The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-02-14
UNUSUAL SIGNIFICANCE.
P opposed Change Of Choosing Presidential
Electors something of Vital I'm
porlance.
n, o. Democrat.

N, o. Democrat.
Below we reproduce from the
Chicago Times IN interesting ar
tlcle relative to the method OF
choosing electors OF president and
vice president of the United States.
The views presented by II con
temporary are deserving OF grave
consideration. The plan of choosing
electors by the legislature strikes
MS very favorably. 1t worked ex-
cellently well in South Carolina
before the war, aud there are many
reasons why it should be adopted
now, especially in such States as
Louisiana, South Carolina, Missis.
sippi and Alabama. In u State
with such d population as ours the
fewer popular elections we have
the better. A legislature elected
III a presidential yeaI would be en-
tirely representative of the will of
the people, and well qualified to
represent them in the choice of
electors. We commend this impor.
tant matter to the discussion OF
our fellow. citizens, as it is likely to
come prominently before the con.
yention. The Times says: The
second provision of the first section
of article two of the constitution of
the United States is as follows:
each State shall appoint, in
such manner as the legislature
thereof may direct, a number of
electors equal to the whole number
of senators and representatives. to
which the State may be entitled in
congress; but no senator or repre-
sentative, or person holding an
office OF trust or profit under the
United States, shall be appointed
an elector,n
u@der this provision the electors
OF president and vice president of
the United States have been APP
pointed by the Legislature OF a
State, though more commonly
chosen at a popular election. 1t is
reported that the legislature of AL
ALBANIA has recently taken steps to
provide for the appointment of the
presidential electors of that State
by its general assembly. 1t is also
that the course thus ill.,
a%ugurated will be followed by all
the other Southern States, and
that all the Southern members of
the next electoral college will be
chosen, not at Il popular election,
but by the legislatures Of their re-
spective States. Should this pro-
gramme be carried out, it will in
Volve consequences of immense
significance, and will Gn all proba.
prove decisive of the next
presidential campaign. Under it
there could be no election riots,
ballot-hoX frauds or bayonet con
troll. The Southern electors would
be chosen with absolute order and
perfect peace. They would un.
doubleday be Il more able and con
sentative body Of men than could
be returned under the
other system. Under such Il pro,
5ramne there could be 10 such
otate-Strali" as diSgraced the late
presidential contest. Louisiana,
and South Carolina would
)e in no more doubt, and no more
subject to the control of desperate
political advcntnrcrSth han Vermont,
New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
should this bold and tar.rcaChing
'cheme be promptly carried into
ull eftecti it would practically trans
er the next presidential contest
lmost wholly to the Northern
With competent aud UNI
Objectionable leaders, and IA bold,
.onest and progressive policy, the
TO the present govern
lent party could easily advance to
II assured success.
No other political movement of
quail magnitude has been attempt
Il since the war. In the hands of
daring leader like Douglas, it
.Ould command an overwhelming
access. Neither Grant nor John
herman could offer any successful
to il. But without a
Impetent leader, ever Such "A
.orement may fall. 1t might fall ,
trough delay, vaeillation or treach- c
y at the South. 1t might fall !
the massing of a solid :
orth, inspired to cohesion by fear
rebel raids on the Federal treas
y. 1t might fall through such
ioticaDd disgraceful management .
marked the Tilden campaign in l
e Western States. But such an :
'pOrtunity as the present situation I
ters to a Statesman OF command
= ability, a clear record, and a
actical aud progressive policy has
been seen in American his
~. r.
of Capt. j. A. Granville.
resi- Rpuistpr.