The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-12

which Of the two men voted for last No.
yember should appoint Postmasters and
lsign commissions during the next four
\ years. There would be found somewhere
In tho Constitution 4 way to settle II
peaceably. l.- a.s
Mr.. Morton said he was sorry this
debate was thrust upon the Senate now;
as he had not carefully considered this
proposed amendment, though he had
studied the general subject for years
past. The Senate should be very sure
that the proposition now before them
was q true and proper one, and one under
which the country could prosper and
live for all time. Should this PROPOSE
tion be adopted Il was very certain that
none other would be adopted for many
years. There were number Of fatal
objections 10 this amendment. II pro.
posed to transfer the count Of the electoral
vote to the Supreme Court, which would
make that tribunal a political body.
II would make that court the Grand Re-
turning Board ofthe country, and It's mo-
tiyes would always be impugned. When
the Supreme Court Of the United States
should be vested with the power Of deter
mining what party should be in authority
for four years, the members of that
Court would have q political power
which would be dangerous. He argued
that the proposed amendment was = re-
enactment oil the 18th Article OF amend.
ments to the Constitution with three
changes, which were: First, that Elect
ors shall vote viva voee instead OF by bal.
lot; second, the transfer Of the count Of
the Electoral vote to the Supreme Court,
and third, making Supreme Court Judge
ineligible for the office OF President or
Vice President until the expiration
Of two years next after he shall
have ceased to be such JUS
ice. The proposition left the Elec:
toral College standing with all'its abuses.
The people Of the United States were op.
posed to that institution, as it was full Of
danger and trouble, some Of which waa
at the very doors Of Congress to-day.
This Electoral College vas the rock in
the channel on which the country was
more likely TO split than any other. Mr..
Morton then quoted largely from the re-
port which he made to the Senate two
years ago, from the Committee on Priyi-
lsge and Elections, to show that he op.
posed the Electoral College then, aud
said he did not believe the people Of the
country would ratify this proposed
amendment with the Electoral COL
lege provision standing. He objected to
the proposed amendment because it
re.enacted the provision authorizing the
election Of President by the House Of
Representatives. This provision he re.
garded rs one Of the most dangerous in
the Constitution. 1t gave to Nevada,
with her $4,000 people, the same voice
in the election OF President that New
York had with her ia times as many
people. Suppose the election Of Pres.
ident for the ensuing four years should
be thrown into tho House OF Representa-.
tives. A President would be elected by
men who were elected two years ago and
did not represent the will OF the people,
as they had not been returned to Con-
gress. This clause, authorizing the
House 10 elect, was the last clause put in
the Constitution, and 1t was put there
without deliberation, without debate.
The country came near being ship
wrecked in 1S0l-the article referred to
being about an election by the House
that year that would utterly damn any
public man this day. He argued in |
favor Of having the President and Vice
President elected by the direct vote OF the
people, and had read the Constitutional
amendment proposed by the Committee
on Privileges and Elections to that effect
two years ago.
Mr.. Edmunds in reply to the question
OF Merrimon, said all Of the members Of
the Committee on Judiciary, were OF the
opinion that it would be better to have
the electors vote viva voce than by ballot,
Us the action OF the chosen agents Of the
people, should be public, so all might
know whether such agents fulfilled the
trust certified TO him, or betrayedit.
Mr.. Merrimon gave notice Of an
amendment he would offer so as to make
any Justice OF the Supreme Court ineli-
gible to appointment to any Office under
the United States, and also ineligible TO
be elected President or Vice President
until the expiration of four years mex,
after he shall have ceased to be such JUS
tice. Ordered printed.
The matter was further discussed by
Messrs. Frelinghuysen, Merrimon, Ed.
munds and Morton.
Pending the discussion Mr.. Morton
n resolution fixing the per
diem OF witnesses summoned TO appear
before the Senate or any Of It's commit.
tees at four dollars and mileage at five
cen,s per mile each way. Referred.
Mr.. Morton also offered a resolution to
transfer $1,000 from the contingent fund
OF the Senate to the use Of the Committee
on Privileges and Elections, to be re-
turned when an appropriation shall be
made to defray the expenses Of that com.
mittee. Agreed to.
The Chair announced Mr.. Oglesby as a
member OF the Committee on Privileges
and Elections, vice Mr.. Boutwell,, ex.
cused.
The Senate went into Executive session
and soon after adjourned.
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