The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1860-07-11
The Election of President by the
House of Representatives.

Although the question as to the manner OF
voting, when the election of President and
Vice Presidents devolves upon Congress, has oil
late been discussed, yet as every day the ques-
tion derives new Importance from the iSet that
failing Of a choice by the people the next cleo
ton will devolve upon that body, we have been
asked again 10 explain the Constitutional power
on that subject and the mode by which 1t has
heretofore been carried out
The electoral votes of the 80 States oil the
American Union, increased by the admission
Of Oregon and Minnesota, now amount to ool
to secure an election by the Electoral Colleges,
or by the people, as it is often called lo2 votes
being majority OF of the whole number, is ne
cessary.
In the event Of there being no election for
President by the peopIe-no one OF the candl-
dates receiving majority OF all the electoral
votes gwen, then the election devolves on the
House of Representatives, where choice IS to
be made from the three highest candidates.
The vote is to be taken by States, each State
casting one vote, to be determined by the Rep-
resentatives in Congress from the State, as ior
instance, Ohio has Il Representatives, the ma
iority being Republicans, have right, under
the Constitution, to cast the vote as they see
proper, and it would be cast for Lincoln. There
are 33 States, and it requiring majority to
elect, II States are necessary to choice
When the right OF choice devolves on the House
of Representatives, it mus be made before the
fourth day of March following. If not done
by that time, then the Vice President acts as
President, the same as in the case of the death
or other constitutional disability of the Presi-
dent
# the Vice President be not elected by the
people-no one Of the candidates having ma
iority of all the electoral votes cast, then the
choice of that officer devolves on the Senate =
two-thirds of the whole number of Senators
being necessary to form quorum, and major
ity Of the whole number being necessary to 6
choice.
Such are the Constitutional provisions rela'
tive to the elections for President and Vice
President, when no choice in made by the Elec
toral College.
| Should the next election for President devolv(
upon Congress, the election would have to bt
decided by the present Congress. Fourteen
States have majority Of Democratic Represen
tatives--fifteep States have majority OF he
publican Replesentatives--one State Clennes
see) has majority of South Americans, ant
the delegation of four States are equally diyi
ded between the Democrats and South Amen
cans, and unless some one member shoulc
vote with the party opposed to him in politics
the vote of the State would be counted as
blank.
The States, as represented in Congress by
political majority OF the Representatives, ant
whose vote would be cast in consonance will
that majority, are:
Democratic States Delaware, Virginia, Soutl
Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, MissiSsip
pi Alabama Arkansas, Florida. Texas, Oregon
California and Lousiana-14 States.
Republican States-Maine, New Hampshire
Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Massa
chusetts, New York New Jersey, Pennsylva
MIA, Ohio, Indiana. Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota
and Wisconsin-15 States.
american or Opposition Sttes-Tennessee-
| State.
Dimdea each hovi"q an eq"a1n"n'ber Of Demo
cratic and Somhern Opposition Representatives.
Maryland, North Carolina, and Kentucky
States.
In the States put down in the above as Dem
ocratc, in one State, Illinois, the majority
the delegates are in favor of Douglas for Pres
, dent. In Louisiana, there are enough hno
Nothings, or South Americans, united with tt
Douglas men, to prevent Mr. Breckenridge ge
ting the State, and hence the New York Jou
nal of Commerce divides the States, in case tf
election is decided by the House Of Represent'
r tives, as follows: