Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-08
The Electoral System.
To 10 ESssr q LAs R,gissa

To 80 Esaur q lA< Rsgiaa:
Every four years We elect two persons to
fl the Office Of President and Vice Presi-
dent Of the United States for term Of four
years. This duty was consamsted on the
third Of this month, when the electors met
in their respective States and cast majority
of the votes for Cleveland and Hendricks
Our votes on the lth of November were cast
in the different States for these electors. and
ia their hands rested the final result. OF that
election. AS they are only bound In honor
TO obey the will Of their constituency as set
out in the election that created them, the
position became one OF trust, OF honor, and
great responsibility. On account OF tins.
many people think we should change TINS
system and elect by the popular vote. As
the President OF the United States, IN his
las, letter, fAvors some plan more Perfecs
for counting the electoral vote, and hints at
\ change OF system, look over the ground
uUon which il is based may not be out OF
order. Il was soon found after peace was
made with Great Britain that the articles OF
confederation were not sufficiently strong 70
bind the States in Union and harmony.
Washington easily perceived with intense
anxiety, The waning fortunes OF the new
Republic; he soon saw that the fabric that
his wisdom and pomp had established would
uoulder TO pieces, and the States return to
the mother country il permitted to exist un-
der the Laws that then governed 1t, and ne
took at once the initial steps that resulted
in Il e formation Of our present constitution:
A convention of the States was called, and
met at Annapolis, Maryland, in September,
1876. i've States only being represented.
After two other meetings they adjourned to
meet at Philadelphia in May following.
The report Of the convention was
reported to Congress on the 2lst
Of February, 1881, and the committee OF
that body reported favorable, strongly rec.
ommending the Legislatures Of the States
to seek delegates to the convention. All
the States responded but New Hampshire
and Rhode Island. Washington was chosen
president of the convention, and IT earnestly
went to work to amend the articles OF con-
federation. They soon found them so de-
fectiye that this was impossible, and they
went 10 work to form new code. Inc
question of electing the chief ruler was the
most yexsatious, and long and bitter was
the debates over this question. Our gov
eminent was found to be composed OF two
distinct parts. First, a confederation OF
States, each having g government within
itself that had TO be respected BY the general
government and which legislsted for the In
terest Of the State slonei secondly came
the nation as a whole, upon whose lap rest
ed the superstructure as unit IN national
sfsirs. 10 bird them together IN harmony
ard 10 prevent one State from exercising
power over another the Senate was estab-
fshed. each State being entitled to two
members, TO be elected by the members o
the LEGISLATURES of the different States for
term of six wears. In this branch OF our
government the State of Nevada has as
much power as New York. 1t is the check
OF rover to the lower house and curbs any
action one State might wish to exercise
over another. They are the court that tries
impeachment cases and TO which all sp-
pointments made BY the President to Fed
ersl Offices are reported for confirmation,
thus staining as a check at the door OF this
officer to prevent him from doing unjust
work. The lower branch of Congress is
elected By the people directly. 1t is COM
posed OF q certain number of members, pro-
portioned 10 the different States according
TO population. each divided in as many dis
tricts as it is entitled to rep
rssentaiiyes, each district having a
populs,ion sas required BY the apportion,
ment. They are the peoples representatives
because they come directly from them.
The President stands between these two
legislative bodies with out stretched, hands
20 guard the interests of both. He is there
to watch over the desiinies Of the States, 10
see that each one is Justly dealt with and
their relationship rightiully preserved. On
the other side he views with watchful care
the interests Of the people in their actions
between themselves and with the outside
world. This makes his duty two-tOld
therefore our fathers created our Electoral
College that his election might be in man
ner that would embrace bolh elements and
give to each branch a representation in the
choice of this officer. There is nothing in
the Constitution OF our country that dove
tails together so nicely as this, and its
destruction would destroy cur system Of
government. The States have Just as much
right 10 decide through the Legislatures
who shall be President as they have through
the popular vote. The popular vote would
only represent the people in their individual
capacity, and a State giving majority like
Pennsylvania in the late election might
control half the States in the Union aud
thus destroy the equality that binds them
together as unit in National affairs. He
would be the President Of one State and not
that of q confederation Of States. This
would get up sectionalism and finally
destroy our Government. If we wish to
preserve it we must adhere to our presen.
form OF election. In it we have the wisdom
of those English people who created the
magma chsrta Of England that has served
them so long and better than theywere ever
served before. Boiled down and skinned
of al Its impurities BY our fathers, it has
served US well for over hundred years and
rendered satisfaction and proved blessing
10 all; therefore We say let we'll enough