The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-05

New Jersey, Penn ylvania, inc couh-
ties OF New Castle, Kent and Sussex
on Delaware. Maryland, virginia
North Carolina and South Carolina, etc.
Then follows a statement Of the grew
ances complained OF, signed by the dele
gates Of each colony separately.
The formal Declaration OF American In
dependence was made on July 4, 1ti6.
The articles Of confederation ana perpeI.
ual union were adopted on July .. ITS, and
were signed by the delegates from each
State separately, and contains this recital.
Articles OF Confederation and FER
petual Union between New Hampshire,
Massachusetts Bay. Rhode leland ana
Providence Plantations, Connecticut
New York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, virginia Notth
Carolina. South Carolina and Georgia.
Thr flr.t of these articles is as follows
The style of this Confederacy shll be
"The United States Of America
Tho second article Is as follows:
Each state retains its sovereignty,
freedom and independence, ana every
power Jurisdiction and right whlch IS
| not BY this confederation expressly
| delegated TO the Onlted states IA N0
| gress assembled.
Theso quotations arc made to show how
| ionlouslv the colonies, and. after them me
States guarded reserved and ro'ec'td
| their sovereignty aud all rights not specl-
fed and delegated to the Federal govern
ment end these were followed in the con
! stttutIon by the enumeration OF the rights
and mowers conferred hv the state and
| he people on the government Of the united
states: and oil this was fittinCiy followed
| nv tho adoption OF the tenth amendment
| 10 the constitution which | have alrea1 "
quoted and which was adopted soon after
the adoption of the constitution.
submit these statements 10 snow mat
II was not the purpose of the wise ana pa
triotic and far seeing fathers Of the Re
public to adopt
CENTRALIZED FEDERAL GOVERN
MENT.
And the constitution, bv its terms, shows
how wisely they guarded against this
IN country of so great territorial eX-
tent, with so great an amount of popula-
ton rs this and having such vast ad va
ricd interests, It can only he successfully
administered as n Federal government;
that is. a confederation of States, or as a
monarchy As centralized government
there would always be a majority and a
minority section.
In the majority section it would always
| be popular to take advantage OF the MN
GRITTY section in the imposition OF hur-
dens. the Withholding Of benefits, the I'M
position OF taxes and in many other ways
| And this would necessarily lead to dlscon ,
| cent and ~ revolutionary proceedings anu
| ultimate disruption.
The way tc guard against this In our
| country H. to preserve the constitution in
violate ard in doing this to preserve the
| rights OF the safes and BY that means
protect the liberties Of the people.
Following these general observations, I
propose and suggest the necessity OF a
change Of some of the provisions of the
constitution Of the United States.
As the constitution now stands the presi-
| dent and vice president of the United states
are to be chosen by electors. who are them-
selves to be elected by the qualified voters
| of the several States. The reason assigned
for the adoption OF this plan was that the
masses of the people We're not sufficiently
acquainted with the qualifications OF men
suitable to fill these great offices. but that
| such prominent men as the people wouiu
| choose as electors would have the informa-
| ton necessary to enable them TO select
proper persons to fill them. Whe her this
| view was correct at the time OF the forma-
ton of the constitution. or whether it
| was a concession to the friends of Il
|
ain. it is needless now TO inquire.
| II it was true then, the country has cer-
tainly long since outgrown this provision
| Of the constitution. IL contemplated that
| the president and vice president were 10
be chosen by the electors without any ref
| erence to the choice of the people. on the
| ground that the electors were qualified tor
| this duty and that the people Were mo-.
We know now that the electors are mere
useless appendages to the election Of these
| officers, The people now make the choice
and the electors, a useless expense and
| formality, register the choice of the pso-
pie. The system OF electors should be dis
pensed with by change of the eonstitu-
ton and the president and vice presi lent
should be elected by the vote Of the people,
each State. as at present, being allowed a
voice IN their selection in proportion to
its population and senatorial representa-
ton.
| In the selection of candidates for the
offices of president and vice president of
! the United States the electors for more
than fifty years past have exercised no
independent judgment, made no choice Of
their own, but have simply voted for can
| didates previously selected by the peope
| through conventions or otherwise, and the
constitutional provisions about such cleo
tors have become obsolete and should no
longer remain as n part OF the constitu-
! tion.
The constitution provides that senator's
of the United States shall be elected by
the State legislatures. This provision
doubtless grew out of two causes: The
first u yielding to the strong government
| part Of the convention, in imitation OF the
irresponsible house OF lords OF Great Brit.
AIN; and second, out OF distrust Ct the
capacity Of the people to make wise sclec-
\ lions for senators
This, upon the theory of Mr.. Jefferson
and others that our people were capable
| OF self government, was illogical aud
contradiction of that theory as to the Sc
lection cf men for the presidency and vice
presidency OF the United States through
the agency of electors; and have long be.
lieyed that the constitution should be so
amended as 20 provide for the
ELECTION OF SENATORS
by direct vote OF the people, retaining
the equality of STATE representation as now.
| The constitution gives life tenure in Or
I