The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-02-03

0hSASat 49, W "AaS~ -
present one.
The great majority of the American
people prot ably feel at the present time
that we have more corruption in general
and State Governments than at any
period of our history, and every think
ing citizen feels that we should have
form of Government more powerful 10
checking or preventing improper ad'
ministration.
Allow your correspondent to suggest
that much of this, and much. If not all,
the impurity Of the ballot-box arises
from our form Of election, as 1t may be
termed, and improper representation
When but one man is to he elected, we
are compelled to choose, and as often
throw, our vote away as any other way,
and to the victor is given the power to
divide the spoils, when no spolls should
be, only such as arise from a sense OF
pride in performing ones duty as ser
want OF the people.
How better it ? you say. That Is the
question of the hour. We, as Con
federacy OF Republics both collectively
and severally, seem to be struggling
through crisis or revolution. 1t 10 TO
be given to some States, or body OF
statesmen-we will not say party-the
honor of putting into operation some
plan of government or administration
that will redeem us from this thraldom
Of corruption and bring us out of the
slough in which is miring some Of the
finest talent of our country.
Good citizens now almost tremble for
their country When the quadrennlal
calends OF November come around, yet
will not dare face the proposition to
take the election Of President, Governors
and such like officers away from the
people.
What, take away the office OF, or
privilege of electing the President!
This is taking the great sugar nipple
from our infant republic, and like any
other, it seems to be capable OF listening
to no reason in the case. This Presl
dent mania seems TO be a lever that has
more power to overturn moral and politl-
cal principle than anything, in any
political scheme, that was ever devised.
Men will politically murder their own
friends in their own house or cringe to
the hand that smites, besides creating
an army Of office seekers, void Of all
feeling and sympathy, and blind to
every interest OF humanity. Yet take
away from the American citizen the
prospect of ever being President, and
there seems nothing in life worth living
for.
To give explanation Of the plan pro-
posed to remedy some Of their ills, for
all cannot be until our human nature is
bettered, that is, educated up to high
point, let us 90 for illustration to the
ground round OF the ladder, to the gov
eminent Of the ward or township, and
it might be said in passing, that it
seems necessary to divide our counties
for election and other purposes, and it
certainly matters but little by what
name we call them, whether county or
parish, township, ward, district, pre-
cinct or what not, the principle is the
same. | should prefer county, that
divided into townships, that into wards,
for school and other purposes. | speak
of the country; in the city it would be
city and ward, instead OF township and
ward
Then comes in proper working order
what we call proper representation.
Let each voting district delegate its
power to as many persons as may be
deemed suitable. If the number is
to he limited, to as many as there are,
say, wards in the township. In the
city it would be to az many. blocks in a
ward. Yet it would seem better not to
limit not, at least, after the people had
become used to the system. The nov
city might, at first, give too large a
body, each man desiring to Use his new
found right Of representing himself.
But he would soon find that he could
delegate his power to another, who
could better represent him, choosing, as
he would, the most influential or tai
ented citizen, who would nearest reflect
his own opinions and interests. Much
would have to be left to the good
sense, judgment and general intelligence
OF the people, as must be in all republi,
can forms OF government. Indeed,
some people do not seem to have the
proper intelligence for self-government,
faulty education or old social system
interfering, as in France. In our own
country we have such a class, and IN
der our present system they have
undue power, often controlling our
elections, and by this means guiding
our legislation.
Under the proposed plan this corrupt
element would posses no more power in
the representative body than it dele
gated there, while it is notorious that
at present few hundred votes often
control many thousands and thus, as
proposed by taking away its control
ling influence it would gradually pass
out Of sight, at least in the Government.
Property owners and educated citizens
generally know the need OF a thorough
reform in this, which seems likely not
only to undermine our Republican Gov
eminent, but society itself.
This primary body, it may be termed.
would have control of all affairs in the
township, roads, schools, as well as
financial and judicial affairs; one, two
or any number they deemed proper
could attend to each or all Of them.
At times it might happen that all the
power would be delegated to one man.
Who can doubt but if there was such a
citizen, whom ali could trust with their
opinions and interests even in SO small
a division as township or ward, that
affairs of the district would not be
properly administered? One man power
in this case would apply in practice