The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-15

Mr.. Jefferson's views Of statesmansnip,
we would submit the inquiry, whether
this country has not in recent years
sufficiently manured the tree OF liberty
with patriot b.nod to serve Its needs,
not only for a "century or two," but
forever? We want no more of such
sanguinary enrichment Of our soil ut
least for this generation, nor the next.
Let us therefore look to suitable con-
stitutional amendment, without delay,
in regard to Presidential elections in the
future, in order to eliminate from our
federal system a weakne ss of all others
most prolific Of disorder and danger.
We are glad to notice that such step
has already been inaugurated in the
United States Senate. The proposition
is presented by Governor Morton, Of In
diana, who has for years had this mat
ter strongly impressed upon his mind,
and has made some attempts heretofore
to impress the Importance of the subject
upon the attention Of the Senate; but
with only partial success. Present com
plications now enforce his efforts in a
manner that must command Congress-
ional attention. The plan as proposed
by Senator Morton is as follows:
/. That each State be divided into Congress-
ional districts. as at PRESENT. and that the can"
didates for President receiving the highest
number OF votes in each district shall receive
the vote of that district, which shall count as
one Presidential vote.
2. The person hav the highest number Of
votes for President IN State shall receive two
Presidential votes from the state at large.
3. The person having he highest number OF
Presidential votes in the United States shall
| be Presiuent.
d. If two persons have the same number of
| votes in any State. 1t being the highest num-
| ber they shall receive edcn one Presidential
| vote from the State at large; and if more than
two persons shall have each the same number
| of votes in any stare, it being the highest
number, no PRESIDENTIAL vote snail be counted
| from the STATE at large IL more persons tnan
one shall have the same number of votes, it
b ing the highest number in any district, no
Presidential vote shall be cOunted from that
dlstr ct.
5. The foregoing provisions shall apply to
the election of Wee President.
g. The Congress shall have power to provide
for holding and conducting the election OF
President and Vice President, and to establish
may be contested
Z. The states shall be divided into districts
by the Legislatures thereof, but the Congress
may ut any time by law make or alter the
same.
This is proposed as the sixteenth
mendment OF the Constitution. The
general features of this plan do not diff
fer materially from those proposed fifty
Tyears ago, in 1924, and received the sane
ton of some OF the ablest statesmen then
in the Congress of the United States.
Doubtless the present plan as now sub
mitted will be materially modified i'll
some of its minor aspects before final
action. 1t were therefore needless to
discuss IL minutely now. Its obvious
aim is to secure the election of the Pres
ident by the actual majority of the votes
cast by the whole nation. And this is
as it should be. Various instances OF
the election of our Presidents by minor
ity votes have occurred under our pres
ent system. Gen. Taylor was elected in
l94S by only At per cent. of the popular
vote. Mr.. Buchanan received only As
per cent, aud was elected in 1886. Mr..
Lincoln's first election, in 1860, was OBJ
tanned on only 40 per cent. OF The popular
vote cast.
At the same time this plan also aims
to preserve the proper relative equilib-
rum of the several States as regards
each other. No time could be more ia =
attention of Congress and the country
to this important matter. And we trust
wise counsels may prevail, and that our
future Presidential elections may be
exempt from the evils and perils that
beset us in the present.