Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-27
JUDGE BLACKS PROJECT.
Prom the PItisburg Post.

Prom the rIt,sburg Post.
Judge Black, in letter TO con-
vention Of Democratic editors at In.
dianapoIis, discusses the electoral sys-
tenn IN the election Of President, aud
suggests some striking changes, some
what in the nature Of Mr.. Calhoun's
idea Of dual executive. The judges
plan il that the person receiving the
highest electoral vote should be presi-
dent. This was the constitutional re-.
quirement from 1889 to 1904, but the
experience of the presidential election
of 1900 resulted in a change Of the
constitution in this respect to its cx
isting form. At the election Of 1900.
Jefferson and Burr were the Demo.
cratic candidates for president aud
vice president, and each received sev-
enty.thrce electoral vote. There was
no choice, and after struggle in the
| House of Representatives. lasting six
days, Mr.. Jefferson was elected by Il
majority Of the States, and Burr be.
came vice president.
But Judge Black, in the change he
proposes, would arm the vice president
with novel powers, which can best be
explained in his own language:
"Arm the vice president with pow
or, not to control the administration
or to influence its patronage, but sim
/ ply to protect the absolute rights of
the minority by veto on unconstitu-
tional, corrupt and partial legislation.
Coniine the exercise Of this power 10
proper cases by providing that when n
bill is passed by the two Houses,
against which one.third Of the mem
bers protest in writing a. being in con
fllct with the constitution unjust and
unequal in the burdens it imposes on
the people, tending to corruption aud
extravaganza, or calculated to abridge
the freedom Of elections, then the bill
together with the protest, shall be sub
mitted 10 the vice president as well as
the president, and shall not become a
law without approval Of both. This,
or something equivalent, would secure
Us against the worst damages to which
| our institutions are now exposed :
would preserve the general govern.
meut in its whole constitutional yigor,
save the States from extinction, and
give to popular liberty new lease Of
! life"
This Is not the idea Of dual exec
uiiyc favored by Calhoun and other.
for it docs not propose the vice prcsi.
dent shall share with the president any
executive function. The suggestion l.
not likely to strike the public favor.
ably. The tendency Of opinion il to
a single head for the government.
elected by the popular vote, under n
system which will preserve to the
States their existing power in deter
mining the result.
Judge Black, in advocating q con-
-tiiu,ional amendment for the election
of United States Senators by the pen
pie of the various Staic- instead OF by
the Legislatures las he does in his let.
ter to the Indiana cditor-I makes a
practical suggestion which will un-
doubtedly meet with much favor He
justly says such a change in the mode
of selection would without doubt give
us better men. and at the same time be
more reputable, a more digDifed
and less corrupting way of choosing
Senators. There can hardly be a
doubt Of this. The experience Penn
sylvania, New YorlSaud Tennessee are
now going through in the choice Of
United States Senators proves it.