Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-11-25
Argument in favor of q Direct Vote.


lie mind, when all parties admit the inetiicien-
cy Of the Constitution to meet existing compli-
cations and all parties are anxious TO avert such
complications in the future, the publication OF
portion Of the l45th chapter of "Benton's
Thirty Years in the Senate will, doubtless,
command general attention. Without COM
meut we give that part having direct bear
! ing on the present situation:
Mr. Benton said q" be found himself in
( position 10 commence most Of bis speeches
with " ttceaty years ago "a commencement
rather equivoca, and liable to different inter
pretati,ns in the minds Of different persons
! for, while he might suppose himself to be dis
! plsyiDg sagacity aud foresight, in finding a
medicine for the cure of the present disorders
Of the state in the remedies OF prevention which
he had proposed long since yet others might
understand him in a different character. and
consider him as belonging to the category of
those who, in that long time, bad learned
nothing, and had forgot nothing. So il might
be now; for he was endeavorng 20 revive a
proposition which he had made exactly TWEEN
" years before and for the revival of which
he deemed the present time ominently prOpi-
tious The body polite was now sick ; aud
the patient, 10 his agony, might take the medi-
cine rs IA cnre, which he refused, when well,
o. take as a prevention.
Mr. Benton then proceeded to state the Oh
Jet and principle OF bis amendment, which
was to dispense with all intermediate bodies
in the election Of President aud ice-Presideut,
and to keep the election wholly in the hands
| 81. 4 4 a.. 1 a.
Il direct vote for the man Of their choice, and
holding a second election between the two
highest, in the event OF failure in the first
election 10 give a majority to any one. This
was 10 d. away with the machinery of oil in
teruedjate bodies to guide, control, or defeat
the popular choice ; whether Congress eau
Gus, or national convention, 10 dictate The
selection oi candidates or body OF electors
20 receive aud deliver their votes or House
OF Representatives 10 sanction or Illustrate their
chcice
Mr. Benton spoke warmly and decidedly in
favor Of the principle Of his proposition, as
suming it rs a fundamental truth TO which
there was no exception, that liberty ,cotid be
ruined By p5oriiing any kind Of substitute
for popuidr election asserting that all cleo
,ions would degenerate into fraud and violence,
if any intermediate body was established be-
tween the voters and the object Of their choice,
aud placed IN = condition To be able - control,
betray, or defeat that choice. This fundsmen-
tai truth he supported upon Arguments, drawn
from the philosophy of government, and the
nature If uan aud illustrated nv examples
taken from the history oi al elective govern
msn;s which h al ever existed. lie showed
that It was the law of the few TO disregard the
will Of the many, when 3hcy got power into
their hands ami that liberty hsd been destroy
ed y hcrever intermediate bodies obtained the
direction Of the popular viii. He quoted q
vast number # governments. both ancient and
modern, as illustrations Of this truth aud re-
ierrei 10 the period Of direct voting in Greece
aud in Rome, d the grand and glorious Pc
RODS Of popular government, when the unlet-
tered viii Of Ihe people annually brought for
ward the men of their own choice 10 admins
ter their own Affairs, and when these people
went on advancing from year 10 year, and pro-
duced every thing great IN arts and IN arms
in public aud in private iie-wich then ex-
ahed them 10 the skies, and still makes them
fixed STAYS IN the armament Of nations He
believed in the capacity Of the people for self
government, but they must have fair play
!air play at the elections, on which all depend
ed and for that purpose should be free from
the control of any intermediate, irresponsible
body OF men.
ST present lhe said, the will of the people
was liable 10 be frustrated 10 the election of
their chief officers laud that at no less than
three different stages Of the canvsss), By The
intervention Of small bodies of men between
themselves and he object Of their choice
Fret, At the beginning of the process, in the
nomination OF selection OF candidates A Con-
sress caucus formerly aud national cunven-
ton nov, govern and control that nomination
and never lall, when they choose, 10 find pre-
texts for substituting their own will for that
of the people Then a body Of electors, 10 re-
ctiye aud hold tie electoral votes, aud who, il
cannot be duubtyd will soon be expert enough
t. Hod reasons for IA similar substitution. Then
the House Of Representatives may come in at
the inclusion 30 do as they have done here
tofore, AID set the will Of the people at ab.
sulUte defiance. The remedy for al this is the
direct vote, aud second election between the
two highest, If tie first one failed. This would
operate fairly aud righ,fully. No matter how
many candidates then appeared in the fell
If any one obtained a majority Of tie whole
number Of votes, the popular principle was
satisfied; the majority had prevailed, and &C
quicscense was tie part Of tie minoT:'y. If
no one obtained The majority then the first
election answered toe purpose Of a nomination
"A real nomination ly the people; and a Sc
coul election between the two highest would
give effect t. the real will Of the people
Mr. Benton ther exposed the details Of bis
proposed amendment, as contained in the joint
resolution which he Intended to offer The
plan of election contained in that resolution,
va, the work Of eminent men-of Mr.. Macon
Nj Van Buren,, Mr. Hugh l. White, Mr..
Findlsy OF Pennsy lvanis, Mr. Dickerson, OF
New jersey, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Hayne. and Mr.
r VI johnson, aud was received with great
favor by the Senate and the country OF the
time it was reported. Subsequent experience
should make il still more acceptable. and en-
title its details 10 a careful and indulgent con-
sidrraton from the people, whose rights aud
welfare it is Intended 10 preserve and pro-
mote"
August Flower.