The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-07-16
BUCKALEW IN DANVILLE.

j. Is. LIGHTLY, Oecy.
BUcKALEW IN DANvILLE.
From notes taken by S. N. Walker
Court Reporter, we give below the
main parts of Senator Buckalews ad-
dress, delivered at the Court House,
Danville, on last Saturday evening
July 10th.
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.
have been long of the opinion, and
that opinion has deepened and strength
ened with the course of years, that it
is absolutely necessary to introduce in
to the government of these United
States, and into the fundamental law
by which that government is created
few radical and far-reaching changes
of system; for, with us, as with other
governments that have preceded us in
the history of the world, in course of
time various forms of abuse have arisen
to trouble and vex us, and it is neces-
sary that we should erect guards against
them, take the amplest securities
against their increase and against their
deleterious operation.
Under our present system, we choose
the great officer of the government,
the president, through form of elect
oral colleges, chosen and assembling
in each state, the number of members
in a college being equal to the total
of representatives and senators for the
state. Upon their meeting at the seat
of government, each college in its own
state, they vote by ballot for candidates
for president and vicepresident, and re-
port their votes to Washington, where
they are counted.
This machinery, which was intended
by those who framed the constitution
of the United States to be a salutary
and effectual arrangement for the
choice of president by men of great
wisdom and merit in each state, has
utterly failed of its original purpose.
The choice of electors, the meeting of
electors, their voting in what are call
ed colleges-all this has become mere
matter of form for they, in every in
stance, are expected to support partic.
nlar candidates. The people do not
use this form, except by compulsion,
because such is the only legal method
of expressing their opinions in presi-
Dental election. They intend to vote
for A or B. or G for president of the
United States: they are obliged to ex-
press themselves through this cumbrous,
useless, and in some respects danger
ous, arrangement. We are going on
under system, therefore, originally
intended to be effectual, but which has
become mere form, and which, in GER
tain possibilities of the future, may
become positively disastrous for, il
a close presidential election, If we con
ceive that the electors in any STATE
should be corrupt, then, voting-as
they do by secret ballot they could de
feat the will of the people with i'm
punity and even without detection
But it is sufficient for the present tt
say that all this constitutional machin
cry is useless, and ought to be abolish
ed for that reason alone.
What may be proposed as substi
tute for it This question may be
answered in few words. Allow tn,
people to vote directly, each man fo
himself, for the candidate Of his choic,
for the office of president, and provide
that the votes in each state shall be re
ported to the seat of government in tn
state precisely as the votes for COVER
nor are reported, and that the governor
the secretary of the commonwealth
and the chief justice of the state shal
receive the returns, and assign to eac
candidate proportion or share of tn
electoral votes of the state, exactly i
ratio to the popular vote which ha
been given him; the result of whic
will be that in each state each cand
date for the presidential Office will g
an electoral vote exactly according
public opinion in the state, and the wi
of the people will be transmitted t
Washington, and will there be dul
pronounced.
What are the special advantages c
this change of system ? / will mentio
but one, although there are several.
is the most certain and effectual pla
ever devised to render presidents
elections both fair and pure, and G
good repute. Now fraudulent, col
rupt, or otherwise sinister vote of fiv
or ten thousand in Pennsylvania @
New York may control the whole elect
oral vote of the state at any election
it may be the "balance-of-power' yot'
and determine the result. Take ou
own state. Suppose that at the mex
presidential election each party ha
about 100000 votes, and can poll then
and take the necessary steps for tina
purpose. About an equal number ar
ranged under each OF the great banner
of political party, and there is corrup
or Influenced vote in the great center
of population and of human life of bu
five or ten thousand, what is the result
That the thirty electoral votes of Penn
sylyania for president may be trans
ferred from one party and given to tn
other, making change of sixty elect
oral votes in the choice of presiden,
and you can't help it. -Four hundre'
JHOusdhu iuSh hey SuuS6iS ""' '"t
long election campaign; exertinl
themselves TO the utmost, expendinl
their means, time and labor, their ut
most energies honestly in behalf o
what they believe to be principles o
Importance to the government of tn
country, and in behalf of candidat
fit for tho high office for which the
support him and yet all their labor
exertion and patriotism may be waste
because corrupt or managed vote il
Philadelphia or Pittsburg is cast int
the opposing scale, by which they wi
not only lose their votes in the elect
ion, but by which all their just shar
of power will be transferred to th
other side. Say that the opposit
Il