The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-13


Of clecting President q, IssO66
Population, with electoral vote, with pos
sibiity OF being outyoted............... 2Is2''2o
Total..................... GOiI6GO
GRorEsQUE DIsPRoPoRTIoN.
To more clearly sec the grotesque dis
proportion OF the voting strength required
in each State TO the choosing OF Presi-
dental clector ii is only necessary TO
glance at the accompanying table.
TIE CONSTITUTION IS RIGHT.
With the above data asked many gen.
tlemen prominent in politics for their
views, some of which are subjoined.
Every Republican said, "Let well enough
alone" and even some OF the Democrats
objected TO a change.
met ex-Congressman Henry G. Bur
leigh, OF Whitehall, and Senator Nah.
lon Chance in the Fifth Avenue
Hotel. Mr.. Burleigh could not see any
difference IN the principle upon which a
President was elected and an assembly,
man. For instance, no said, some assem-
bly, districts OF New York have 10000
voters, while others have only 5000 in
habilants. lie pointed out that the same
principle was observable in the United
States Senate, where little Rhode Island
and big New York had each two Senators.
IL was true from the figures shown him
that IL required ten votes in New York to
overcome one in the newest and smallest
State, Montana, just admitted, but 80 also
was it true that in tho assembly Of New
York one assemblyman might represent
ten votes 10 another's one.
81 don't think" continued Mr.. Bur
leigh, that the election OF President by
al -.
At present the Chief Magistrate is elected
worked very well. IL would DO quite a
serious thing TO change II without some
better defined plan. The present system
was designed 10 prevent one section OF the
country overwhelming another, and for
the same reason every county in n State
has an equal representation in the State
Legislature. OF course, the President
/ can do nothing without the concurrence
Of the United States Senate. II change
were made In the principle You indicate,
would not Florida, for example, have the
right to demand equal representation In
the Senate with New York or Pennsyl-
vania? II you elect by a popular vote
what are YOU going to do 10 prevent South
Carolina, Florida and Delaware from being
offset in the Senate by New York, Penn
sylyania and Ohio"
TRUE FEDERALISM.
Suppose" sud senator Chance, ''that
one section OF tho country should say,
Here, We are going 10 vote one way and
that another, the smaller, should vote the
other way, how can you get equal repre-.
sentation in the Federal Government
We want 10 give the majority Of the peo-
pie Of the entire country q voice in Federal
affairs"
"rhisprcscnt policy, said Mr.. Burleigh,
lis n checkmate 10 seciionalism. The
wiscst mon OF the time when the Constitu
ton was drawn up, such as Burr. Hamil.
ton. franklin, John Jay and Livingston
looked far ahead and approved the policy
only after rigid examination"
''rho moment YOU interfere with such a
system" said Mr.. Chance, "you cut of
the opportunity Of each section OF the
people 10 be heard. There never was such
a thing rs a pure Democracy. In gov
eminent like this you must have check,
and balances"
Mex, met that uncompromising Demo.
crat Gen. Francis Spinola. 81 do not favor
any electoral college," said the veteran
II believe that the President and Vice
President should DO voted for directly BY
the people and the result OF the vote ii
each State forwarded 10 Congress, IN,
same as the electoral vote now is,and ihor,
be counted, and the men having .hc great
est number OF votes for President and
Niee'Prcsident declared legally elected u
those positions.
81 would 20 farther and elect the United
States Senators by the people in the yari
GUS States, rs believe In the principle o
I letting the people have a voice directly In
] regard to whom thoy desire 10 govern O.
represent them.
THE JETFRRsoNIAS DOcrRfsE
, 81 have given the subject no consJera
! ton whatever, 80 far ~ equalizing the rep
/ rvseniation IN the electoral college, an,
7 without some study or examination OF th
I question | would not feel as though
{ would give an intelligent opinion upon II
J But looking at u from a political stand
! point lbelieyc the Democratic party shoul,
Z take the ground Of voting directly Tor Pres
Y ident and Nicc.Prcsidcnt. | consider thi
\ the old Jellenonian doctrine Of submit
! ting 10 the people for their approval or dis
/. approval all questions Of this character.
) the majority OF the people should decid
/ one way or the other no one can find iaul
WIFI W. ANt llNhu " 1910 tUulu never u
! my opinion, be repeated under this ~.
3 tom. There Is no scciionalism In the mat
: ter when every man can vote"
: Ex. Congressman Roswell T.. Flowo
> shook his head nj the peoples majorit
: proposition. '0ur Government, " he said
4 SIS Government Of checks and balance
2 instead OF q Government by the majority
In this particular case the electors repre-
I sent the majority Of the votes Of thci
State. But even in the other case II wou
take the majority Of the States to elect In
President without regard TO the numerical
J strength Of the voters In those States.
, Take the United States--there IN
, Government Is strictly federal, but In tn
, House II IL not, for there the Representa-
, lives are elected according to populations
| But the action OF the one body u chccl
upon the other, aud this Is Just what IN
founders OF the Government contemplated
! and In my opinion thsre never has beef