New-York tribune., 1873-02-14
DEFECTS IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM

DEFECTS IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM
SERIOUS OBJECTIONS SUGGESTED BY YEsTER-
DAYS PROCEEDINGS IN COUNTING THE VOTES.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNRl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-lIaving slept on the
proceedings of yesterday Senator'S and Representatives,
are dsgusted than with the imperiections IN
the Electoral College system that were brought out
yesterday in stronger light than ever before since the
foundation OF the Government.
The 22d Joint rule, 10 rescnd which Senator Sherman
introduced a concurrent resolution this morning. would
probably be unanimously repealed. il vote was to De
taken upon and yet the provisions OF the
Constitution this point imperfect that unless
that ia amended as 10 change entirely our
present system OF choosing President some new rule
must be adopted in its place, Senators and Represena
tves have almost alarmed at the great number OF
chances which present system illustrated yeser-
day leave, open for defeating the will Of the people. ana
bringing about a revolution.
one OF the most absurd provisions OF the rule Is that
when any objection is made TO counting the voIe Of any
state the Senate shall withdraw. and each House shall
vote upon question separately without debate III
makes no difference how absurd or how important may
be the question which has arisen It's just decision may
depend upon the laws Of the State whose vote IL dues-
toned or upon facts wholly unknown to every one er-
cent the delegation in Congress from that State. No
statute can be read explanation Of any kind made
The vote must be taken and an entire State may be
dsfranChlse under tOIhl VI IA"
and the facts. The rule makes it necessary for the
Senate 20 withdraw when objection is made by one
person and then If the objection is sustained by either
House the vote is thrown out. 1t might he eaSV
imagined that the votes Of one or two States Woud
decide Presidential election and that the two Houses
might at the time, be opposed TO each other IN
politics
In such case. especially il party feeling ran high'
and the belief got possession OF that the salvation
q, the country depended upon the Of their party
one house might the yote OF one or two States 10
he discarded and the result OF the election entirely
changed.
Senator Morton remarked to-day that he would not
trust any party II the vote of only one or two states
stood between 1t and power, and 1t could thro" out
those votes But it is not necessary suppose cases
Questions arose yesterday which. in close election,
might have precipitated a revolution.
The decision OF the House to throw out the three votes
Of GeorgaIcast for Horace Greeley may, If taken as
precedeut at some future election defeatlhe will OF the
neople Had MI Greeley received a majority OF tue
electoral votes in the late election and had all OF those
votes been thrown out ino electioniwoud nave tsKeh
place but the question would have gone TO the house OF
Representatives, where each State casting one vote
would have chosen Gen. Grant
Again the vote Of Arkansas was discarded because
the certificates OF the electors were signed and sealed by
the Secretary OF state instead OF by the Governor while
the vote OF Texas admitted although its cerncses
were signed simply by acting Secretary OF state.
II the two Houses divided in politics under the
present system quarrel might arise in which all the
votes might be thrown out The vote OF the hst Kepuo
loan state might be objected TO by Democratic repre-
sentative and Democratic House might discard h In
retaliation Republican Senator might object TO thevote
OF The first Democratic State and be sustained by Re
publican Senate The result would be an election by the
House II revolution did not come first. 80, too, bare
majority OF House might prevent any election ~ all
before the 4th OF March.
tl.t gfaro .ffo in aQlrd
TO the reception OF the Of State has been raised
and the two houses have separated either House may
take a recess until O'Clock the next day. The objection
may be made the vote OF the first State and recess
taken and the day before the question Is decided
another may be taken and this may be repeated
until the 4th Of March, when there would be no Pres
dent elect These are but few Of the objections 10 the
present system that have been discussed to-day and
which will cause a reform 10 be effected II not by this
Congress then by the next.