The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-12-11
THE ELECT0BgAn rAvAGEA.

A week or two since we took occa-
sion to give crude outline of a mode
for electing President and Vice
President Of the United States, which
we supposed would cure most Of the
more threatening evils that attend
such election. And while we do not
claim that plan was altogether new,
and may not be the best that can be
devised, yet the more we contemplate
the subject, and the many other modes
suggested, the more we feel convinced
that this plan,if worked out in detail,
will prove, if not panacea, at least
the simplest and best plan of all yet
suggested 1t embraces all of the pres
ent mode that is necessary to protect
the small States as against the large
ones, and gives each an equal repre-
sentation as States in the Electoral
College. 1t contains the denble rep
resentation, one of the States as
such, the other of the people as such.
AS States each are equal, but as PEG
pies they are and must be unequal to
the extent that their several popula-
tons differ.
Under this plan each State and
each voter in each State will receive
their exact and equal weight. One
voter may be influential and rich, and
another poor, yet each count one.
So one State may be large, wealthy
and populous, and another small and
poor, yet each counts one.
Were we to adopt the popular vote
system of all the States en- masse, the
equality Of the States would be lost,
because the States as States would
have no representation, and consoli
dation would be fact accomplished.
As every one knows, each State is now
entitled TO two, and only two, United
States Senators, and they represent
their several States, while each State
is entitled to representation in the
lower House of Congress in exact
accord with their several populations,
so that Congressman represent the
people or popular will. So in our
Electoral system, each State is ent-
tied to two. and only two, Electors at
Large, representing the State and
two United States Senators, and as
many more electors rs such State
may have members Of Congress. Now
this wise system of State and popu-
lar representation, must be continued
while our present form of Govern
ment lasts.
Let these Electors be selected by
the State at time and in q manner
to be prescribed by law, by each and
every political party running can
didate of its own. Then let each Of
such tickets be headed by its candi-
dates with the names of its Electors;
and let each of said Presidential
tickets have the exact proportion of
the Electoral vote of the State that it
received of the popular vote of that
State. down to the lowest decimal
fraction. And if, in case each and
all such several Electors of the same
ticket shall not receive the same num-
Der of. popular votes, then find the
average by adding each and all their
votes together, and dividing the ag-
gregate by the number of Electors
of that State. Then at time and
place to be fixed by law, let the sew
eral Electors of the several States,
meet together, and ascertain and de
termine the number of the popular vote
each class of Electors Of such State
received, as well as the exact proper
ton of the Electoral vote Of such
State, each Electoral ticket is entitled
to- which result so signed and sealed
shall be transmitted as now provided
by law to the President of the Senate.
to be by him opened in the presence
of the two Houses of Congress, in
joint Convention assembled, to count
said Electoral votes and determine
who, if anybody. are elected as Presi-
dent and Vice-President of the United
States; provided that it shall require
majority Of the whole Electoral
vote TO so elect by the people.
Under this plan, the ridiculous sole
cism will notsoccur, that candidate
receiving minority of the popular
vote can be declared to have the ma
jority of the Electoral vote Nor can
a candidate possibly be elected Pres
ident by the people short of getting
a majority of the popular vote.
Under this system minorities, as
well as majorities, in the several States