Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-16
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 16. 1888.
INC Tlectoral Conepes.

The Electoral Colleges.
A Philadelphia paper proposes 70 amend !
The Federal Constitution so as 10 provide for
The election Of President Of The Upited states
by the popular vote. 1t cites rs to the re-
suits Of elections in past years facts geing TO
show that the country IS liable az any time
under our present system TO be exposed to
the strain o. having President chosen by
majority o. the votes in the electoral col
Iegcs but voted for by minority only OF The
voters Of the whole CousIry.
The rotten borough system which years $50
became so odious in England that II was
"reformcd" % a great extent. though 1t
Las not been entirely abolished was notan un-
mixed evil. We have it IN the United states
So another form. The United states senate
s. composed of two senators from each state
without regard TO population. New York,
with thirty-four MEMBER Of the lower house
o. Congress. hastwo seustore, and Delaware,
with ONLY one member Ia the lower house,
las as many. Two senators 10 represent five
millions 81 people "a New York and two
senators % represent sXty-two thousand
people IN Nevada.
Nevertheless, though the United States
fcnste Tam. appears % Do cou.litu'ed upon
the rotjcu-oorough system. the fact is thai
there is great principle behind that scemiog
wrong. The senate represents the States
and each State was by the fathers allowed
two senators as a rccos uition Of the fact that
the states were equal; that the large state
I'D an a. and 0uti.
TED 10 no greater weight iu the halls OF le.
rislt'iou. This peculiar feature OF our ma.
ti0unl form of government Was 10 doubt
in Governor Gornos's mind when upon
the occasion ~ h.. Inauguration few
days ago hc declared 20 the peo-
pie a Georgia That tha independence
Is the states ~ Federal control IN all lbcir
domestic matters was principle a. deac TO
the northern People ~ t0 the southern. If
there be- one principle o. government" said
ho, "deror than all others 10 American
iIcemcn, 70 l. the Independence, equality
sud freedom Of the states This is the cen
ira thought 81 our political faith. 10 ia the
keystone IN the arch OF our Constitution,
and when ths, b. destroyed The doom Of cou-
sunnicnal freedom is sealed. When the in
dependence and equality Of tho states are
struck down The Ecpublic falls"
We suspect that Governor GODD0Ns re-
marks were intended to De az well a warn,
ing TO she northern people as an encourage
ment 90 the southern pcou'c. Iie no doubt
desired TO remind oar northern brethren OF
the fact that We are al IN the same boat and
that il IL Is s.utlled we shall all go down to-
Rether.
This "ccntrl thought o. our political
faith" tins keystone in the arch Of our
Constitution" is recognized IN the choosing
Of the President Of The United States 10y
electoral colleges In the several States. Ne
vada with sixty-two thousand people, has
tbrco votes I'm her electoral college. Colo
Iada, with three times IS large population,
has only three votes IN her electoral college.
II IS easily TO De forcseen. therefore. that the
small States are not at all likely TO mufy any
amendment 10 the Federal Constitution
which would dwarf their importance
as States and diminish thelr innu-
euce In presidential elections. And |
us no amendment can he ratified |
without the consent Of three fourths ~ the |
States, the prospect Of securing tho ratica.
ton OF the one We are now considering is not |
ut all bright There are now ihirtVelzht !
Stsies. To ratty a proposed amendment |
there must he twenty.nne c0nsenting states, /
and therefore It could be defeated by the |
negative votes Of ten States. Vermont, |
New Hampshire, Delaware. Rhode Islaod. |
Nevada. Colorado. Oregon, Connecticut. Ne
lraska, and Florida could row prevent any
amendmeutlro being ratified. Andwithn |
year or two there will he At least four
States admiued into the Union which would /
vote with those states on similar question.
II may, therefore, he set down as certain that
the amendment proposed by our Phlsde-
phia contemporary will never be ratified,
In this connection, Il may not he amlss to |
call attention TO the fact that the war bc-
tween the states was begun by a minority /
President. In 1860 LINCOLN received less |
than 100000 votes ne against over ., 800 900 !
for DoUGLAs and BHHcNSEIDGE taken to-
Rether. HAYES. too, was minority President, !
TIIpEN having received about 30, 900 more |
votes than liAYss received. But this last /
minority President must be charged to the /
Electoral Commission rather than 90 the |
electoral colleges.
II the proposed amendment could be iu-
corpomled into the Constitution its results !
might be totally different from those which /
its advocates expect. We can imagine that /
much money and much talent aud much |
work would be devoted TO New York, Penn.
sylSanla, Ohio. Illinois, Texas, and Missouri, !
ana not dollar nor a speaker be- sent TO
Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware or any
Of the other very small States Those States
would be considered no more important /
thsn a congressional district The election /
OF the President would thus be transferred |
from the whole linton to perhaps a dozen or /
perhaps twenty Of the larger States. Such |
sn amendment would, IN a word, work a
total revolution n not IN our form Of gov
ernment certainly In our manner Of choosing /
Presidents.
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