New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
A METHOD FOR CHOOSING PRESIDENTS.

METHOD FOR CHOOSING PRESIDENTS.
\ TERM OF FIVE YEARS, WITH DEFEATED cANDl-
DATE AS A ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF SUCH A
SYSTEM.
To the Editor or The Tribune.
SIR: Presidential strife, such as that
through which nation has Just passed probably no
American wishes again. Not the most pro-
found Of political thinkers could have foreseen proba-
bty Of the late sudden and fearful complication in the
working OF the electoral system and l. for one-earnes
Republican though am-am willing TO give all honor
and gratitude to those Democrats in Congress whose
votes turned the scale and saved the country from an
archy The next four ought TO afford time for wise
counsel among the best Of both parties wherein to
provide against danger in the future aud these dangers
arc likely to increase rather than diminish For can
looking map Of the United States think Of
their future population and multiplied interests without
rejecting that every Presidential election must here
after become dangerous crisis Think Of fifty or
hundred millions of people rushing to contest In when
II is certain that party the other must suffer de-
feat II that defeat chances to be repeated with num-
bers nearly equally divided, what excuses might not
some among those disappointed and discounted millions
commit ! wonld suggest an amendment to the Const
tuition containing the following provisions:
a. The person having the greatest number OF votes
for President shall be the President, If such number be
majority OF the whole number Of electors appoincd and
be shall hold his office during the term Of i've years at
e e OF which term The person wno mad the second
dent and hold his Office during the ensuing term OF five
years.
e. The person having the greatest number OF votes
for VccPresdent shall be the Vce-Prcsident, IL such
number be a majority of the whole number of electors
appointed and he shall hold his office during the term OF
five years, at the end Of which term the person who
lad received the second highest number of votes for
FicePrrsdent shall be the Vce-President during the
ensuing term OF five years
Cd In case of the death or disability OF either OF the
persons who shall have received the second highest mum
Der OF votes for President VicePresident before the
time OF entering upon their Office, Congress by law
declare what officers shall President tlCePres
dent
BY the above provisions o. Presidential election
would take place only ten years. (2) Each OF
the two great parties would be in power at least one
third o; the tme that the minority would have their
Just share in the administration of the Government CD
Neither party could continuously hold Office for more
than two terms a. The purity OF elections would be
promoted, party anmosy would he essened, and hence
the honesty and independence OF those taking part in
public affairs would be promoted. 5) Legislation and
all political action wOald become less partisan and sec
tiOna and more nationals or, III Otner words, ne III
rccucd to the greatest good OF all classes and or the
whole county, and the law would be enforced with
uniform vgor. o. Under such plan 1t would lie poss
bic both political parties to agree
upon just suffrage qualification. J The VIII or the
people expressed through their Representatives in Con-
gres would he more absolute because less likely 10 DC
thWartcd by ministerial power from special motives or
interests 81 The and measures Of each party
would have fair Judgment, and forbearaner, II not
generous rivalry, would take the place of violence ana
luminosity. 9) Changes i'll the policy or the Government
would become less sudden, anu hat tne world mas never
yet conservative democracy, would be established
OJ The several States would III time adopt the same
method OF dividing the executive power between tDc
two parties Q1 As the great majority OF me leople
they would not need to De 30 much engrOsSed with Doll
ties the neglect of other objects (l2) Nothing would
be sacrificed to party eNpedieney, anu The apleSt 1eh
would become the rulers. CIV. 8.
Baltimore Nd, March u, 1877.