The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-07-27

down to her secession from the Union in
!obO, the whole pressure OF our Presi.
Dental contests would fall upon the cleo.
tions for the several State Legislatures:
and from the distributing of the States.
local CAUSES and the popularity of local
candidates, and from splits in numerous
districts upon three or four Legislative
candidates., our Presidential election.
touching tho voice of the people, would
become completely befogged and ipex.
plicable. Yet, under the National Con.
stitution. this plan of electing our Pre-.
sldentlal electors, who elect the Presi.
dent, may be adopted.
But again, under the present system
adopted by the States of electino their
Presidential electors by the popular vote
on general ticket, we have had some
strange results from time to time since
!o2O. In the election of 1924, generally
known as our Presidential scrub race.
between Jackson, Adams, Crawford and
Olay-tho electoral vote of the Union
was thus divided upon these men-ior
jackson 80. for Adamns 81, for Crawford
Al, and for Clay 81. There being no
election by the electors, the three highest
persons voted for-Jackson, Adams and
Crawford-went before the House for an
election. The House by States, one vote
tor each Stnto, on the first ballot elected
Adams. who secured 13 States, against
Z Tor jackson and for Crawford. Ac.
cordlng to the voice of the people
jackson should have been elected, for he
had popular majority over Adams of
50. 600. The choice of Adams, however,
was fair election by the House COM
pared with what may be done in an
election OF President by that body. For
instance, let us suppose that three can
didates, as in 1924. are before the House
Tor M election of one Of them. Jones
mas LOU electoral votes. Smith 125 and
Brown 40. Smith and Jones are beyond
the reach OF q compromise, but Brown,
OF Delaware, with half dozen of The
little States to back him, is acceptable as
last resort to the friends of Jones and
Smith, OF other small States, and 80,
with the votes of Rhode Island, Della
ware, Florida and 30 on, till we make up
the nineteen smallest States in popula-
ton, Brown is elected, though the Suites
electlng him may represent less than one
third OF the sovereign people of the
United States,
This is what may be done in the elec-
ton OF President by the House of
Representatives against the voice of q
majority or plurality of the popular vote;
but the electoral colleges may completely
disregard the popular vote and constitn.
tionally elect a President and Vice.Pre.
sident not voted for by even one OF tho
people. So for, however, our Presi.
dents. where only two Candidates have
been in the contest, have represented
majority of the popular vote, and where
there have been three or moro candi.
oates, the persons chosen have repre-
sented the highest vote cast by the peo-
pie, excepting Adams, elected by the
House. in the face of an electoral and
popular plurality for jackson. But
still, by the electoral college system,
John Doe, with New York and Pennsyl-
vania, upon q popular majority OF 100,
may secure SO electoral votes. while
Richard Roe, with Vermont and Rhode
Island, upon popular majority OF even
so, 600, will get only nine electoral votes
In short, the existing modus operaadi of
our Presidential elections restricts the
liberty and STILES the voice of the people
In a Thousand ways; and after this cleo.
ton OF 1872, whatever may be the re-.
suit, we may look for general agitation
OF on amendment of the Constitution
upon this subject. embracing a direct
vote of the people for President and
Vice President .-New York Herald.