The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-12-21
Electoral College History.
philadelnhia Times.


( the convention that framed The consti-
4 IN there was scarcely any question on
Ia o wider diversity of opinion existed
bon which it was found more difficult to
to an agreement. Two parties con.
\ cd one another. The one dstrusted the
4 10 in SO grave matter az the selection
chief magistrate, and was unwilling TO
supon their Judgment and discretion.
dea Of this party was tina! the better
safer method would DO 10 have
Hates to elect tho president and so re-
the question as far rs possible from tho
los of popular passion and the inLrigues
nagoguss. The country ct the time
Il In its infancy. Popular government
\ n untried experiment, Tho states rights
mt controlled in the councils that laid
foundations Of tho union. DR.. Franklin
kdr. Madison, Mr.. Morris and Mr.. Dick
Of Delaware, held precisely the oppo-
alews. They were willing TO eRtrust tho
Q with tho fullest powers possible, but
aiority of the convention decided other
and the electoral colleges were inter
as a barrier between tho people and tho
'alive. But before the present
Ia was adopted various plans
! undor consideration. Tho suggestion
the people and not the national
,ture should choose tho president
Cd only one vote, that of Pennsylvania.
came the proposition to choose the OK.
10 by the national legislature. 1t was
lls unanimously adopted, but the vote
4 Subsequently reconsiderOd aud it was do
Z that the national executive should be
Ia by electors TO DO chosen by the state
atures. A subsequent proposition that
4 lesidsnt should be appointed by con,
the affirmative votes Of seven
y and the negative votes Of three. 1hen
led the report Of a special committee of
to whom the whole subject had been
ID, whereupon another change
mado. This committee brought
'trd plan for appointing electors
a b state and for choosing and counting
a aes for President and vics-presidsst. 1t
y ced provision fer an election by the
M in certain contingencies. Finally the
Y providing for the appointment ofelec- I
N each state was adopted by the votes
sw Hampshire, Massachusetts,, Con. +,
Ut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Della
Maryland, Virginia and Georgia.
and South Carolina cast their votes
negative. The provision devolving
lction upou the hsuse of representa-.
III instead of the senate was
Ia by q vote Of seyep states
aree. This is briefly the his
tho electoral college as We have 1t to-
lslDown to 1924 the elsotors vera chosen
llay of the states by tho legislatures.
he question Of their selection the poo.
lid practically nothing whatever 10 do.
ltare, Georgia, Louisiana, New York
I ermont followed this practice up 10 II
II above mentioned bat OF the present
| The electors are chosen in every state in
1 ion by tho people.-thRt is, 20 far as
people can choose anybody. They
Practically chossn by the gentlemen
II hntrol the machine. and all the latitude
Y bple are allowed ia to vote for one OF
rs Of ELECTORS the managers of the nu-
3 machines may geo 1T 10 present to
II In the mutations of our politics the
II of the electoral college has been de-
\ from and It's practical operation, as
4 10 it to-day, is vicious in the extreme.
hctoral college Is q sort Of constitutions
unite mine, which, as we saw Ia 1876,
Eplods at any time. The part Of pa.
ID is to get rid oft