The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-02-07
81, -a1IL FIII y" .H7I.V IL
The Electoral system.

q ~ . ! :
The speech Of Senator Morton upon tho alb
surdities, iinrepublicAnism, and possible dan:
gers of our present electoral system In the
choice OF President aud yice.Prssiient is 4
valuable CONTINUATION :. .tdiiticsi iit.rAtbfE. II
Is ia no sense partisan, and hence eommends
itself to the earnest consideration of all party
aomplexions. The first great defect alluded q
Ii the utter lack of any appellate tribunal to
which aispatse y 10 the Election 81 electors
may be referred for Judicial examipation and
decision. Provision is made for the contest
and review Of the election of every other officer
or agent Of the Governnsnt, nstioaal. State,
or municipal. ease the election of those charged
with the important function Of selecting the
President. II is true that contests have oc-
States ts n the Case Of the Statet Of Wiscon-
SIN, in 1857, when the electors had been do
tanned by snow storm. and did not meet upon
the day specified by law; in the cases of the
State OF Indiana, in 1916, of Missopri, In 1921,
and Of Georgia, IN ts69.-But in these latter
instances the question yas whether the States
rresSates at the time they voted. andsdid not
relate to the manner in which the electors were
chosen-whether fraud. Violence, Or any unfair
means had been used 20 influence the result.
There are now pending contests Of the votes of
two of the States-Arkansas and Louisiana
two sets of electors claiming to have been
chosen. and'twO sets of certificates being filed
with the President Of tho Senate There is no
machinery provided, either by the Constitution
or by aw, for deteruining which OF these Ger.
tiffcates should be OF right counted. The
President of the Senate is the only officer
charged with the duty of opening and dct!ar-
ing tho fotes. the Two houses of Congress
being simply viewers OF his action, without
power to reverse any decision he may make.
In the case of. Wisconsin, in 1867, President
Mason refused to entertain ANY objection, or
-
OF his own will, declared the vote, and ar
nounced the election, Of James buchanan and
Ohm c. Breckinridge. OF course no trouble
or controversy could have supervened in that
instance whatever AFR. Mason may have done,
for the election Of Buchanan was oyerwhelm-
ing; but had the result depended on the vote
Of Wisconsin, it will at once be seen what a
that man not infrequently deeply interested In
tho result. Six times In the history OF the
Government the President Of the Senate has
declared votes cast for himself p in 1Tg7 John
Adams declared tie yotea cast clecting himself
President; in 1SUl Jefferson declared the vote
which was tio--between himself and Aaron
Burr. II 30 close vote should again occur,
how many mon would scruple to use this ON
nipotent authority to elect themselves? In
1921 yice-President Tompkins declared the
votes for himself as candidate for re-elec-
tion; in 1887 Mr.. Van Buren,, ~ Hice-presi
dent, declared his own election to the Presi-
dency; in 1911 Richard N. johnson declared
the votes cast for his own recollection against
John Tyler; and in 1851 Mr.. breckenridge de-
clared the votes cast for himself for President
in that four-sided contest. 3.rI s s.r
The possible wrong that may be committed
under the provision of tho clause providing for
tho election by the House of Representatives.
in case OF failure to elect by the Electoral Col
lege Is strongly developed. In an election by
the House each State has one vote, to be de-
termined by . majority Of the delegation from
such State. Mr.. Morton shows how, a. the
States are ct preseut constituted, forty fl, Q
from nincteen Of the snnlicr States
rould control the election against the 2i re-
manning members, while the opportunity for q
venal member in closely-balanced delegation
10 sell the vote Of his State in frightful to
template in the present ebb-side OF political
honor. We have more than once, in articles
suggested by the action Of the Greeley electors.
shown how the Electoral College has, in prac-
lice, failed to carry out the theory Of its found
nrs and have proven that lbs consultation abso-
utely prohibits the exercise of such q function
u those who advocate the system claim for it.
The absurdities and possible dangers OF the
system, as shown by Mr.. Morton. cumulate the
Arguments for change beyond any reasonable
rebuttal. 1u.sI ..
The only debntable Question IL: How shall it
ne changedf The President should he na-
tional officer, representing the people in the
argcst sense. The Senate represents the
States; the House Of Representative the peo-
pie divided into Congressional districts; the
President should, therefore, be the representa-
i've Of the nation. This is not new idea, for
Mr.. Dickinson, Of New Jersey, fifty years ago,
declared IN the Senate the same proposition.
But Mr.. Morton recognizes the inevitable, Az
ne terms it: That the smaller States would not
consent to n constitutional amendment shear
pg them of the political power inhering to
hem by reason of the electoral system. His
llan is to have the people vote for President
md vice-President directly, but by Congress
'ional districts, each district to have one vote,
o be cast as majority Of the people within
hat district determines. The State proper
hall have two votes, corresponding to the SEN
ItOrial representation, to be cast in accordance
With the majority i'll each particular State. The
,ian liz simple enough IN its details, and in ef-
ect would make tho Presidential election q
reflex Of the vote for Congressman
Instance instead Of the twenty-one votes being
,iven TO Grant and Wilson the division would
layc been: Grant, Is; Greeley, g. The other
,lan suggested is, that the people of the States
'ote directly for President and Vice-Pres:deIt,
nd that the votes be returned to the Secretary
# State as now, but that the vote Of each
tate. as determined by the majority of its
II the other according to its Congressional
representation. This plan would leave tho
ote exactly as now, doing away with tho in 4
electors, preventing any possible
rouble or danger from that useless and cum
'ersome piece Of constitutional machinery, and
t the same time preserve the compromise be-
ween the States which, as it seems to U.S.
s the only value-if value it is-of the Elec-
oral College. -fi. 1.'t-t
some change will be made. The country is
reused to the absurdities and dangerous ten
encies of the Electoral College. Either "f the
anB here indicated seems practicable, and |
onld be accomplished through the existing |
rodus operdndi for amending the Constitution.
By the abolition of the present method Of elect
ng the President we should do away not only
nth tho evils Of the electoral system itself,
nut shut out the danger of throwing the elec-
ion into the House of Representatives,. When
dams was chosen by that means over Jack
IN, who had both plurality OF electoral
otes and large popular majority, the country
ras plunged into q ferment, the repetition of
Thich In not TO be contemplated with COM
lacency. t'-s.a
Tho least that is to be thought of, IL no more
an be secured, is for Congress- to adopt some
ffectual method by which the election of elect |
rs may be contested and reviewed, as arc the
lections of officers and agents and the strip |
ing from the President of the Senate Of the
power he now holds over the
lectorni votes. - Were the preselt President
( the Senate candidate for the Presidency,
nd the result hinging upon the votes ofArkan-
rs and Louisiana, what 3 temptation to a man
weaker virtue to decide in his own favor;
nd into what o fever Of revolution would the |
orintry be stirred without judicial determin-
ton Of the contested yotes.-Inter-0 Ocean.
-.t
Wrecks Of the Coalition.
The Cincinnati movement has strewn the coun-
In the of Mr. /