Squatter sovereign., 1856-08-26
Hou the House Makes a President.

AS ttitfS Is d poSSlUAiiiy, We AiefS 49, =
the question who shall be our
next President may be thrown into the
House of Representatives for solution, We
extrae. from the Constitution the provision
which regulates the action Of the House IN
this important matter:
Art. II, Sec. l. The electors shall
meet in their respective States, and vete
by ballot for President and Vice President;
one Of whom, al least. shall not be an III
habi:ant of the same State with themselves
they shall name in their ballots the per-
son voted for as President, and Ia distinct
ballots the person voted for as Vice Presl-
dent; and they shall make distinct lists ot
al! persons voted for as President, and OF
all persons voted for as Vice President,
and OF the number of votes for each. which
lists they shall sign and certify, and trans
mi. sealed to the seal of the government OF
the United States, directed to the Presi-
dent Of TIE Senate shall, IN the presence OF
the Senate and House of Representatives,
open all the certificates. and the votes shall
then be counted; the person having the
greatest number Of votes Tor PRESIDENT
shall be the President if such number be
u majority of the whole number OF the cleo
tors appointed; and if noperson have such
a majority, then from the persons having
the highest number, not exceeding three
on the list of those voted for. as President,
the House OF Representatives shall choose
Immediately by ballot the President. But
in choosing the President, the votes shall
be taken by States, the representation
from each Stare havingyene vote; quo
rum for this purpose shalfconsist OF mem
Der or members from two thirds OF the
States, and majority OF all the States shall
be necessary to choice. and If the
House of Representatives shsl not choose
n President whenever the right of choice
shall devolye upon them before the fourth
day of March next following. then the
Vice President shall act as President, as
in case of the death or other constitutional
disability Of tie President.
It will DC seen from this extract that
should the election go to the House, 1t
would hare before it the three highest cam
didates from which to make a selection
These will undoubtedly be Messrs. Buch-
anan, Fillmore and Fremont. Each State
would have but one vote, Rhode Island
being equal to New York in this contest
the majority of each delegation deterInIn-
ing how each vote shall be cast The de-
cision of the question by the House would
undoubtedly give rise to close and excit-
ed struggle. Neither party would be able
TO command q majority of all the States
which is necessary to elect. The Repub-
licans could not by any possibility control
| more than thirteen States. and sixteen are
necessary. Mr.. Fremonts chances, there
fore it appears to US, would be the worst Of
fthe three for he could not expect to gain
Strength from any concession or co.npro-
misses with his opponents. The States
supporting Mr.. Fillmore would control the
election, and it would be between him and
Mr.. Buchanan that the choice would have
to be made. Both parties, We may pre-
sumo would he united in preventing tht
selection of Fremont, but how their owl
conflicting claims could be settled is mat
ter On which we can only speculate. /
the event of the House not choosing th'
President before tho fourth day Of Marcl
next, should the choice deyolve upon il
| then the Vice President would be in tha
event is not at all doubtful. The Senat
I has the power of choosing the Vice Presi
dent from the two candidates having tn
the highest vote for that Office in the elec
/ .oral college, and the strong Democrati
majority in the Senate would insure th'
immediate choice of Mr.. Breckenridge.
The party divisions of the House c
) Representative, by State. is at present
follows:-The Republicans have rnajorlile
in and control the Delegations from Maine
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu
sets, Rhode Island, Connecticut, NeS
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio
Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin-thil
teen States. The Democrats are repre-
sensed by majerities in Alabama, Afkan
sas, Virginia, Illinois, North Caroilna
South Carolina. Georgia, Louisiana, Mis-
sissppi, Florida and Cahfornla-eieye
States. The American party numbers
{ majority in Maryland, Kentucky, Tennes
see. Missouri and DelawaTe-five States
Iowa presents ,ie--one Republican an
one Democrat, as also does Texas, repre-
. sentcd by one Democrat and one Amer
!, lean.
J The Republican candidate having b'
thirteen States falls three short of m;
!. iority; and as it win be at least mor'
e impossibiliiy for him to gam addition;
support from the South, his last chant
), would be with the Democratic free State
:, -California. illinois and Iowa, all
: which be must have before he can becon
| President Of the United States. But tn