National Republican., 1878-04-08


The report Of the minority of the committee
on the mode of electiug President and Vice
President Is sustained by fvo members of the
committee, and Of the eleven composing the
committee. The report which was drawn up
by Mr. Herbert, of Alabama, defends the pres
ent electoral system, and dissents from the
proposition Of the majority for election by a
direct vote. Mr.. Herbert scouts the assertion
of the majority that tho present electoral sys-
tenn is aristocratic In its nature, and has moth.
ing In common with American notions of gov
ernment lie says that If II be sristocratic to
acknowledge, as sacred above all other things,
the right of each community to regulate and
govern itself rs far As may DO consistent with
the rights Of the General Government, insti-
tuted for common protection, then the govern
ment they framed 10 aristOcratic. Otherwise,
not.
The total vote Of all tho States was Color
ado not counted) S,i05,7S7. Now, by
tho Constitution, no bill can become
law without tho approval Of both
Houses, including tho Senate. These
nineteen States furnish just half Of the United
States Senators. by uniting they can defeat
the passage Of any bill whatever. These
thirty eight Senators might bo chosen by Leg
islatures elected by q little over half the votes
ated, say, by SeO,55S votes. Here, then, we
have the Senators elected by less than one
million votes able to check the will OF nearly
seven millions aud q half of the voters Of the
United States According 10 the reasoning OF
the majority no one can defend Constitution
which produces such unreasonable results, aud
the Senate Of the United States must be abol-
ishcd.
Mr. Herbert contends that the proposed plan
takes away from the States "the right to speak.
each for all its people, and permit minoritics
to speak 70 the whole United States, to have
their voice heard hero in the aggregate result
to become, in effect, voters OF the United States
instead Of voters Of the States. This plan takes
away from these republics, the States, this
right to speak by their majorities, and cOnters
upon the United States tho right to say by a
majority of the whole who shall bo President
and Vice President. Why should the right Oi
a majority In q State not be as sacred aS the
right of the majority OF the whole United
States Why rob the State of this right and
confer 1t upon the general Governments II Il
not too clear that this is simply another step
toword consolidating the states out OF sight IN
our system p
After reasoning against any step toward
central izatiOn aud urging that the right oil
local self government be jealousy guarded
with a reference to the reconstruction acts as
ceutralizing in their tendencies, Mr., Herbert
concludes US follows:
IL do not concur with tho majority that
there is any widespread public demand fol
such plan rs this, or for any measure that
would tend to mar the theory Of our Govern
mcnt, obscure Its origin and purpose, destroy
the autonomy Of the States, or rob them-of any
Of their reserved rights.
But the people do expect of this COMMITTEES
SOME measure for ascertaining and counting
the votes. 1t Was Tor want Of that, and thai
Only, that the country was imperiled In 1870
For that there is a demand, and trust the
committee will, in that respect, answer public
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