The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-21
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.


1t is becoming more eviden. every day
that the present method of electing the
President and Vice President is defective
and that some better and safer method
should be adopted. Thus far there has
never been o contested Presidential cleo
ton but it might happen that there would
be. If the election in 1872had been so
close that Louisiana had held the balance
aud the vote of that State had determln.
ed the election there might have been.
Both parties claimed then and CLAIM now
to have carried the State. In 1872 the
electoral vote of that State conld not ef-
feet the result either way, but might in
1876, or the vote of some other State in
dispute might be necessary to determine
the result.
In 1853 he members Of the Wisconsin
electoral college were prevented from
meeting on time by q snow storm. but
dated their meeting back SO as to con-
form to the requirements of the law, and
Congress decided to count the votes, as
it could make no difference. The vote of
Georgia In 1858 was declared to be ille-
gal, but allowed to be counted on the
ground that it could make no difference.
And the votes Of Louisiana and Askan-
sas in 1872 were thrown out for illegality
and that they could make no difference.
On these three OCCASIONS, counting or not
counting the votes, could not change tie
result of the election. But close cleo
tion is sometime coming and may come
in 1876.
Senator Morton, Chairman Of the Sen.
ate Committee on elections and priv.
leges, proposes to elect the President and
Vice President by direct vote Of the
people AZ follows;
Each State ehaIl be divided into districts equal
in number 70 the number OF Representatives &c
winch the STATE may DC cnClUeQ IN Inc congress
10 be composed Of contiguous territory, and Ia
be as nearly equal in population 40 may be: and
the person having the highest number OF votes in
each district for President shall receive the vote
Of that district, which shall count one Preslden
Sial vote.
The candidates for President and Vice Presi
lent having the highest number OF votes in @
state shall receive two Presidential votes from
the State at large, and those having the high0Sl
number OF Presidential votes In the United States
shall be President and Vice President. In the
event Of site" the following provision Ia made
II two persons have the same number Of votes
in any State, it being the highest number, they
ahall receive each one Presidential vote from the
State at large; and II more than twN persons shal
have each the same number OF votes In any State
iC being the highest number, no Presidential vote
ehall be counted from the State at large. If more
votes, Ii being the highest number in any dit
trict, no Presidential vote ehall be counted il
that district.
The same provision applies to Vice Presiden
1ial candidates. To complete the safeguard
against the emergency OF o infested Presidential
election it iS provided that Congress shall hav
power to provide for holding and conducting tn
elections ofPresident and Vice President, and 4
establish tribunals for the decision OF such cleo
tlOns as may be contested.
Morton's plan seems to be inst, safe and certain
and it is time that tho constitution shorld be g
amended as to obviate difficulties which are lisbl
10 occur ut any close Presidential election.