The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-22

THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMXND1UR
REGULATING AND PROVIDING FOR THE CHOICE
OF PREsIDENT-DANGERs ARISING OUT OF
| THE ELECTORAL coLLEGE-PAssAGr OF THE
'.Lrrr1E TARIFF BILL"
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1876.
The Vice President laid before the Senate a
Message OF the President in regard to strengthen
ing the coast defences, similar to that read in the
House OF Represen atives yesterday. Referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs.
THE PRESIDENTS SALARY.
Mr.. WRIGHT, (rep) Of Iowa. from the Committee
on CIVIL Service and Retrenchmenr, reported
adversely on the bill to abolish the system Of
mileage, and 1t was indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. HAMLIN, (rep.) Of Maine, from the Commit
tee on Civil Service and Retrenchment, reported
adversely on the bill to reduce the salary OF the
President OF the United States, with the request
that 1t be placed on the calendar with the adverse
report. So ordered.
THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The unfinished business being the resolution
proposing an amendment to the constitution in
regard to the election OF Pre- sdent and Vice Pres.
ident was called up.
MIR. MORTON, (rep) OF Ind, said this was sub
ject entirely above all party considerations; men
OF all parties could address themselves to 1t indie
pendently OF the excitement which now pervades
the country. The proposition was to amend the
constitution so as to bring the election home to
the people as near as possible, and at the same
time avoid the dangers which are threatened by
the present mode. When he looked back over the
history or the country 1t was q matter OF
surprise to him that there had not been trouble
resulting from the mperection OF our system.
states TO settle contested eiecton cases of cleo
tors. The election OF electors might be attended
with fraud, violence and tumult, and there was
no power 10 correct the evil. He pointed out at
some length the imperfectous or the present
system, and said under 1t too much power was
| vested IN the hands OF the Vice President, or
| President OF the Senate, to whom the electoral
| votes must be sent under SEAL Six times 1t had
happened that the Vice President had counted
votes where lie himself was a candidate. John
Adams counted the vote and declared himself
| elected In 1897. Mr.. Jefferson counted the vote in
| 1901, when there was tie. Suppose there had
been two sets OF electors there from any
one state-one set making tie vote
no power to prevent him from counting
the vote which would have elected nm.
date, counted the vote. In 1927 Mir Van Buren,
did the same thing, and declared himself elected.
Mr.. breckenridge dld so. Although the count had
been honest in all these cases, all instance might
arise wnea dishonesty s1 on The part OF the Vice
occurred TO the trainers OF the constitution tnat
there might be two sets Of delegates or fraud in
There election. He neXt referred 30 the counting
OF The vote IN the presence OF the two houses or
Congress, and said that the two houses OF Con-
gress were AZ witnesses Only. They could not act
| as "a joint convention.
INPERFEcTIONs or THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
p As to the dangers and difficulties when attended
the present system they were many. In case OF
death or nonattcndance OF electors from any state
other electors from that state might I'LL vacancies.
suppose tge electors nom any state were evenly
divided, and II one died or tailed to attend the
other side could select one and thus have the ma
jorlty on their side. majority OF one could cast
the entire vote OF the state OF New York and
$780, 900 people might be utterly silent IN their
vote tor President. Under the present system ten
states could elect the President oil the United
states. 1t was now an election by states, not
ma tional election. In 1856 there were thousands
OF republicans IN the south who dd not vote, be-
cause taere was no electoral ticket IN the het1
there for Fremont and Dayton. Under the present
system many men were practically cisiranchisei
because there were not men enough IN
their state OF their own way OF thinking
to nut nm electoral ticket IN the field. lie sent TO
the Clerks desk, and had read the TWEEN ty second
Joint rule OF Congress- in regard 10 the counting
OF the electoral vote, and said IL was grossly un