The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-28
llllasell
NOVEMBER % 1919 9.
rho electoral System

IS The phiIade lphfa " WY y, IN ~.
or. ,esra,,A 81 enc same city, is one OF tue
I. ~. :. ,,snart;sl Of the northern .onrnas
. s.ss. srre,itedb Republicans, says:
" aThe Democratic papers in genera, 9 e nt
advocating the abolition OF me p issnt
electoral system OK choosing .sss mt
There isn't much State iignts III sn,s ',er, an.
State rights and all other lMhg .; a,e ,,'e an
little concern IN comparison VIII 49,
cess OF party"
surely our esteemed contemporary sfos 9
without due consideration. II there IS any.
ah;nr else left to The several States as States
,nn;eh ,nt,;cates that respect for State rights
witch the fathers OF The republic ielt and
~ ,ni,ested in all their words and actions,
we cannot now call 1t TO miad. lnthe cleo
zion 0. members OF The House OF Sepre-
sentatiyes, the States arc hereafter TO nave
hut ,ixaited control over either the voters,
or the places, or the manner of election.
The Republicans have stolen then right 10
regulate al, these matters and handeo ~
over to the Fe6erai Government. In Tue
a,ec,,on OF United States senator's, Con-
yrcss c,a;ps and has exercised fhe rsSn1 70
CIV when the elections shall be held, what
the proceedings shall be, and that the e'ee'
lion shall be by ballot. Bat not 50 rs
Il the choosing OF electors OF fresr
dent and yice-Presideat. These, II ~
still conceded, may be chosen as 'He
legislatures OF the several States may
by law prescribe. They may be CHOSEN
-by districts, as congressman are CHOSEN %
nm 4 general ticket, as Is now the custom.
they NAV be chosen by popular vote or ey
tbe General Assembly. The voting may De
dime nv ballot or cipa yoce. The electors
of even ore State, indeed, might be CHOSEN
some OF them by the Legislature ana .ne
Others by popular vote. In word inc
States have almost absolute controt 10 the
matter OF choosing electors OF Pres1deht
and Vice President. Congress has nxeo tue
5av when they shall be chosen. Bat having
done that, its power was exhausted. All
the rest is left to the several States.
Bnt Congress has provided that the e'ect.
ors Of President and Vice-Pre>ident snai
be chosen on the same day that congress-
nen are chosen; and these elections are Us
at present conducted too much "noei 'ne
control of the minions OF the hepuplcau
nartv. If 1t shall appear next year that tue
Republicans have thus succeeded 10 eject
ing another President, it can hara'y ps
otherwise than that in States where the
Democrats are in powerthey Will very soo1
thereafter provide that the electors span D'
chosen by the Legislature. 1t Is not ID nu
man nature to submit to SUCH wrongs ano
such Injustice when there is so easy mode
of getting rid OF them. The Republicans
will follow suit; and then Congress VIII
have no further control over the matter
The election OF President will be decided III
the elections for members Of the Leg'Sla
ture: and with these elections Congress can
not interfere.
There s.is much States rights in this,>'
the Times will see. There would pe DC
denuty marshals and no Federal supervisors
tn oyerawe the tImid or brighten away TIC
voter uninformed as to his rights. Ihere
would be free election so far as the aD
sence Of Federal interference could make Il
SO. And, then, it would save to the coun'
try an immense amount OF money, Vas
deal OF trouble, vexation, anxiety, anu tlme
and would prove, no doubt, to be grea
boon to all the business interests OF the
s'~'" howe 70
turned to the customs OF the fathers.
1t is almost certain that The southern
States will have to resort to this method Of
choosing electors. There seems to be NJ
other way of avoiding deluge OF caIumny
once IN four years. The bloody shirt could