The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-10-16
DOES THE MAJORITY RULE?
IN. o. states.l

son Davis, "Does the Majority Rule'"
presents diagram of the Constitution,
an analysis of which contains the an
swer that "a majority necessarily rules
if ascertained according to the Consti-
tuition Notwithstanding this majority
be in fact minority of the whole peo-
pie represented; therefore, the next
question "Where is the Supreme Pow
er Of the United States of America 2"
is easily answered as follows: 1t re-
sides IN and springs from the votersfn
each State, as Mr.. Davis says geo.
graphically exercised, and not en- naSSe
as a nation. This was precisely the
government ordained by the Coon
script Fathers" of the convention at
Philadelphia, and no other, as the il
lustrious writer accurately maintains.
Undoubtedly it was intended that a
majority of the people should have
their wishes enforced, but the manner
of ascertaining the fact as to that ma
iorlti was kept with the States, who
were dealing with each other as such,
to determine. Thus it might happen,
that q majority of one voter in each
district Of a State would elect mem
ber8 of Congress, to legislate along
eide of members from other States who
might have received 10000 majority,
yet they did not disturb the fact that
majority ruled IN each State.
9. Mr.. Davis is accurate in saying
that in tile election of President there
is no provision for ascertainiug the
will ingl0bo; but nevertheless he is
elected by electors representing the
majesty of 4 majority ascertained &C
cording to the Constitution by geo.
graphical divisions, and embodying
the ultimate authority or will of the
people, duly expressed within the sub
division Of States. In the case put by
Mr.. Davis, as has happened (Liucoln,
Hayes and Harrison), the incumbents
pid not receive majority Of the popu-
lar vote, but they did receive, by hook
and by crook, the votes of the agents
of majority resulting from the indies
tructable rights of statehood to appoint
or elect at their pleasure. Dir. Davis
asks il this is as it should be? The
answer is, "it cannot he otherwise
without destroying the foundation of
the constitutional compact, and mass
ing the people of all the States in an
empire or monarchy in violation of
the fundamental principles of the
union of States, to preserve liberty
and promote the happiness of all the
people thereof by representative
government"
1t is too true that the theory of re-
moving the selection of President from
tho direct expression of the voters of
tho several States, through electors,
has been practically paralyzed by
King Caucus; but after all, this devel-
opment of party tactics efFectually dis
poses of a number of candidates, who
would divide the peoples choice, so
that any successful candidate would
represent smaller majority than I'M
der the present convention system, and
it may well be questioned whether it
is not better to bear the i'll we have
than fly to those we know not of bv
altering it. Certainly it marshals the
strength of opposing parties, with more
certainty of reaching the popular
choice, than by an election, in which
there should be a multitude of caudi
dates snd divided organizations to con-
test with each other, and waste their
strength on hopeless candidates. AS
it was never intended that the presi-
Dental office should represent ma
jority of the people of all the States,
as political unity, but only the ma
jority ascertained by geographical d.
visions, it is not shown that the Chief
Executive fails to represent the major.
ity SO ascertained as better mode
than any other.
Mr.. Hamilton says in the Federal
ist: "Tbe mode of appointment of the
chief magistrate of the United States
is almost the only part of the system
of any consequence which has escaped
without severe censure, or which has
received the slightest mark of appro-
baton from its opponents. The most
plausible of these who has appeared In
print, The Federal Farmer has even
deigned to admit that the election of
President is well guarded. | venture
somewhat further and hesitate not to
affirm, that if the manner of it be not
perfect, it is at least excellent. 1t
unites in an eminent degree all the
advantages the union of which was to
be wished for.' MIR. Hamilton men
tious the advantages combined in the
plan, and refers to the vote of the slec-
toral college being sent to the seat of
the National Government to be count
ed and snys: hRut SO q mainritu of tho