The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-18
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A New Plan for Election OF Presi'
dent ard Yice-President Of the
UTnssaA Rfnfes

Onttc0 btutcS.
The election Of President and Vice-Pre.
sdent of the United States by the presen
method has come to be regarded as almost
a burden and bore rather than priv.
lege aud blessing. IT involves enormous
expense aud trouble. and is 6isquietinG
element i'm the business OF the couotry.
propose TO suggest. through your columns
| for the consideration OF the public, pIan
costly machinery, perfectly consistent with
The liberties OF the people, and free from
| expense aud annoyance TO business, and
| honest and fair for all parties into which
the nation NAV be divided. Let the Con.
siitution of the United States be so amend.
ed as to require the election to be made
by Congress-tbe House OF Representatives
lectipg the President. and the Senate elect
ing the Vice-Presdent.
In order to understand the plan proposed
let the reader take a copy OF the Constitu-
lion OF the United States, and, in his mind,
strike out the second clause Of the first Sec
ton of Article H., and strike out the twelfth
amendment, which has superseded the
third clause OF the said first section, and
in lieu thereof insert as follows:
" The President SHAH be chosen usvd UOcc
by fhe House OF Representatives every four
years. Every representative present shall
lvote, and his vote shall be recorded, The
person bavng the greatest humber of votes
shall be The President, il such number be
a majority OF the whole number OF repre-
.sentatives elected by the people; and If
there be more than one who have such ma
jorty and have an equa. nnmber OF votes,
then the Speaker OF the House OF Repre-
.sentatiyes shall immediately choose by lot
one Of them for President; and IL no per-
con have a majority, the person having the
smallest nuater OF votes shah not be voted
Ter again; ane so on, until some one shall
receive a majority Of the whole number OF
Representatives elected, or be chosen by lot
Ia the event mentioned. And II the House
OF Representatives shall not choose Presi-
dent before the 9Th day OF March next fol.
loving, then the Vice Presideat Shall act as
President, as in the case OF the deathar other
constitutional disability of the President.
The Nice. Presiden. shall be chosen uiva
cGee BY the Senate. Each senator present
shall vote, and his vote shall be recorded.
The person having The greatest number of
votes shall be the Vice President, il such a
number he majority OF the whole number
OF senator's to which a. the States may be
entitled; aud If there be more than one who
have such Lajority and have an equal num-
Der OF votes, then the oldest senator present
shall Immediately choose by lot one OF them
for Vice-President; aud II no person have a
majority, the person having The smallest
number Of votes shalt not be voted for
again, and so on until some one shall re-
ceiye maj ,rity Of the whole number OF
senator's 10 which all the States are en-
titled, or be chosen by lot in the event m ~
Toned. No person coDs'ilutiOnaiy ineli-
,ible 10 the Office Of President shall be ELI
siole to fAat Of Vice President"
Also, strike out the fourth clause OF the
anne section, and insert:
"Tke Congress shall determine the time
Il choosing the President and Vice-Presi-
lent of the United States"
Add 10 the fifth clause OF the same section
he following;
"0r who shall have been a member OF
ither house OF Congress for at least TWO |
ears preceding the time Of choosing such |
resident, or who shall have formerly held |
be Office q President OF the Uoited Stsfes."
This plan, from Its very nature, Wsnld |
,ork out a perfect civil.service reform with. |
ut further legislation on that subject, 60 !
iuch talked about before elections, but so
con FORGOTTEN after the heated contests for
he presidential Office are over.
: AS the territory OF this country continues
D increase in population and extent the
eeessity for some change In the mode of
Iecfine the Chief Magistrate will become
'ore urgent. For fairness, peaceableness,