The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-09

BY resolution of congress in March 1873
the committee on privileges and elections
were instructed to report at the next session
upon the best mode Of electing a president
and vice president of the United States and
questions. Pursuant to that resolution the
the said committee have made the report
required. In one word they have reported
Mr.. Morton's plan which was laid before
the public in a speech by that gentleman
last year and has received its discussion by
the prees and people. The plan is embodied
in proposed amendment TO the constitution
of the United States, eoncisely stated in the
following article:
l. The president and vice-president shall be
elected by the direct vote of the people in the
manner following: Each state shall be divided
into districts, equal in number to the number OF
represen tafiyes to which the state may be en-
Tiled in the congress-, TO be composed of cOntigu
Gus rritory, and to be nearly as equal In popu-
highest number OF votes IN each district for
president shall receive the vote of that district,
which shall count one presidential vote.
2. The person having the highest number of
votes for president in state shall receive two
presidential votes from the sta e at large.
g. The person having the highest number of
presidential votes in the United states shall be
president. .-.5 M .lr.r Fr.4 81
votes In any state, 1t being the highest number,
they shall receive ZACH one presidential vote
persons shall have each the same number of
votes in any state. % being the highest number,
no president al vote shsl be counted frou the
stale AT large. II more persons tllsa one shall
have the same number o. votes, II being the
highest number in any district, no presidential
vote shall be counted from that district
as. The foregoing provisions shall apply to the
election of vice president.
sc. The congress shall have powerto provide
for holding and conducting the elections of pres
ident and vice president, and TO establish tribu-
nails for the decision of such elections as may be
Z. The states shall be divided into districts by
the legislatures thereof, but the congress may at
any time by law make or alter the sane.
The plan OF the amendment is supported
by an elaborate argument setting forth the
defects and dangers of theelectoral system
now in vogue. 1t is shown that the idea OF
the convention of 1857 was that the electors
chosen or appointed by the states should
cast their votes al their discretion for such
candidate as was their choice, and that they
should not be pledged in advance to vote
for any particular person. But just
the reverse Of that idea is the GUS
tom and no member of the electoral
would presume TO consult his own prefer
ence over that of his party on pain of last
ing disgrace. In fact, it is now seen that il
would not do at all to place the election OF
president and vice president in the hands OF
few men. The present system does not
allow person to vote for the candidate OF
his choice unless he wishes to vote with a
party. He must find enough of his way OF
thinking to nominate electors. Again, it is
urged that under the present system, it is an
election by states, and not by the people.
The electoral votes of 10 states out OF 81 are