Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-11-23


Whole subject before we make unfriendly
criticisms. The American Union, under
he Constitution, 10 composed of STATES,
which are sovereign in their capacity, as
units Of confederation. That is to say
N oil matters respecting local govern.
nsnt, or the contol Of affairs affecting
itself alone the authority Of each State
- supreme, but this is the utmost extent
OF State supremacy. The absolute power
Of State reaches only to the determine.
zion Of those issues in which that State
alone 10 interested. Wisconsin, as State,
Aas no right to do anything about the
election of Governor in Minnesota be.
esuss che IL not to be affected in any way
BY the choice; but each State is interested
IN the selection OF = President, for the rsa-
cen tint tho general government, to be
administered by that oficer is uniformly
applicable to all the States. The different
member Of the Union have an individual
isssress in the general government, and
hey have right to represent that inter.
~ In choosing an Executive.
Now let 10 suppose that the two political
parties are nearly balanced in the north.
en- States, except New York, and that in
me city alone the democrats have q ma
jority Of $4,000 votes, which is not at all
unusual. This number might be greater
han the combined majorities Of all the
ether States north of Mason and Dixon's
line, and yet each 60 republican. The re.
cult in that case If the popular vote were
70 elect the President, would be that the
Intelligence and the virtue and the Chris.
sisnity Of these great empires of republi'
canism would weigh less in the scale of
human government than the ignorance,
Ne vice and the heathenism Of this So
dom Of the modern world-this mere frac.
ton OF the vast multitude to be affected
BY the election. In this view Of the case
he popular vote might practically disftan-
shiss two-thirds of tho States, and force
upon them an Executive representing but
single class and single interest, and
both of them inimicsl to the welfare of
he ganeral government. Such PROPOSE
sion IL simply monstrous, and whom it,
tendencies are properly apprehended, will
not be seriously entertained by many who
have any sincere desire for the perpetuity
Of our institutions. The element of popu-
iazity IL sufficiently protected by the
selection Of representatives, om'the ranks
Of The people BY direct suffrage, but the
eenservation Of the liberties which consti.
ute the chief value Of this Republic: - Of
-. ssomentous consequence to be sub
oit1sd to the arbitrament Of : popular
xajorlsy which may represent neither IN.
ssiligence nor patriotism. At each quad
rsssial election We chose President Of
NE United States, an ohlcer whose duties
eonssrn The people only in their capacity
q States, hence The only way Of selecting
"a Executive with a1eGe impsrtiality,
Il 70 lot each State dscia1e1or itself upon
come uniform basis of representation
adoptedlby eli That IL our present method
and It ID no less judicious than II is just,
and It viii Re : sad day for this couatry
when, in obedience - popular clamor, II
shall b exchanged for another less con-
ssl$laive In ito tendencies and asose readi
j affected BY those ebullitions Of feeling
which are usually transient IN their
nature, and which should 30 permitted TO
s1pend their fores II nero ehtervescencs:
The electoral college is the snchor, but
1br which the old ship Of STATE might Be-
swept from her moorings and dashed 10,
pieees upos the 1esfs Of @ excited, ire
spopsibls ssd isnoraut popuhr vote: