The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-12-16
Constitutional Amendment Suggested.


The method OF appointment by the States OF
Electors of President and Vice President has
recently attracted renewed interest by reason
OF departure by the State OF Michigan n onl
themethod which had become uniform in ell
the States Prior TO 1852 various methods had
been used by the different States, and even by
the same State. After n full test OF other
methods, without important division or dis
sent in any State and without any purpose OF
party advantage as we must believe the prac-
tice OF all the States was brought into harmony
That this concurrence should now by broken Is,
/ think an unfortunate and even tn reatening
episode and one that may well suggest whether
the States that still give their approval to tho
old and prevailing methods ought not to secure
by a constitutional amendment, practice
which has had the approval OF all. The recent
Michigan legislation provides for choosing
what are popularity known as the Congressional
Electors for President by Congressional dis
tricts, and the two Senatorial Electors by Cis-
tricts created for that purpose This legisla-
tion was, OF course, accompanied by a new
Congressional apportionment, and the two
statutes bring the electoral vote OF the state
under the influence OF the gerrymander.
These gerrymanders for CoIgression Il pur-
poses are in most cases DuttrS- sed by gerry
mander of the legislative dist tets, thu making
1t impossible for amajority OF tie gal voters
OF the State TO correct the apportonment and
to equalize, the Congressional represt nta.
tion of all the di tricts. minority
rule is established that only polite
CONFUSION can overthrow L have recently
State three districts for the election of men,
bers OF the Legislature are constituted as fol-
lows One has 81, 900 population, one 300,
and one 10000 while in another county, detach-
ed non-contiguous sections have been united to
methods have already found efTec,
ators and representatives. in Congress. and now
an evil start has been made in the direction OF
applying them to the choice by the States OF
Electors Of President and Vice President. II
this Is accomplished We shall then have three
great departments Of the Government in the
grasp of the -gerrymander," the legislative and
fyan ly mud ha in1ip ifa.li-
rectly through tho power OF appointment.
An election implies body OF electors elect
ors having prescribed qualhcaions-each OF
whom has an qual status and influence in de-
termining the result. so when The Constitu-
ton provides that each State shall appoint
(elect) in such manner the Legi stature thereof
may dir, ct, IA number of electors, etc.. an unre-
stricted Iower was not given to he Legislatures
In the selection OF the mo- hods to be used. "a
publican form OF government Is guaranteed by
the Constitution 10 each State, and the power
given by the same instrument to the legi slatures
of the States 20 prescribe methods for the choice,
by the State, OF electors must be exercised I'M
der that limitation. The essential features of
such government are the right OF the people
to choose their own officers and the nearest
practicable equality OF value In the suffrages
given In determining that choice.
Nothing Just now Is more important than TO
provide every guarantee for the absolutely fair
and free choice by an equal suffrage, with the
respective States of all the officers Of the Ma
tional Government, whether that suffrage is APP
the House Of Representatives, or Indirectly.
in the choice OF Senator's and electors OF
President. Respect for public officers and ODE
dfence to the law will not cease to be the char
acteristics OF our people until our elections
cease to declare tho will of majorities fairly as
certained. without fraud, suppression or gerry
mander.
All the States have, acting freely and separ-
ately. determined that the choice OF elections by
general ticket is the wisest and safest method,
and IL would seom there could be no objection
to constitutional amendment making that
method permanent. II a legislature chosen
In one year upon purely local questions
should, pending Presidential contest, rescind
the law for choice upon n general ticket and
provide for tho choice of electors by the Legfs-
latu and this trick should determine the re-
suit 1t Is not too much to say that the public
gered.
have alluded to the "gerr ymander" as affect
Ing the method OF selecting electors OF Presi-
dent by Congressional districts, but the prim-
airy intent and effect Of this form OF political
robbery have relation to the selection of men,
bers OF the House OF Representatives.. The
power OF Congress is ample TO deal with
this threatening and intolerable abuse. and to
put into force such measures as will most
effectually preserve the right of the people to
free and eq unl representation.