New-York tribune., 1878-03-01
NEW PERIODICALS.
THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM.
ARTICLES BY 5UDGE COOLEY AND ABEAM S. HEWITT
IN LIE INrRRN ArIONAL KENIEw.

IRE ELEC OlChL
ARTICLES BY SUDGE COOLEY AND ABIAM s. HEWITT
IN The INTERNATIONAL RKVIEw.
The international, Rerier for March-April has
sever, articles of pressing inter Americans al hi
fine Jndre J. NJ Cooley OF Michigan, and the Hon
hbram : Hewitt OF New York, discuss the method 81
eleeting the President" Jude Cooley considers various
expedents have been suggested AS remedies Tor th
evils OF the electoral system which were d bare year
ago These are shorter Presidential term; an exen-
sion Of the eight ten years the choice oi
President by direct vote, without the medium OF al
Electoral College, the choice OF President bS the pou-
lar Of the whole country aggregated the choice o.
district electors; the choice Of President by the concur
rent vote of the houses OF Congress- and III case
OF disagreement by vote join, conventions tae intro
duction of the English system under when the tx GU
tive shall be required to conform on all questions O.
policy and administration the views OF the control
ling majority the popular branch in Congress None
of c changes that suggested are rcarged by Judge
Cooley as OF much value Mr. Hewitt assumes That III
the late Presidential election means were found to
take away from the people the right 10 say which ptv
should not rule" The control OF the political macn-
erv I'm the several States says will he the strategic
pont In AL future Presidential contests and the infu-
erce Of money will be potent hereafter 10 determine r.
salts lie says:
The remedy is therefore to make IL impossible for
returning board decide what the vote OF t' state T.
The central system mus he ah ndOnei ana ne r-tI
system be substituted Tie district system divides the
political control The sane party does not rule N al th
districts Hence, II electors were chosen by districts,
the vote Of the state would DE divided. The results as
electors would therefore practically he di ,s-
ION Of the votes between the parties, sGhstanI ANY
IN tie ratio of the division exiSihe IN IN me houTe
OF representatives. The central pohllcaI power
PRESIDENT NJ washington mus lti nas 9rVn m Ser
tines whou the poYuar feeling Is deely b"yH 10
controlling influence in the Congressional Ol-lilcs,
eloctogs would probably be free from undue influence on
the part Of thc National Administration. OF course ii
TO ncrpctrae Frauds; but they would arly be sub
jectcd the scrutny now exists ~ regard 10
Ii,su- Gf
ing abuse is fourd 10 exist in tins respect. II,
therefore, should be deemed desirable to continue t.
choose the through the intermediate agency Of
Si.sict f6r the general Ticket system now vogue.
The Obi 10 the district system is that TIE In Se
states viii lose their Prponde'4'-as mIience III ine
been such prcponderatiaG influence and If il did x
ISL would scarcely seem G,slblg to PeIn'tu4Ie II
j NewYOIk could always make the President II would
be generally fct and conceded TO be an injustice T. the
other states, and New-Gurk would, ii wlse gladly sur
render such an invIdiOus privilege.
II seems clear TO HIM that the district system is bot
ter and safc method of choice than TO elect by Genera!
ticket in the Ii brings the election nearer
TO the people, and light tend, in me TO give some ds-
creton the ndi dual electors according TO tine orig
ina idea Constitution. lie prefers distribution TO
coucentraton OF electoral force In this way the veto
power Of the people nominations can at least he
preserved, and he world despair Of the recovery
of the positive power to elect the man OF thou cholcs 10
the Presidency especially II the vote were made direct
for President by name still preserving the district sys-
for the candidate who might have the majority OF votes
In the district. He says
The great thing to secure TIE substitution OF the
district Presidential elections for the gel era
ticket plan, which unscTupulnus politicians have learned
how the purpose of defeating the viii OF the
people. the electors IN each state cOrrespono-
ing 10 the tors they could be elected on general
ticket anI the Electoral Colleges should settle ali con
tested seats. in order that disputes IN regard to
electoral shOul De submitted 10 Congress The
fuucOn of Congress should be limited 10 meeting niOln
convention Tor the mere ministerial duty OF eccl'hs
opening the votes of the electoral c0cec
and If the shows that candidate has naJnilt\
all the votes r coed 10 elect as President. VIVA
yoce one Of thy three highest candidates each Senator
and Representative having one vote, and the candidate
receiving m Jlity of all the votes thus cast shall he
declared President. In case of r tie, the Speaker
of the House, as representing the people should
have the casting vote. The chief merit o
tins suggestion is that it would seem, at least
ut the Outset, 10 secure definite result without any
considerable departure from the existing methods 10
which the Ueople have become accustomed. Doubtless
politicians would later coErlve some device TO
nulfy will of people; but unless tue electoral
colleges in the several States send IN cJuDe returns is
not easy how the power to perpcratc anV fraud
viii reside in Congress. But double returns from any
State only from electoral colleges heiuG
Organizcd in which the question Of legality SHOULD
be settled in the STATE courts and copy OF the record Ol
tudgmen, should be 1na and conclusive on Congress