Year: 1872




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Mistellaueuns &eading.


THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.


HOW CONDUCTED.


There is nothing more complicated than the
election of President and Vice-President un-
der our present political system. How it
could ever have been devised is mystery.
There are few even among our most intelli-
gent men who can explain from the COM
mencement the manner in which President
and Vice President are elected, and the great
mass of the people are profoundly ignorant.
We propose here to trace the election up from
its germs First, there is the primary town or
local caucus for the different parties; then
comes the county, district and State conven-
tions; through that machinery delegates areap-
pointed to national convention. These ma
tional conventions nominate candidates. These
nominations, however, amount to nothing.
Each State elects number Of Electors cor
responding to its Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress, and they vote for whom
they choose absolutely for President and Vice
President. There is nothing requiring them
to vote for any man who has been nominated,
except so far as they may consider it binding
in honor. The Constitution intended that they
should have the first and final choice. Its
trainers supposed that the Electors would be
among the first men of the country, and would
be better Judges of who would be fit for Pres
ident and Vice-President than their constitu-
ents, the people bence they were made an in.
termediate body. In order to give these Elec-
toral Colleges full authority, the Electors are
obliged to vote by secret ballot.


Suppose, for instance, that Ohio should
popularity cast its twenty-five electoral votes
for the candidates who were in the field, and
supposed to be against Grant and his col.
league, but upon counting the electoral votes
there might be number for Grant. These
votes would stand, and it would be next to or
quite impossible to find out the persons who
had cast them against the will of the people.
The United States Senator in this State is 70.
ted for by the members of the Legislature viva
voice, and if there is any betrayal of pledges
the responsibility cannot be lodged. But
there is no such security in our votes for Pres
ident and Vice-P President. 1t is to the credit
of the country that thus far in seventy years
no elector, under the shield of the secret bal
lot, has ever cast vote different from that
which it was intended by the people he should
give. But it may happen in the future. Our
politics are becoming more corrupt, and if
there was close vote in the Electoral College
between rival candidates there is no knowing
what might happen. The electoral or inter-
mediate system ought to be abolished. After
the Electoral College has met in each State on
the first Wednesday of December, and cast
its vote, it sends messenger with it to Wash
ington.


Early in February the votes of the States
are opened at joint session of the two
Houses, the President of the Senate presiding.
In case one candidate has majority over all
the others, he is declared elected. If not, the
Senate retires to its chamber, and the House
proceeds to vote for the three highest candi-
dates who had been voted for by the Electors.
The vote is not, however, according to the
usual form, but is given by States. Thus,
New York is called with her thirty-one men,
bers They ask leave to retire, and do retire.
Sixteen of them direct that the vote of the
State-and it is only one-be recorded for the
candidate running against Grant. Delaware
is called, which has but a single member, and
he casts one vote, the same as has been given
by the thirty-one gentlemen of the Empire
State. Each State has simply one vote, and
majority of the delegation determines it, A
majority of all the States, which are now
thirty-seven in number. would be nineteen,
and that is absolutely Tired. If the vote
should stand eighteen for U. S. Grant, eigh-
teen for Judge Davis, and one State equally
divided and casting no vote, there would be
no choice. On the 4th of March the session
of Congress not only terminates, but the terms
of its members expire. In the two or three
weeks they have to vote they may not have
chosen any man for President. The House
has been, on one occasion, nine weeks in choo-
sing Speaker, and it is sreasonable to assume
that it might be three weeks and not elect
President. Then, we hear the reader inquire,
who, on the 4th of March, would be President?
We will further explain. When there is no
choice for President and no choice for Vice.
President, the United States Senate chooses
the latter officer. By wise provision in the
Constitution, the Senate selects between the
tauo highest candidates voted for by the Elec-
tors. As the Senators vote individually, a
choice is almost certain to be made. The
Vice. President being elected, and the 4th of
March arriving without President, he as.
sumes that office for four years, the same as it
the President had died, or as if he himself
had been elected. In case there is no Vice.
President on the 4th of March, the Office de-
wolves upon the President pro tenn. Of the Sen
ate; and in case of his disability, upon the
Speaker of the House then upon the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, and, finally,
upon the oldest, in length Of service, of the
Associate Justices. But in case Of disabili-
ty of both President and Vice-President, the
person discharging the duties of President
does not hold the full term, but only till the
next November election, when new Presi-
dent and Vice President will be elected for
four years. This Electoral system ought to
be abolished it affords too great an opportu-
nifty for fraud to reflect the wishes and inten-
tions of the people. 1t is too complicated.
The Presidential vote of the different States
could be indicated, and the State autonomy
preserved, by voting directly for President
and Vice President, and then checking at
Washington number of votes equal to our
Senatorial and delegate representation. If
this is not done, we shall upon some fine NOR
ming wake up and find ourselves shamefully
betrayed by the men in whom we have re-
posed confidence as Electors. The law ought
also to be 80 changed that Congress could
commence to vote early in the session, in DE.
cember, for putting it off till the middle Of
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