Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-10-09
PRESIDENTIAL.
Proposed Amendment TO the COnstitu-
ton Affecting the Election OF
President.
Chaos and Confusion Come AgaIn-The
Yote.Early-and-0ften Principle
Illustrated.

NEw YORK, October S.-Senators
Morton, of Indiana, Carpenter, of Wis
consin, and Anthony, of Rhode Island,
members of the committee on privileges
and elections, OF the senate of the Uni
ted States, to-day closed their confer
ences, which have been continued from
day to day for the past week in this city,
in reference to the mode of electiDg a
President. The substance of their de-
libeTations thus far involved the follow
ing prOpOsitionsi
First-TO abolish electoral colleges.
Second-That the President and Vice
President be elected by the people voting
directly for candidates.
Third-That each State shall be di-
vided into as many districts as a State
is entitled representatives in congress,
to be composed of contiguous territory,
compact in form and as nearly equal in
position as possible, and the person hav-
ing the highest number of votes for
President in each district shall receive
the vote of that district, which shall
count one presidential vote; that each
State shall be entitled to two presi-
Dental voters at large, which shall be
counted for the person having the high
est number of votes in the whole State.
FOurth-The person having the high
est number OF such presidential votes in
the United States shall be President.
Fifth-Tbese provisions arctic be ap-
p'icable to the election of Vice-Presi-
dent.
Sixth-COngress shall have the power
to provide for the holding and control
ing the election for President and Vice
President, and to establish tribunals for
the decision Of contests as to the vote
in any district or State, and to make
regulations governing the proceedings
of these tribunals.
By the adoption of the district system
of voting by the people directly for can
didates, with two presidential votes in
the State at large. and the plurality rule
for determining the result, the election
is brought as nearly home to the people
as it can be not to make it an election
by the people Sc one community, and it
still recognizes the States as such, while
it enables the people of each district in
the State to express their will, so that
hereafter a State need not cast a
solid vote, as under the pres
ent system. 1t tends TO dispense
with the convention which is now ne
cessary for an electoral ticket for each
State, and it enlarges the liberty of the
individual voter, who can vote for any
citizens he may select for President or
Vice-President. By the plurality sys-
tenn the election will always be final,
and there can be no q ecessity for election
by the House of Representatives, which
is SO much objected to. The plurality
rule has been adopted successfully in all
the States in the Union except
four in the election of State Of
ficers, and it generally prevails in
election of members of congress. In
none of the States where it has been
tried is there any thought of abandon
ing it. Other questions are considered
in conBect;On with tie votes in States
and districts, and providing for the exi-
gency of the death or resignation of the
President after his election and before
his Inauguration. These are suggestions
which have been considered, but of
course no conclusion could be arrived at.