, 1877-01-27

lilo passage OF tho AfpltrAtfon Dill Dy
Congress- odors the means of cxtricntion
from n vcry complicated eutanylcmcnt long
forescon, often predicted, md at laSt nj. act-
nal, present reality. In 1900 tho old system
Of voting for President resulted In crisis
whicl, Threatened tho termination OF the
young Republic. There wero few man
at that day who rose aboye party considera-
tio'H, and to their patriotism tho country
owod its escape from wreck, a,ll tho Con-
grcss, impressed with the aeuss Of public
danger, promptly provided, by constitu-
tiounl mensure, against a recurrence Of TINT
oyent in that form. But tho change In tho
Constitution left the country exposed to
peri's not then forcseen. Fifty years ago,
Chancellor KENT, in his commentaries on
the Constitution, ~ If possessed OF the gift
Of prophecy, wrote as follows on tho SUBJ
jeet Of Presidential elections:
The mosic os hIs appointment presented one OF
the sst difficult aud inlpostan: questions that oc-
culicd the deliberations uf tho asseu,bty which
framed tho Constitutions; ana II ever tho tran.
4uillfty Of this nuflUn IL to hr disturbed and its
liberties endangered by q struRRs for powcs II
Will he upon thi. very subject Of the cloco of
President. This !. the question that IL eventually
fu test the goostl1css ntd try lhe strength OF tho
Constitution, and II NC shall be nhlo fur half
ccntnrJ hurcsftcr 10 cout[uuo ~ elect tho Chief
Magistrate NJ the tniun with discretion inodeta-
thu, and integrity, VIC shall undoubtedly stsnp
iAc highest value On OUT natlanai c1lasactrs.
tTlc country Is just now pnsAius through
the crisis thus forcEccn, aud tho test of Tho
goodness and strength Of OUR Constitution is
in tho passage Of this Arbitration bill, aud
tho consequent avoidance Of tue Threatened
calamity. hut this measure, however m,tis-
tactory Us I. temporary exped!ent, will not
cure tho raIlical defects IN tho present bys.
tcnl of tlccting thu prcai,lrnt. Thcas must
bo cured by al amendment Ut tho Coustitu-
tiun which will bs permanent, until, in tic
progress of time, other changes will bo re-
quircl.
So1uc Of the defccta Of tho present system
are: !. Tic Useless machinery Of tho Elect.
oral Colleges, with MI tho liabilitios 10 fraud
i'll tloir appointment, fraud aud corruption
in their voting, and errorH and illegalties in
their proceedings p The injustice Of tue
election Of Presidents by tho najoEitias OF
tho popular votes in Statcs, leading to cor
ruption in tho elections by offering TO few
voters tho opportunity Of clecting botl,
President and Vice-rresident. i. Tho
stilin. Of tho voice Of thu minority in q mn.
jority Of States in tho choice OF President.
I. The absence Of nny general rule 10,
assuring tue validity OF elections, and ths
absence OF my recognized authority to do.
eide contested elections.
Al amendment to tho Constitution mus'
ba ratified by the Legislatures Of three.
fourths OF the several States, and 1t is moi
likely that the smaller States will ever yolun
tarily surrender their Senatorial represents
ton in tho voto for President, nor IL it likely
that they will syer consent to hayo the Presi
dent elected by the aggregate vote Of ths
whole people. Tho voting by States, there
fore, vii! have to be retained, but this doe.
not include tho returning OF the present sys
TEN Of voting through iho agency Of Elector'
appointed for that purpose. 1t hes Ieen re
ieatedly proposed TINT Elections bs appointed
III Congressman are,-by election in singh
districts, this would place it in the powe,
Of partisan uajori.ias In the State LegiHla