Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-06-24
-PRFsIpRNT1AL ELECTIONS.

Mr.. A. Sidney Biddle recently read
an exceedingly interesting and able
naper before the Social Science Associ-
alton of Philadelphia, entitled The
Work of a Constitutional Convention"
In which he touched upon a subject OF
great importance to the future OF the
country. As now held, the Presiden-
tial election occurs in many Of the
States on the Same day asthat for State
officers. and In others q few months
previous to the Presidential election.
In North Carolina 1t occurs In August,
in Maine in September, and in Penn
sylvania and several other great States
in October. Mr. Blddle claimed that
the occurrence Of the State and Presi-
Dental elections in the same year was
a great evil, from the undue Influence
of the Federal upon State government
always exhibited. His idea l, that
the State elections should make no
part Of or be In any way connected
with those for President; that the af-
fairs Of the State should be kept dis
tinct aud separate, and not subjected
to the power Of Federal patronage or
other undue influences. There proba-
bly, never was a time when the Fed
eral influence was more powerfully
and successfully exerted In controlling
State elections than last Autumn, and
doubtless-in Pennsylvania especial
ly-a more general scrambllng for
spoils never occurred than last No
vember. Nearly every member Of the
Cabinet made stamping tours, COM
mencing in North Carolina in August,
next through Maine in September, and
then to the more powerful aud import
ant States in October and November.
The influence of this Federal move
ment In State elections was, of course,
powerful and successful, but in many
cases the main object-the election Of
Gen. Grant-blinded and obscured the
people in their selection of proper
State officers, everything being made
to subserve to the one great end Of
electing a President.
This influence thus exerted can be
productive OF no good to States. and
infallibly ~engendsrs corruption, both
of State and Federal officers. 1t floats
into Office on the top OF a Presidential
wave all manner Of scoundrels and
every class Of corruptionists. It puts
men In office who, il the contest was
local and simply for State offices,
could not get the vote Of a decent man.
1t elects men for loyalty to the Ad-
ministration, and not for loyalty to
the best interests of the State or coun-
try. 1t puts party allegiance above
honesty and capability, and ~elevates
to responsible positions men whose
only merit is loud.mouthed allegiance
to a Federal political organization. 1t
is full Of dangerous possibilities, not
separate from which Is the opportu-
nifty given q bad Executive to perpet-
uate his power Indefinitely hy the
force Of patronage and the self inter-
est of State nominee3.
The remedy proposed by Mr.. Biddle
Is to make all elective offices held for
terms which will expire in years
when there are no Presidential elee-
tions. In other words, let a Govern
or's term be two or four years, and
commence and end between the Presi-
Dental elections. In Nevada, under
his plan. the Governor, half the State
Senators and all the Assemblymen
would be elected this year. Two years
after, or the third year Of the Presi-
Dental term, the other half Of the
State Senators and a new Assembly
would be elected. The next year
would be the Presidential election, at
which no State officers would be
chosen, and the year following the
election for Governor, etc., would oc-
cur. Under this system several States
would have to change their constitu-
tions. among them Pennsylvania.
whose Convention now has this subject
under consideration. It Is obvious
that the plan above sketched would
place as far as possible State elections
aloof from Federal, and thus in a great
measure obliterate the evils Of Gov
eminent patronage so VIGOROUSLY eff
ficacious in carrying Presidential
elections. The idea is worthy serious
fhnuuht op1 H;scnssi0p