The record-union., 1891-12-10

! or value in the suhrages given in determining
tEat cholc' Ii VIII not b. claimed that the
! power given to the leg Stature would sup
1 port them, providing that the persons re-
celVing the smallest vote should be the cleo
loTal OF law thai all electors should be
GAoSeN by the voters of single Congressional
dStrlct. The voters are to choose, and undtr
ie t,ie lretense OF regulating methods the LeSiS-
Et'uFe can neither vest the right OF choice
elsewhere nor ADOPT methods not conforla-
G'S 20 republican institutions.
IT Is not my purpose hele to discuss the
YuSstIoh whether choice by the Legislature
% GF thc voters Of even single districts is g
I cholce by the state. but only TO recommend
s sach regulation cf this matter by constitu-
touai amendment as will secure uni % cmiuS,
/ ;tlo prevent that disgraceful partisan jugslery
| 20 Whlch such liberty OF choice if il exists,
:. Yen. ptaton Notnlng just now Is more
important tnau 10 provide every guaranty for
the absolutely fair and Zee choice by an equal
suniaSc Win the respective States OF all the
oinccrs OF the National Governments whether
Shat suffrage IS applied dileetlvsas in The
choice OF members OF the House Of Repre-
SehtatIHeS, or indirectly, as in the choice OF
nembeIs oi the senate and i.le ctors of Presi-
ds NJ. RcSpec. for public officers, and obedi-
cnce 10 law. viii not cease TO be the character
lsliGs OF our people until our elections cease to
Geclare the VIII of maiorttes fairlyF ascer- i
tanned without fraud, suppression or gerry
mander.
Il l were called upon to declare wherein. our,
chleI national danger lies. should say, with
out hesitation, in the overthrow OF majority
coltFoi by the suppression or pervcrsIon ot
'tho popular sutfra%es. That there is d Zeal
cancer here ali must agree; bCt the energies
OF hose who see it have been chiefly ex-
pended in trying to fix the responsibility upon
the opposite party. rather than in efforts to
make such practices impossible by eitilC.
party. IL is not possible now t. adjourn that
lnterlninabe and inconclusive debate while
We take, by consent. one step in the direction
OF reform by eliminating the gerryluandeVS
which has been denounced BY ali partics as an
influence IN the election of electors OF PreSi-
dent ana members of Congress. All the states
nave been acting freely and separately deter
mined that the choice Of electors by a general
ticket is the wiSest and safest method, ana 1t
would seem there could be no objection TO a
constitutional amendment making that
method permanent. If Il Legislature chosen
IN one year. upon purely local questions,
should, pending residual meet and eiecJ u
man of choice upon = general ti.Sct
and provide for the choice OF electors by
the Legislature, and this trick should GetcT-
mlEe The result, It's peace might be enGan-
gereu.
have alluded to the gerrymander as effect
ing the method of selecting electors OF tine
President by Congressional districts, but the
primary intent and effect of this form of po-
htical robbery has relation to the selection OF
members OF the House of Representatives.
The power of Congress is ample to deal with
this threatening and iutolerable abuse Tie
uniaiing test Of inSincerity in election reform
viii be found in willingness to confer as to
remedies, and TO put in force such measures
as VIII most ettclually preserve the right of
the people to free and equal representation.
An attempt was made in the last Congress 10
bring to bear the constitutional powers OF the
General Government for the correction OF
frauds against the suffrage of the people. II is
important TO know whether the opposition TO
such measures Is really vested in particular
feature supposed to be objectionable or in
cludes any proposition to give to the election
laws of the United States adequacy to the cor
rectiOn of grave and acknowledged evils
l must yet entertain the hope that it is pos
sib,e To secure a calm, patriotic consideration
of Sucn constitutional or statutory changes as
may be necessary TO secure the choice Of tho
othcers OF the Government to the people by
fair appOrtionment and free elections l be-
HeNe IL Would be possible TO constitute q Com
mission, non-partiSan in It's membership, and
composed OF patriotic, wise and impartial
men, to whom consideration of the question
of the evils connected with our election syS-
tenn and methods might be committed with a
good prospect of securing unanmity in some
plaza for relieving or mitigating those evils.
The Constitution would permit the selection
of the Commission to be vested in the Su-
preme Court, If that method would give the
best guarantee OF lmpartlality. This Com
mission should be charged with the duty of
inquiring into the subject of elections as re-
lating 10 the choice of officers OF the National
Government with Il view OF securing TO every
elector free and unlimited exercise Of the
suffrage, and as near an approach to an equal
ity to value in each ballot cast as is attain
able.
While the policies Of the General Govern
ment upon the tariff. upon the restoration OF
our merchant marine, upon the liver and
harbOr impTo vements, and other such matter
of grave and general conc ern, are liable to be
turned this way or that by the results of Con-
gICSSiOIil eltCIlDES anu NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
policies sometimes involving issues that tend
to peace or war may be turned this way or that
by the results of Presidential election. There
is rightful interest in all the States. and every
Congressional district that will not be de-
priVed or siienced by the audaciOuS preteuSe
that a question of right of any body of legal
voters in any State or in any Congressional
district to give their suffrage freely upon these
general questions IS matter only of local
concern or control. The demand that the
limitations OF suffrage shall be found in the
law, and only there, is u just demand, and
any just man should resent and resist it. My
appeal IS, and must continue 10 be, for q con-
sultation that shall proceed with candor,
calmneSs and patience upon the lines of lust
ice and humanity, not by prejudice and cru
city"
The consideration of these very grave cues
tions invite not only the attent o. OF Con-
greSs, but that OF all pariotic citizens. We
must not entertain the uelusion that our peu-
pie have ceased to regard q free ballot and
equal representation as the price of their allie
glance TO the laws and to civil magistrates
! have been greatly rejoiced 20 notice manv
evidences of the Increased uniic3tiOn Of our
people. and of q revised national spirit. Tie
vista that now opens to US is wider and mora
glorious than ever before. Qualification and
amazenlent struggle for supremacy as we con
template the population, wealth and moral
strength OF our country. 4 ,uSt momentOuS
in its Unfit e ace upon our people and upon The
world iOr REF time is committed to us. ami
we must not b faithlcSS to its condition-tGe
defense of the free and the equal influence o.
the people in the choice OF public officers and
i'll the control OF public affairs.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, December 9, 1881.
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