Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-11-01
MODE OF ELECTING PRESIDENT
AND VICE PRESIDENT.

There are, doubtless, many readerS,eVen
among the native voters of this country,
who are not aware of the manner in which
President and Vice President are elected.
Many of the younger branches and fe-
males in families, too, will probably be glad
TO have the whole process explained to
them, and therefore we transfer the follow
ing article to our columns from the New
York Commercial Advertiser OF last Sat-
urday evening.
Each State appoints, after the manner
prescribed by its Legislature, number of
electors equal to its representation in the
two Houses of Congress. No member or
Representative, or person holding an Office
under the United States, is eligible as one
of these electors. The method of their
appointment is not designated by the Con-
stitution, but the system adopted through
out the United States except in South Car
DINA, where the Legislature elects them,is
by general ticket. An act of Congress re-
quires that they shall be appointed within
thirty four days of the first Wednesday
lin December of every fourth year succeed
ing the last Presidential election.
The number of the electors at the last
presidential election was 294. The num-
Der under the present apportionment is
275, elected and divided as follows:
First Monday in Observation-Disclosures, 8;
New Hampshire, 6; Connecticut, G; Vir-
GINA, IT Georgia, 10; Mississippi, 6;
Kentucky, IL; Indiana, IL; Illinois, 9;
Missouri, 7; Michigan, 5; Arkansas, 3;
Total 1902.
First Tuesday in November-New York
Sc; New Jersey, 1.-TWO days. 7; louisa
ma, 6; Tennessee, 10; Total, 81.
First Wednesday in Observation-Disclosures
Island, A.
First Friday in Novembcr-Pennsylva-
MIA, &c, Ohio 23-total 40.
Second Monday in November-M assa-
chusetts, IL; Maryland, 8; Alabama, 9;
Total, 90
Second Tuesday in November-Ver-
mont, 6 Delaware, 3 Total, 9.
Second Thursday in November-North
Carolina, l..
The Legislature, say Dec. South
Carolina, 9.
The electors for the several States are
to meet on the first Wednesday in Decem-
! Der, at places designated in their respec-
: tive States by the legislatures, and proceed
!, to ballot on separate tickets for President
and Vice President. One at least of the
persons voted for must be a resident of a
State other than that in which the electors
reside. The electors are required to make
and sign three certificates, each sta
E ting the number of votes for President and
Vice President. Each certificate is TO be
; sealed and endorsed, that it contains the
vote of such a State for President and
Vice President, and annexed to it certi-
fled list of the electors of the State. All
. are to be addressed to the President Of the
Senate.
One of these certificates is to be car
+, ried to its destination by person appoin-
ted by the electors, or majority of them,
in writing, for which he is to be allowed
25 cents ii mile for his expenses going
and returning, and is bound TO deliver his
q charge at the seat of government, on the
4 first Wednesday in January next ensuing.
!, The second of these certificates is des-
: patched forthwith by mail, and the third
deposited with the district Judge of the
!. district where the electors assemble. In
: case of failure to receive other certificates
. by the first Wednesday in January. it is
! the duty of the United States Secretary
e of State to send special messenger for
r the one left in the custody of the judge,
0 as above mentioned.
e On the first Wednesday of February,
r Congress proceed to ascertain the result
n of the election. Tellers are previously
t appointed, one by the Senate, two by the
. House. At the hour specified for the pur-
; pose, the Senate repair to the Hall of the
e House, their clerk bearing the certificates
: received from the several electoral collie
t ges of the states. The President of the
s Senate takes the chair, and after announ-
;, cling the purpose of the joint meeting, pro-
s ceeds to break the seals of the envelopes,
a commencing with Maine and proceeding
a in geographical order, handing over each
b to the teller, without reading
}, The superscription and contents of each