Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-22
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Tho Peril"
We cannot help thinking Of the gerry
mander in Michigan which has 80 alarmed
the President and some of his adherents.
No, not gerrymsnder.n The right term
is " districting."
The Democratic Legislature OF Michigan
simply exercised o power conferred upon
that body oy the Constitution OF the
Uaited States. The President fears that
the people might be disposed 10 rebel
against method Of electing President
which should empower three or four dis
tricts in any one State to decide such an
election. And yet this would not only be
a constitutional elsction, but just such an
election as the Constitution expressly
provides for. To empower three or four
districts containing population of about
FIVE hundred thousand 10 decide presi-
Dental election is exactly what invsriable
usage and constitutional law provide for
in the case Of Delaware, Nevada. Rhode Is
land, and n number of other States. Three
congressional districts in Michigan con-
tain as many people as three congressional
districts in Rhode Island. But under tho
Federal Constitution State having only
ne congressional district may cast three
votes for electors Of President of the
United States.
We have seen, too. in the case OF Mr..
LNcotN's first election 10 be President
that majority of q million OF voters may
be outvoted by the minority, for in 1860
BREcKINnIDOR and BELL--both bitterly op-
posed to LISCoLS's elcction-recelved
nearly million more Of the popular vote
than Mr.. LINCOLN.
We have said heretofore that all that
Congress con do IN the case before us is TO
propose constitutional amendment pro-
viding that the electors Of President shall
in each State be chosen on general ticket.
Will not the States look with jealous eve
upon this attempt 10 limit their rights?
There are now forty-four States. 1t would
require ratification by thirty-three state
legislatures 50 incorporate the suggested
amendment into the Federal Constitution.
Could thrty.three State legislatures be Sc
cured in favor OF such change IN the
organic law Of the land? Would not OBJ
lection be made to thus destroying the
last vestige of States nights remaining IN
tho CONSTITUTIONS No'Unus n''adre 'e1es
Aaqie was once q popular cry IN the
mother country. The opponents OF the
suggested article of amendment might
make a similar cry popular in this country.
I'VE are not willing 20 change the laws OF
the republic" are words which might issue
from millions OF lips.
Especially would it be the bounden
duty of the southern States to scrutinize
closely the paraseology of such an amend
ment as we are discussing, and learn be-
fore ratifying it what would be the pro0a-
bic result OF altering the work OF our
fathers in respect of so important mat
ter. We repeat, then. what we said a few
DAYS ago, that we are by no means CONN
dent that such an amendment would not
be voted down by the legislatures Of the
several States. The people take strange
notions into their heads sometimes.
Ono thing We desire our northern
brethren to experience, and that is the
strength of the mailed hand Of the United
States. They have long been accustomed
10 sanctioning the use Of that hand IN
dealing with the southern people. 1t
would teach them needed lesson if the
next President of the United States should
owe his election to the new law of Michi-
gan districtinE that State for the election
of President and Vice-President of the
United States. IL would, as we have said
heretofore, test the stability of our free
institutions, but If these are not strong
enough TO stand such trial, the sooner
we remodel them the better. Perhaps our
northern brethren would be glad TO have
an opportunity to give US of this section
an object lesson.
ANYHOW the situation is as we have rep
resented it. There is a possibility that the
next President may be elected by Michl-
gan and may receive only q minority of
the popular vote, and this possibility
President HARRISON says "imperils" our
form of government, Let Us not be
alarmed unnecessarily. Let us rather
ponder the whole matter and see whether
or not we are wiser than our fathers.