Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-12-11
IL

hy constitutional amendment As viii secure
uniformity and prevent that disgracetul
partisan iuggery To which such liberty
Of choice, if it exists. offers temptation.
Nothing Just now is more important than
to provide every guaranty for the absolute
~ fair ami free choice 10y an equal suffrage.
within the respective states, OF all the
officers of the national government. whrth-
rr the suffrage is applied directly. or a. the
choice of members Of the House Of Repre-
,rntatiyes, or indirectly, As in the rholcr oi
senators and electors of president Re
sr.c, for public officers and obedience To
law will not cease to be the characteristics
of our people until our election, cease to
declare the will Of majorities fairly a,rer-
tainpl. without fraud. suppression. or ger
rymander. If | were called upon To de-
clare wherein our chief danger lies, should
say. without hesitation. in the overthrow
of majority control by the suppression ar
peryersion Of the popular suffrage. That
there is real danger here all must agree.
but the energies of those who see it have
been chiefly expended in trying to tiN re-
sponsibility upon the opposite party rather
than in efforts to make such practices i'm
possible by either party.
1t is not possible now To adjourn hat
ntermnable and iuronclusive debate
while we take. by consent, one step in the
direction Of reform by eliminating the
gcrrvmander which has been denounced
by all parties as an influence in the sclec-
ton of electors of the president and mem
bers of Congress? All the states have.
acting freely and separately. determined
that the choice of electors 10y general
ticket as the wsest and safest method,
and it would seem there could be no OBJ
lection to a constitutional amendment
making that method permanent. II a
legislature chosen in one year upon purely
local questions should. pending presiden-
tial contest, meet. rescnd the law for
choice upon a general ticket and provide
tor the choice Of electors by the legislature.
and this trick should determine the result.
it is not too much to say that the public
peace might be seriously and widely en-
dangered. | have alluded to the gerry
mander' as affecting the method of Sc
Letting electors of president by congress
sional districts, but the primary intent and
effect of this form OF political robbery have
relation to hhe selection of members of the
House of Representatives. The power of
Congress is ample to deal with thi. threat
ening and intolerable abuse The unfail-
ing test of sincerity i'm election reform will
a
remedies and to put into force such meas
ures as will most etfectually preserve the
right Of the people to free and equal repre-
sentation.
Frauds Against the suffrage.
An attempt was made in the last Con
gress to bring to bear the constitutional
powers OF the general government for the
correction of frauds against the suffrage.
1t is important to know whether the OnpO-
sitiOn to such measures is really vested
in particular features supposed to be OBJ
jectionabe or includes any proposition to
give to the election laws of the United
States adequacy to the correction Of grave
and acknowledged evils. must yet enter
tain the hope that it is possible to secure
calm, patriotic consideration of such con
stitutional or statutory changes as may be
necessary to secure the choice of the otli-
GERS of the government to the people by
fair appointments and free elections. ! be-
leve it would be possible to constitute a
commission, non-partsan in its member
ship and composed of patriotic, wise and
impartial men, to whom a consideration OF
the question Of the evils connected with
our election system and methods might be
committed with good prospect Of securing
unanimity in some plan for removing on
mitigating those evils. The constitution
would permit the selection of the commits
sion TO be vested in the supreme court, il
that method would give the best guaranty
of impartiality. This commission should
be charged with the duty of inquiring into
the whole subject Of the law of elections As
related to the choice of officers of the nat
ional government, with a view to securing
to every elector free and unmolested TX.
ercise of the suffrage and as near an APP
proach to an equality of value in each bal
lot cast as is attainable.
While the policies of the general govern
ment upon the tariff, upon the restoration
of our merchant marine, upon river and
harbor improvements, and other such mat
tiers of grave and general concern are liable
to be turned this way or that by the result,
of congressional elections, and administra
tive policies, sometimes involving issue,
that tend to peace or war, to be turned thi'
way or that by the results of a presidential
election, there is a rightful interest in al
the states and in every congressional dis
trict that will not be deceived or silence,
by the audacious pretence that the question
of the right of any body of legal voters il
this state or in any congressional distric
to give their suffrages freely upon thes,
general questions is a matter only of loca
concern or control. The demand that tn,
limitations of suffrage shall be found il
the law, and only there, is a just demand
and no just man should resent or resist il
My appeal is, and must continue to be- fo
consultation that shall proceed Will
candor, calmness and patience upon tn,
lines of justice and humanity, not OF pred
judice and cruelty
TO the consideration of these very gray,
questions | invite not only the attention o
Congress, but that of all patriotic citizens
We must not entertain the delusion tina
our people have ceased to regard free bal
lot and equal representation as the price o
their allegiance to laws and to civil magis
trates.
Hopeful Outlook.
have been greatly rejoiced to motto,
many evidences of the increased unifica
ton of our people and of a revived nation
al spirit. The vista that now opens to u
is wider and more glorious than ever be
fore. Qualification and amaZement strug
gle for supremacy as we contemplate tn,
population, wealth and moral strength o
our country. A trust, mOmentOus in il
influence upon our people and upon tn
world, is for a brief time committed to II
and we must not be faithess to its frs
conditiOn-the defence of the free an,
equal influence of the people in the choic
of public officers and in the control of pub
lie affairs.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, December 0, 1891.