The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-22
VuE ELrCrloN oE, pnEssDENr.

and Vice President OF inc CHllcu h''tV9'
and candidates are, already, thicker than
blackberries in their season. With them,
however, we have no particular concern
inst now. The more the number is, the
merricr will be the scramble, as there can
NOT be more than one President or Vice
President, and two or three regular nomin-
ations therefor. Moreover, our political
history shows that even if it is true that
'thc early bird catches the worm,' ii IS not
the early named candidate who catches
the nomination. Notwithstanding the
length of time that clapses prior to "thc
Tuesday after the first Monday Of Noycm-
bcr' 1876, yet there is a matter in connec-
ton with that presidential election, in ref
orence to which it bchooyes Congress to
bcstir itself at once. 1t may be taken as
an admitted proposition that nearly every
intelligent American citizen is dissatisfied
with the present method of election. 1t is
too cumbersome proper expression OF
the people cannot be obtained thereby, and,
at the same time, due weight given to the
several states rs states ON account of the
liability of the question finally being de-
cided in Congress it is liable to abuse
and no way is provided for deciding Il con-
tested election. 1t is needless to recall the
presidential elections of 1868 and 1872, in
tho former Of which one state was disfran-
chised, and in the latter two states. 1t is
idle 60 speculate upon what would have
been the result if the election had turned
upon the votes OF those states being re-
ccived or rejected or what the effect
would have been if Abraham Lincoln had
owed his first election to such Il cause.
Happily such was not the case. but no one
can tell how soon it may be.
The government Of tho United States is.
so TO speak, two-fold in its nature. Al
though this, in certainasenses, is not strict
~ true, it expresses the idea which the
trainers Of the constitution steadily kept in
view, and which was carried out in the
plan adopted for presidential elections, and
which was retained in the amendments
subsequently, adopted on the same subject.
that the United States is formed from sew
eral individual states, the United States and
each state being sovereign in their own
sphere. The people elect the President, in
part, while each state, be it large or small,
has IN equal voice in another part of the
election. That is to say each state, no
matter what may be the number of its vo-
ters, has two votes for President the re-
naming votes being divided among the sew
eral states according TO population. The
endeavor was to allow the whole people to
take part in the election and, at the same
time, prevent the larger states from over
slaughng the smaller states. Without this
provision, eight or nine states by combi-
nation, could always control presidential
election, practically leaving all other states
voiceless. Without the provision for cleo
tors at large the constitution never would
have been adopted. The smaller states
were jealous Of the power of the larger
states, as well they might have been. This
same principle is carried into the compost
ton of the United States Senate, each state
having the same voice and vote-thercby
the smaller states holding check on the
larger. 1t is still further illustrated in the
provision made for a choice of President
b. the House of Representatives, in case
no person has a majority in the electoral
college--thc election being made by states,
each state having but n single vote ; but
here the people and state do not, each,
have a vote. This principle of preserving
to each individual state the same voice and
vote as another, while the people, accord
ing to their numbers, also, have proper voice
and vote, will never be yielded and any
provision in reference to the choice of a
President must embody this principle, or it
cannot be adopted.
Immediately after the last presidential
election, on account of the complications
arising therefrom, almost innumerable
amendments, bearing upon the subject, were
presented to Congress, but the matter was
finally disposed of by referring the whole
question to the committee on privileges and
elections, with instructions 10 report
thereon at the present session Of Congress.
Senator Morton, of Indiana, who has given
much attention to the subject has perfected
plan which will doubtless command the
approval Of the committee, and which is
summarized az follows;
First-To abolish the electoral college.
Second-The President and Vice Prcsi-
dent to be voted for directly by the people.
Third-Each state TO he divided into as
many districts as it has Representatives
and the candidate having the highest vote
Tor President in the district to receive the
vote of that district, which shall count one
presidential vote, each state to be also en-
titled to two presidential votes Mt large.
which shall be counted for the candidate
having the highest number Of votes in the
whole state.
Fourth--The person having the highest
number of such presidential votes in tho
United States shall be President. This
will allow a President to be elected by 0
plurality vote.
Flfth-These provisions to be applicable
to the election of Vice President.
Sixth-Congress shall have power to pro-
vide for holding and conducting presidcn
tlal elections and to establish tribunals fol
decision OF contested elections in districts
or states, and make regulations to govern
these tribunals,
1t will be seen that this proposition pre-
serves the rights of the states gives the
people better opportunity to express Their
choice, the vote being taken by dstricts-so
that district with majority one way
cannot lose its vote on account of an adj
verse majority in the whole state prevents
an election going to CongIess provides for
tribunals for deciding cases of contested
election and seems to meet the whole
case, With our present light, we trust that
the measure may be favorably reported on
by the committee, adopted by Congress,