Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-08
A Direct Vote.


The action OF the Michigan Legislature
in districting that State for the election oil
members Of the National House of Repre-
sentatiyes has naturally turned the atten-
ton of the people Of the whole country to
our electoral system, which, it IS manifest
was never intended by the trainers OF the
Constitution to be what it has become By
the process Of evolution. That instrument
provides that United States senators
shall be chosen by the legisla-
lures of the several States. This
provision of the Federal Constitution
is still in successful operation. 1t has no
doubt been protected by the fact that
from the foundation of the Government
the State legislatures we're capable OF pro-
tecting themselves in large measure from
any encroachments upon their rights ana
had in their efforts TO protect themselves
the sympathies and the cooperation OF
the fathers of the republic and their sue
cessors The only danger just now threat
ened to that provision lies IN the fact
that the same Constitution seems to
give to Congress full power TO fix
"the times, places, and manner OF
electing United States senators. Here
IS q fine field for usurpation. Here
is language that NAV under the ma
nipulation Of inscriptions construers
of the Constitution be made to mean what
ever these INSCRIPTIONS men may choose
TO make il mean. The same words are
used in the Constitution in regard to the
election Of members of the House of Repre-
sentatives, and we all know from having
become acquainted with the provisions OF
the force bill what powers Republican
Congress found in the simple grant OF the
right TO make or alter State laws regulating
elections for the lower house of Congress.
Well, the men who made the Federal
Constitution intended, we say, that the
electors Of President and Vice-President
should be chosen by the people just as the
electors If United States senators are
chosen. eve call members Of the Legls-
ture electors Of United States senators to
emphasize our argument, and because they
are entitled TO be so called.) THESE
electors of President and Vice-Presl-
dent were expected TO be entirely
free from the influence of the masses OF
the people. They we're to vote for the
men of their own choice. The people
were 10 have nothing to do with the cleo
ton of President and Vice-President.
General WASHINGTON and his associates IN
the convention which framed the Federal
Constitution no doubt thought that they
had secured that much protection from
the whims Of the populace.
How vastly mistaken the illustrious mea
of 1888 were in their calculations we have
for many years had the best of opportuni-
ties for knowing. We have departed from
the ways of those great men. We no longer
stand supa. Gntiquds Uid& On the con-
trary. the electors of President and Vice
President have become mere dummies.
We do not even have to take the troubleto
familiarize ourselves with their names.
When we approach the baliot-box We take
in our hand list of the candidates for the
Office of elector, but we need only the first
name on the ticket, that being the only one
in whose election we seem to be concern
ed, though the fact is that if we obeyed
the Constitution we should have nothing
to do with him and all to do with the can
didates for the electorships.
And so it has come about that there is a
movement in some of the States N favor
of the election of President of the United
States by direct vote of the people. The
Constitution would have to be amended in
order to the success of this movement.
We are not ready to express a decided
opinion upon the subject. We would
rather return to the custom of the fathers
and carry out the provision under con-
sideration in good faith. But since
revolutions never go backwards we
cannot expect the old condition of things
to return. At any rate, the action OF the
Michigan Legislature has opened several
highly interesting and important questions
which may refuse to give way to Others I'M
til they are decided as the people would
have them decided. Possibly "evolu-
ton " is to make our Government very
different structure from what we would
have it. The Supreme Court of the United
States is rapidly dong its part Of the work.