The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-08

The two committees charged with con-
irving better way-a safer way, we might
say--of electing the President and Vice
President have lately begun to work, and
we have seen number of projects which
have been laid before them. Several of
these propose to make the election directly
by the people, and this plan is SO plausible
that we are not surprised to hear that it
meets with good deal OF favor. We notice,
therefore, with pleasure minority report
opposing this project, submitted to the
House committee by Mr.. Hilary Herbert, OF
Alabama, which seems to us to sum up
very we'll the objections to this plan, as
well as to meet the objections generally
made to continuing the present system OF
election by States. 1t is very clear that the
trainers Of the constitution did not expect
the Chief Magistrate to be necessarily the
representative Of popular majority.
II they had wished that they would
have SO arranged it in the consu-
tuition. It is sometimes objected that
they did not trust the people, and that IN
establishing an Electoral College to be
chosen by the States and not directly by
the people they, in fact, removed the choice
Of President unduly far from the people.
Mr.. Herbert replies that in practice the
Electoral College almost at once ceased to
be an independent body, and its members
now do the will of their constituents, so
that this complaint has no present force.
He also makes strong practical point when
he urges that the present plan Of election
by States prevents a universal spread of
because many Of the States are always SO
preponderantly in favor of one party or
the other that the result is decided in adj
vance in them, and their people are capable
Of acting as moderators upon the general
excitement. We may add that it was
probably with view of thus moderating
the political excitement attending the cleo
ton Of President that the trainers of the
constitution devised the plan Of an Elec-
toral College; while, Of course, in provid-
ing that the election should be by States.
and not by the sgeneral or popular vote,
they acted upon different theory, and
recognized the fact that this nation is fed
eral body.
We do not suppose that Congress or the
States will approve an amendment making
the President elective by a popular vote;
and we suggest, therefore, to those MEM
bers Of the two committees who are, like Mr..
Herbert, opposed to this change, that they
shall take care to perfect an amendment of
their own, proposing such other changes
as are necessary. The most important of
these is the one term clause, making
President ineligible for reelection. This
is not merely advisable but necessary for
the publication of our politics. An am
bilious man in the Presidential chair is
sure to scheme for q second or third
term, and in doing SO he is
certain to serve not the country
but the Senators and Representatives
Of his party, who, with him, will make what
we have seen under the late administration,
close corporation which abandons states
manship for machine politics and loses the
power of framing policies for the country's
service because it is intent only on retaining
control in its own hands.
Whether the Presidential term should be
heightened is question on which opinions
are divided. We think it a matter Of COM
paratively small Importance. though we
should be glad to see the term made six
years. What is wanted by this country is
greater permanence of policy, and longer
Presidential term would perhaps give this,
though biennial instead Of annual sessions
of Congress would better achieve the desired
result; and it may be urged against length
ening the Presidential term that SO long as
patronage is SO great as now the longer term
would greatly intensity the excitement Of q
Presidential election. The founders Of our
government undoubtedly had greater fears
for the permanence Of our institutions from
partisan strife than from any other cause.
Washington solemnly warned his country
men in the Farewell Address against
this danger; he and his contemporaries
had seen and felt the extremes to which
partisan bitterness could go, and it is clear
that they all, unless Jefferson be perhaps
excepted, thought it necessary to the safety
Of the country that NIL possible means
should be used to preserve the country
against this peril. II we look back only to
the election of 1876 we shall perhaps think
them 10 have been wise. Certainly the
mere pecuniary loss to the country caused
by the interruption Of business by the in
tense excitement. during the last Presiden-
tial canvass is a serious matter without
counting in the Generalization and the bad
passions temporarily aroused. Looking at
the question from this point of view some
thing might even be said in favor of short
ening the Presidential term.
But next in Importance to the one term
amendment we are inclined to place m
amendment prohibiting Congress from
special legislation and assigning all private
claims to the adjudication of special courts
If to this could be added another greatly
4 tho Exasutiva rna1