Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1873-10-15
PreDoSed Constitutional Amend
mentS.

Senator MoftQns NoAitH@n u t-e Nsa-
mi,,es on Privileges and ElceiiOak fur
nishos the following:
o. p. Morton. Indiana. Matt II. Car
teuie.. wisocnsin. II. y. Anthony. Rhote
island. Thomas +. Bayard Delaware,
nembers Of the Sissding Committee on
privileges and elections Of the Senate Of
the United States closed their c.ufcrcnees,
which have been continued from day TO
day Tor the pas, week at the 5'h Avenue
Hotel in reference 10 the mode Of eleciing
the President. The Senate. just before
adjournment last spring, Instructed the
committee to examine the whole subject
during vacation sHd report lhoir eonclas-
ions at the next session of Congress. The
substance OF their deliberations thus far
may be briefly stated as involving the fol-
/ lowing propositions which we're considered
lst To abolish the Electoral College.
~. That the President aud Vice Pres.
idcnt shall be elected by the people ysiiRg
directly fer candidates.
81. That each State shall be divided
Into as many districts as the State is en-
titled to representation in Congress, TO be
composed OF contiguous territory, CON-
pact in the former ard as nearly equal in
population as may be, and the persons hav'
Ing the highest number of votes for Presi'
dent in each district shall receive the vote
Of that district for president, which shall
count one Presidential vote; that each
State shall be entitled 10 two Presidential
Votes at large, which shall be countcd fol
person having the highest number of vote.
in the whole State.
4th. The person having the highest
number of such Presidential votes in the
United States shall be President
9th. These provisions to he applicable
to the election Of Vice President. ,
9th. Congress shall have power 10 pro
vide for holding and conducting the elec
ton for President aud Vico President
aud to establish tribunals for the decision
OF contests as to a vote in any District Of
State, and make regulations governing the
proceedings of these tribunals. BY thl
adoption Of the district system OF voting
BY the people directly for can iidstes. will
two Presidential votes in the State at large
and the plurality rule for determining lh,
result tho election is brought as nearly
home to the peose as can be, not to NAL {
it an election by the nation as one com
munity, and it stitl recognizes the State a,
such, while it enables the people of each
district in the State to express their will
so that hereafter State need not cast 9
solid vote, as under this system it tends ia
dispense with the convention, which is new
necessary in order to form an electoral
ticket for each State, aud it enlargcs the
liberty Of the individual voter, who cal
vote for any citizen he may select iol
President or Vice President.
BY the plurality system the election
will always be final, and there can be NJ
necessity for an election by the House o.
Representatives, which is so much objected
to. The pluralty rule has bean adopted
successfully in all States in the Union, ex.
ccpt four, in the election of State officers,
and it generally prevails in the election Of
members Of Congress. In none Of tho
States where it has been tried is there any
thought Of abandoning it. Other ques'
tons are considered in connection with
the votes in States and districts, aid pro,
viding for exigency Of death or resigna
ton Of the President after election and
before Inauguration.
Those are suggestions which have becr
considered, bur Of course no conclusions
could be arrived at