The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-22

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and has recently been instructing the South Caro-
hnisns how they may, on constitutional grounds,
secede from the Union-it Is surprising, we say,
that euch statesman should require our correc-
ton Of his errors with reg ard to facts in political
history. We shall, however, show that his asser-
ton that every State in the Union chose their Pre-
sidentisl electors by the Legislature, Gas Sosth
Carolina alone now does,) at the commencement
of the constitution, is not correct; and we shall
also prove, by the early practice of various States
such as Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland,
that the construction gwen by the trainers
Of the constitution was not the construction given
by, and since pracused. by South Carolina and
furthermore, that the choice OF electors by the
legislatures, was not, as Mr. Rheu states, "the
simultaneous and unanimous practice-and where
all the States stood ct the commencement of the
operations of this government" We NAV add.
also, the opinion of the authors of the Federal
ist, that text book Of the constitution, to show
what was " the construction given by the trainers
of the constitution" on the point in question. In
the sixty, eighth number Of the Fsd1alist, by Alex
ander Hamilton, we have this comm entary on that
section Of the constitution which relates to the
choice of Presidential electors:-
1t desirable that the sense Of the people should
operate in the choice Of the person to whom 30 i'm
portsnt trust was to be confded This end will be
to any pre- body but to chosen by the
people for the special purpose and at tho particular
conjuncture.
Nothing in modern historical literature can be
more imperfect than the manner in which polltica
history has been written in this country; even by
such distinguished authors as Marshall, Pitkn
Ramsay, Sullivan, and Sparks, in national history,
~
the histories of the States as have been published
1t is, therefore, not surprising that are without
any connected cunt of the details of the manner
in which electors of President and Vice. President
were chosen in the several States, at the first elec
ton of President, In 1889, when the constitution
went into operation. We have thought the point
worthy of investigation, and the result of our labors
(Which, in consequence of the paucity Of public
documents, records, and newspapers of the PERIOD
referred TO, in our libraries In this city, have not
been small,) is now given to the readers of the
Herald 1t is, we believe, the first record yet pub
lished of the manner in which Presidential electors
were chosen in the several States which voted for
President and Vice President in 1889.
The convention. which framed the constitution,
met at Philadelphia, in May, 1877, and adjourned
in September following. The final article of the
constitution, adopted by the convention, declaring
that the ratification of nine of the thirteen States
should "be sufficient for the establishment of
the constitution between the States SO ratifying
the came - this number was completed by the
ratification of New Hampshire, on the 2lst of
June, 1888, Virginia ratfng on the 18th of June,
and NewYoik on the Goth July, 1852 and this rat-
fcaton being that of the ninth State in ORDER was
laid before the continental Congress, on the I'd of
July, 17sS. With the ratifcations of the other
Statee, it referred to committee to report an
act TO. carrying the new system into operation.
resolution for this purpose was reported on the
fourteenth of the same month; but in consequence
of division as to the place where the fist Con-
gress should meet, it did not pass until the 18th of
september following. By this resolution, the
Presidential electors were to be appointed on the
first Wednesday of January, 1889, and to give in
their votes on the first We inesday Of the succeed
ing February; the first Wednesday of March, be-
ing the 4th day Of that month, was fixed as the
time, and the city of New York as the place for the
commencement Of proceedings under the new con-
stituton.
During the autumn and winter Of 1888, the lie.
gislatures Of the eleven States which had adopted
the constitution, (North Carolina and Rhode
Island having dssented) met at their several CAPT
tolls for the purpose of providing for the choice Of
Senators, Representatives, and Presidential Elec-
tors. All OF the eleven States, except New York
passed the requisite laws, and chose Electors of
President, Senators and Representatives. New
YORK, in consequence OF a disagreement be.
tween the two branches of the Legislature,
failed to choose Senators, and to provide for the
choice OF Electors: consequently, this State did
not have the honor Of voting at the first election of
President OF the United States, and add her voice
TO that OF the unanimous call Of the electoral col
leges OF the ten other raiying States, in favor OF
Washington as the chief magistrate of the repab.
lie. And here we must censure Mr.. Hammond,
for repeating the error he has fallen into, Ia every
edition of his Political History of New York
namely, in stating that Presidential electors were
chosen by New York at this first election, when the
contrary and well known fact is stated in the news
papers OF that period, and recorded in the egisa
tive, State, and national journals. Such gross neg
gence is unjustifable in any author, particularly
In so learned and profound a political writer as
Mr.. Hammond.
The following appears to have been the manner
which Presidential electors were chosen IN the
several States at the first Presidential election ON
the lrst Wednesday in January, 1882
p Whit, No Of Fiseiors
In Virginia, BY the people, by single districts Il
| In Maryland By the people, In two dstricts viz.
nw ior the Western ,hore, and three for the
In Psnn,y,aus BY tn. people: b; general ;.ci:t 10
In Delaware, by the people, in three District. A
| In South csroiins, by the Legislature. ........ 7
In 1eorga, by the Legislature. .............. 6
In View J.rsey. by the Legislature. ........ g
In Connecticut by the Legislature ........ 7
In masssohu setts, By the Legislature ....... 10
In New Hampshire, By the Legislature .......... S
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 70
There were two absentses In the college Of electors
IN virginia, also two In Maryland 90 that the whole
NUMBER OF votes, In ell the States, was but CO. Mr.
flater, OF Maryland, was absent in conseguepce of
osmg confined with the govt; and Mr. Richardson,
OF the same STATE. nreHentsd from atfsnair . -.