The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-11-24
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT


properly be allowed in form as well as in
fact to vote for candidates for President and |
Vice President, and Electoral Colleges be |
dispensed with, is an opinion now pretty |
generally entertained but there has been no |
common or general agreement upun an
Amendment to the Constitution of the Uni |
ted states by which this object shall be ac-
complished.
The proposition that there shall be di- |
rect vote by the people throughout the coun-
try for candidates, consolidation of the
votes cast into one general return and ma
jority or plurality rule applied to such re-
turn to determine the result, is quite out of
question. In addition to the strong obiec-
tions which lie against it when presented
upon its merits, we have to consider how
impossible its adoption is in view of the
strong interests opposed and which will re-
main opposed to it. Fully two thirds of the
States would lose portion of the power
which they now possess in Presidential cleo
tions by accepting it, inasmuch as it furnish
es no substitute for the representation of
states as States in the Electoral Colleges.
Representation by Senatorial Electors con-
stitutes at present from one-fourth to two
thirds OF the voting power of each of no
less than q states in the Presidential cleo
tions, and it is idle to suppose that they will
surrender it without an equivalent. 1t fol.
lows that Congress will not pass by two
thirds vote in each House, nor three.iourlhs
OF the States adopt, this particular popular
vote plan for Presidential elections.
The plan of single Electoral Districts,
either for the choice of Electors or to cast
electoral votes, has the sanction of some
distinguished names-llamlton and Benton
among them. But plan which was plaus-
ible in 1894, or in 1880, may appear intol-
erable in 1876, and invite instant rejection.
And such is this plan. For we can see at Il
glance that it would introduce most shame
Iul gerrymaniering into every State of the
Union would whenever districts were made
initane the greed Of one party aud the dis
content OF another and would often work
Migrant injustice in our future elections.
We know much more about the iniquity and
evil.of gerrymandering tlan was known
generation or two aga, and in making Con.
slltutlonal chan&aS we must seek rather to
cXiirpate than to increase them. There are
"'h"r objections to this plan OF Electoral
Di,t'ic's, but the one mentioned should su f
flee
But few words need be expended upon
third possible pnpular-vot plan for Presi-
dental elections, to St: That the voters
in each State shall vote directly for Presi-
dent and Vice President and tha. candidates
having plurality of votes upor the returns
'uaii have assigned to them the whole elec-
torai vote OF the State without the nteryen-
ton of an Electoral College. Bat such
change, if the details of it were worked out
and arranged, would be mostly change Of
form and not of substance, and would not
reach any mischief or evil of the existing
plan of election. All the serious defects and
dangers OF that plan would remain untouch-
ed. To reach them we require a change
much more thorough and effectual.
And here we reach what we suppose to be
| firm ground. So far the discourse has been
objective and Introductory. We may now
advance to the proposition had in view from
the outset, and will be prepared to compre-
hend and to judge it. 1t is this. THAT in
each otatc candidates for the Presidential and
Wee Presidential offices shall be roted for di-
rect(y By The people and shall recciUe eiectorel
rates Of Tie Sute in proportion to their populay
| cote therein. In other words, retaining elec.
| toral votes to each State as now allow ed by
the. Constitution, but dispensing with Electo-
raj Colleges, the people shall themselves be-
stow the electoral votos of the State in lust
proportion upon the candidates of their
choice, in the very act of polling their own
votes, and all that will remain to be done
will be the execution of their will by means
Of proper returns and legal announcement
of the result. The proposition may be ex-
pressed in the following, or in some similar
form
| AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Article II. Z /, paragraph ,, to be made to
read as follows -" Each State shall be enti-
| tied to a number of Electoral Votes equal to
! the whole number Of Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes to which the State shall be enti-
tied in Congress-"
! The first division of the twelfth Amend
ment to the Constitution, ending with the
words directed 10 the President of the Sen
ate, to be struck out, aud the following sub
| slituted
"The citizens of each State who shall be
qualified to vote for Representatives in Con-
gress, shall cast their votes for candidates for
the Presidential office by ballot, and proper
returns of the votes so cast shall be made,
under seal, within ten days, to the Secreta-
ry Of State or other officer law fully perlornl-
ing the duties of such Secretary in the gov
ernment of the State, by whom the said re-
turns slall be publicly opened in the pres.
ence Of the Chief Executive Magistrate OF
the State, aad of the Chief Justice or Judge
OF the highest Court thereof, aud the said
Secretary Chief Magistrate aud Judge shall
assign to each candidate voted for by a sui.
iicient number of citizens, a propOrtionate
part of the electoral votes to which the Stat,
shall be entitled, in manner following, thai
is to say They shall diyide the whole num-
Der Of votes returned by the .whole number
of the States electoral vote and the resulting
quotient shall be the e!et torai ratio for tn,
State, and shall assign to candidates voted
for one electoral vote for each ratio of pop
ular votes received by them respectively, and
if necessary, additional electoral votes fo
successive largest fractions of a ratio shall bC
assigned to candidates voted ior, until thu
whole number of the electoral votes of the
State shall be distributed; and the said Off
GERS shall thereupon make up and certify a
least three general returns, comprising th'
popular vote by counties, parishes, or othe