall become part OF the Constitution
NewYOrk now the only victim OF her city, OUT as N"s'
emporums Of commerce formed elsewhere near tne
heart OF the nation, similar occurrences wh-inueeu,
must ensue. In deciding whether this amendment shai
pass 1t is always well remember that an omission 10
exert when necessary, saluary power OF the ConStu
ton is as great an oense against duty as to abuse
power ,
The amendment framed by Hamilton is in these words
the parts not within the quote mark, being added:
"As the most eligible mode OF obtaining full and fair
expression Of the public WILL Congress shall i'll ils nsC
session after each decenpia census. divide each STATE
into Districts equal whole number Of Senators ana
Representa from each State In the Congress Oh le
Unted States each Of DISTRICTS shall be formed as
nearly be- with an equal proportion OF
Counties contiguous 10 each other except Mhes
may be some detached portion OF teroy NOV %
to some other District" the validity OF whieh eieeuohs
| shall be decided by Congress
| The motive for the last clause s obvious Inc only
proyon for determining the awfulness of the elections
"a now with the State The right to do this Is
obviously proper Congress the representatives OF
nation whose Government is representative democ-
racy" The question naturally arises who ought TO
be the people exercise the right OF suragef Inc chef
defect OF the Constitution consists in not establishing the
same basis for the State and General Governments and
thus correcting strange anomaly of our system, that
the General Government shall rest not upon
| its own fixed basis, but upon the uncertain bases
OF which, in this respect IL has no con-
| troll We would have preferred the use Of Hamton's
proposition to the Federal Convention: that al the
male citizens and inhabitants OF the several States now
or hereafte cOmprehended in the Union OF tho age OF
twenty-one years and upwards, shall have an equal
vote omttng the parts which recognize the previous
existence of slavery We do not believe that 1t Is ever
wise to forget blot out oenses" is the ruest
policy in public as in private relations and constitu-
ton may embarrasS itself by too much minuteness AZ
! flrmatvc positive.
But we must end We know that the great man who
has achieved with his comrades continued existence
as nation far above all party rancor; that he means
peace as he has sweety avowed. at home and, posi-
bic abroad in words which insure their own immortality
that he will specially rejoice at amendments OF the Con-
stuon that Will establish Universal Suffrage as the one
foundation Of all governments, and approves tho ds
trct plan as the most eligible mode OF obtaining JH
and fair expression of the public uiH which WILL delib
eraely formed and deliberately expressed while seeking
to enghten he has voluntarily unasked pledged hin
self to obey. I am, Sir, yours respectfully job
Neio- York, Feb 8, 1859.