The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-25


to sweep out of existence the present cum
brous machinery Of electoral colleges by
which we now conduct such elections, and
while allowing the people to vote directly
for President and Vice President yet, at the
same time, preserving to the smaller states
the same equality which they now sustain
In reference to the larger states. The con-
cession of two presidential votes TO each
state, no matter what might be its popula-
ton, In addition to the number II was en-
titled TO by population, was made by the
first constitutional convention as sine qua |
non, without which II could not have pass |
ed the convention or have been ratified by
the requisite number of states. Whether
well or i'll founded. there was then, rs now,
a jealousy or fear of the larger states exist
ing ON the part Of the smaller ones, and
they would enter into no national govern
utut tliit Olu NV pitOciFO thNh iiShso ohN
prevent their being oversaughed by the
votes of their more powerful neighbors 1t
is apparent to every one that in case of a
combination on the part of less than quar-
ter of the states in number, without some
similar provision, all elections and legisla-
ton could be controlled by their action.
To this apprehension. or jealousy If you
will, we owe our Senate wherein each state,
large or small, has an equal voice, as, also,
the two votes at large for President and
Vice President. Without continuance of
such provision. the perpetuation of the
voice of the states as states, no change can
or ought ever be made in our manner of
conducting presidential elections.
The amendment further confers power
on Congress to establish tribunals for the
| decision of cases of contested elections aris-
ing hereunder and the inquiry is peril
nent whether such a provision Is necessary
| Without stopping to discuss the question,
we will merely ask why, If such power al
ready exists it is either necessary or proper
to make it the subject matter of constitu-
tional provision9 If 1t does not ex-
list, of what possible use can 1t be for the
senate to pass, as proposed by Mr.. Ed
munds, a bill to Establish a court for con-
tested elections?" We conccde the neces-
sity of such tribunal, both to prevent a
state from being disfranchised and to guard
against possible bloodshed and civil war.
1t is evident that, in any event, unless
Congress dispatches business with much
more celebrity than usual, these proposed
amendments cannot pass Congress and bt
ratified by three fourths of the states II
season to be In force at the next presiden
tial election, 1t is evident, also, unless
there is great political change within
eighteen months, that the next election viii
be close and holly contested, and 1t may b.
that the votes, or the want of votes, from
three southern states say Louisiana, Arkan
sasand Mississippi-will determine the re
suit. Surprising such to DO the case, and W
all know that the cry of fraud, terrorism
| duu DC INloCu WI ClthC
side; and with the national administration
as the stake, it would be needed by tn
party which had the most to gain thereby
Either party could at present by united &C
ton, disfranchise these states or, for tina
matter, any other state with or withou
. cause. The tribunal that now decide
these cases is Congress acting under III
twenty second joint rule, which provide:
y in auhssa-an. that &c any rnastinn shall l.
raised relative to the acceptance or coun
ing of the vote of any state, it sha
y be presented to and acted upon by eac
House separately, and no question shall
. decided afflrmatively, and no vote objecte
; to shall be counted, except by the concu
rent vote of the two houses" Under IL
operation of this rule, Louisiana and A
u kansas were deprived of their votes tw
+ years ago, and justly so. But their vot'
could not have effected the result, and i
therefore, made no particular differenc
II save that involved in the fact that two SO
ereign states were DISTINGUISHED. Nor
y over, the act was not the result of a stru
u gle TOR partisan victory. Both hous
=" we're republican by large majority. b
how will it be next year, with democrat
- house and republican senate Does al
:, one doubt, judging from past experienc
/, how one or all of these states would
:. treated if the rejection of the votes of OF
80 | Sc xvnvlI ha nj
:. Would republican senate count the vot
:, alleged to have been secured by "whi
. league" intimidation? Would democrs
- ic house count votes alleged to be the l
" suit of republican "carpet bag" frauds
We all know that they would not, but WI
~ can tell the results which would flow thel
- from 1t is evident that this joint ~
=, ought to be abolished, and some tribur
ia provided for deciding these contests.
bo should be n tribunal, too, composed
\. men of such character, standing and abili
a and so far removed from partisan bias.
no to command the unqualified assent of eve
or reasonable person no matter what his pc
.. tics may be. With such a tribunal the
200 is safety; without it, there may be gre
Or danger. We trust that congress has t
oh power to provide for such tribunal a
"a that it may do so at once, without await
i'll the slow progress of constitutional amel
pr. ment, unless, indeed, such an AMENDING
20 should prove to be an absolute necessity
Ill
!. Annual Meeting OF tho Rutland al
Washington Counties Produce