The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-16
THE ELECTORAL COUNT.

THE HLEC VISA eiODNA
That there is urgent need for amend
ment of the Constitution as regulating
the election of the President and Vice
President can not be questioned. There
is general dislike in the public mind of
any tampering or tinkering with the
Constitution. 1t is well that it is so;
because such sentiment of repugnance to
change in that instrument is a guaranty
for security and solidity in the funda-
mental law of the Republic.
That the Constitution was framed with
great wisdom must be ADMITTEDLY and
that it has served its purpose in a most
signal manner to meet the wants and
exigencies of the nation is undeniable.
But, to attribute to that instrument an
inherent capacity for meeting and pro-
viding for all the conditions that could
arise by reason of lapse of time and the
changes incident to national growth and
social development, would be to assign
more than human wisdom to its forma-
ton, and to assume that political expert
ence must stand for naught In fact, no
less than fifteen amendments of the Con-
Btitution have been made, either to sup
ply deficiencies revealed by time in its
original form, or as to meet the re-
quirements of changed condition of
things.
We feel assured in the belief that the
need of another amendment, on the sub.
iect of the electoral count for declaring
the choice of the President and Vice
President has been demonstrated by
recent experience. We are, more
over, satisfied that the whole coun
try shares in this belief, and thai
the requisite steps for procuring the
adoption of an amendment suitable tC
the end desired would be promptly taker
in Congress, has been universally ex
pected. Those steps have been taken
but not with the promptitude, perhaps
that matter so grave should have beel
entered upon. The expected amendmen
on this subject has been considered b,
the Judiciary Committee of the Senate
the amendment reported by its Chair
man, Judge Edmunds, one of the ables
Constitutional jurists of the Senate, ant
has passed that branch of Congress by
fair majority.
But, without at all criticising the pro
visions of the amendment as passed b.
the Senate, we can not refrain from ex
pressing regrets that it should have bee
passed by an almost strict party vote
We are at loss to perceive how or VIII
mere partisanship should be invoked j
matters pertaining to the Constitution
If it's provisions are wise and just, the
are so for all without distinction of part,
If they are not wise and just, why shoul
these features be discernible only b
vision regulated by party lines? Tt
Constitution can not be party instr
ment in any possible sense. Its provi
ions may, therefore, happen to tell I
much against one party as the other,
any future case. Why, then, its provi
ions should be either accepted or o.
posed on mere party grounds, we can nj
understand; unless it be that partisa
feeling has SO absorbed the sentiments
patriotism as to carry men to all concei
able extremes for the attainment of part
ends. This conclusion we are 10th
accept.
The Constitutional provisions regar
ing the electoral count, and the mode
electing the President and Vice Pres
dent, has been once amended, in lS0
This amendment came to pass by reast