The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-06-11
ELECT1NG PRESIDENTS By
POPULAR VOTE.

POPULAR VOTE.
On first page of this number Of
rHE SEM1-WEEKLY REPUBLICAN will be
found the proposed amendment to
the Constitution Of the United States,
providing for IN election Of the
President by direct vote of the peo-
pie.
No change is contemplated in the
existing tenure of the Presidential
Office, but the amendment renders
nm incumbent of that Office for ever
after ineligible for reelection. It is
provided that the qualified voters
shall assemble ut their usual places
of election on the first Monday in
April, 1876, and choose by ballot
the President whose term begins
March 4, 1877 and that Congress
shall prescribe the necessary rules
and regulations governing the cleo
ton. Such An election shall be held
each fourth succeeding year. Con-
gress, at a session beginning with
the third Monday in the May follow
ing each such election, shall exam
inc the returns of election, which are
to be duly certified to that body,
and shall declare the result. The
person having a majority Of the votes
cast is to be declared President. Ii
there is no choice, a new election
shall be held on the second
Tuesday of the following October at
which election votes shall be cast for
one Of the three persons having the
highest number Of votes at the pre-
ceding election. The Office OF Vice
President is abolished, and the Sen
ate is to choose their own presiding
officer. in case of the death, re-
moval, or disability Of the President,
the Office shall devolve on the eldest
Head of an Executive Department
and if there be no Head Of a De-
partment, then the eldest Senator
shall act us President. But if Con-
press be in session at the time o va
cancy shall occur in the Presidential
office, it shall meet in join conven-
ton and elect President, who shall
serve out the remainder OF the un-
expired term. If it is not in session
OF that time, it shall be convened
Immediately for that purpose by the
acting President.
Such, briefly, is the propagation
which, with some notifications, ha
frequently been discussed in and GU
of Congress. Whether it will NEE
with general approval remains to b
seen. Its distinguished author ha
followed his usual custom Of open
ing a subject and leaving it to gel
inmate, expand, and root itself i
the popular mind, or to be passe
over and left out of sight il the pee
pie so decide. Everybody will acl
nowledge that there is little expires
sion of popular will in the result {
party conventions as now managed
p There will be less and less if tt
One Term Principle is not adopte'
Abuses which have grown up wit
the lapse of years have SO far d
feated the original intention of IL
trainers of the constitution that
Presidential election, unless prece'
ed by some great popular uprisin
amounting to a revolution, is b'
the mere recorder of party caucu
having its springs low down in IL
management of few politicians,
in the machinery Of body of offic
holders. 1t is possible that some
these perversions of the will of tt
people could be accomplished ind
the system proposed by Mr.. Sur
ner but this is worth careful g
animation, discussion, and earne
thought.
It is currently reported in the
parts that newspaper in support
Grant is shortly to be established
Salt Lake City. The saints OF tn
locality believe Grant must be one
'em as he has such a large family