The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-11
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY II. 1897.
ruv ELECTION OF PRESIDENT.

In spite or the great
,s,cment which characterized the Il"
,,onal campaign of 1886. the vote ioi
president and Vice-President was ior-
mally declared in the Congress OF 'he
limited States yesterday. and the pro-
,aod,rgs were so tame and perfunctory
that little interest was MANIFESTED eve"
by those present.
This is a great tribute to the STABILITY oil
the American Republic, and to the char-
actor Of integrity Of the American people.
If was fierce battle. and men were
wrought up to the highest pitch OF eN-
element. but after the vote was cast inc
people accepted the result in good la'th'
and there has not been the slightest eVl-
aencs ~ any disposition from any source
10 prevent the electoral vote from Deihg
counted in favor Of the successful can
didates.
These occasions, however, have not al
xavs been so tame and undressing.
Three times in the history OF the Ohileu
States there was great excitement at the
counting of the electoral vote ana at
one time serious trouble was threatened
In the memorable contest of 1900. between
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, each
received the same number Of votes in the
Electoral College. Under the law, as II
then existed. the candidate receiving the
highest number Of votes was declared 10
be President, and the candidate receiving
the next highest number was Nice-Presl-
dent. The contest went 10 the House Tor
decision. and resulted in ten votes Tor
jefferson and four for Burr. but so great
was the popular dissatisfaction that Inc
Constitution was afterwards amended so
rs 10 make the electors vote for both
President and Vice-President
Twenty-four years later there was an
other great contest. In that year there
were four candidates for President-An-
drew jackson. John Quincy Adams. Henry
CLAY. and william II. Crawford. Jack
son received 90 electoral votes. Adams
81 votes. Crawford Al. and Clay 81 AS
no one OF the candidates had majority
the election deyolved on the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES. and resulted In the
election OF Mr. Adams. although jackson
had received more votes in the Electoral
College. This was always a sore sub
ject with Jackson, and after he was
elected President he devoted large part
OF his first message TO this subject In
which he warmly advocated an amend
ment TO that part OF the Constitution
an
President. Among other things, he said
TO the people belong the right OF
elecung their Chief Magistrate; II was
ncyed designed that their choice should
IN any case. he defeated, either by INT
antorposition of Electoral Colleges, or by
the agency coniidcd. under certain cohtih
gcncies to the House or Representatives
ENperlence proves that in proportion as
agents to execute the will of the people
multiplied there Is danger of their wishes
being frustrated. Some may be unfaith
full: all are liable TO err. SO far, there
fore. as the people can with convenience
speak. IL is safer for them TO expires:
their own will. The number Of asprant:
10 the Presidency and the diversity o.
Interests which may influence their claims
leave little reason TO expect choice II
the first instance. and in that event the
Representatives. where, II is obvious. tn,
will Of the people may not be always as
certained, or II ascertaincd, may not b,
REGARDED. From the mode Of voting by
States the choice is TO be made by ?
votes Cat that time there were but 2
States. and IT may often occur that on
OF these Will be controlled by an indi
yidual representative Honors and office
are at the disposal OF the successful can
didatc Repeated baliOtings may make 4
apparent that single individual hold
the east I'm his hand. May ne not b.
tempted to name his reward? But evel
without corruption. supposing the PROFIT
OF the representative 10 be proof agains
the powerful motives by which II ma
be assailed. the will OF the people is sti
constantly liable TO be msrepresenteC
one may err from ignorance OF IN
wishes OF his constituents. another fror
a conviction that IL 81 his duty 10 b
governed by his own judgment OF IN
fitness OF the candidates. finally. a
though all were iniieXibly honest, all nc
curately Informed OF the wishes OF thei
constituents yet under the present mod
OF election minority may often elect
President. and when this happens IL ma
reasonably be expected that Efforts wi
he made on the part OF the majority [
rectify this injurious operation Of thei
Institutions. But although no evils Of thi
character should result from such
perversion OF the first principle OF our $50
fem--that the majority Is TO govern
must be very certain that a Presider
elected by minority cannot enjoy IN