Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-04
Constitutional Election Of President and
Vice President,

Vice President,
There being four nominations before the Peo'
pie fir the Offices Of President and Vice President
of the United States. the Impress on is becoming
prevalent sba, choice u both officers may de-
volve upon Congressional Of President ty the
House Of Representatives. voting BY States,
and that Of Vice President BY the Senate. vot-
ing In the ordinary way, each Senator having one
vote.
Assome inaccurate views Of the method Of clioos
ing these high officers have been presented to the
public. it may be proper to give the exact words
OF the twelfth article Of tho amendmsn, to tho
Constitution of these United States which pro-
vides for the emergency Of a failure Of the people
to elect:
The Electors shall meet in their respective
State. and vue by Lallpt Tor Presdnt and Wee
President one oi whon, at least. slall not be All
inhahitant %. the same State with themselves;
they shall name in their tallot the person
voted for as President. and IA distinct ballots
the person voted far as Vice President. ard they
shall make u distinct list Of ali prrsn- voted
fsr ma President. and # all persons voted fr
As Vice President. and ot tie number Of votes lnr
each which list. they tha! s'gn AMI certify, aud
transmit scaled to the seat Of IT, G.yetniucnt "
the United States. directed "a tie =, e,,dcn 81 the
Senate. The PIE. dent vi the S-la,e shall, in
presence Il the Senate end House oi Rrpresrn
tatirss ,ren ali the cert aies.and the s",, .hall
then be coonted. The person having the -,ea'rst
nnn,ber IT votes for President shall be no Pres
ident. IL such Number he q maJorny ii the whole
number II Elect p nppoiattd and If no person
have such ma j"iis. then tr"m the pc sGas having
tho highest numbers. not exceeding hire on the
Isl IL tbo,e yutei for President, .he House Of
Representatives ,hnll choose. immedaieiy,hy bal
lo, he President. Dot in choosing the President
tie votes shall lie taken by S.aies, III. Representa-
t,on ir,m each State having one vote. A quorum
foi this purpose -ha'i consist If a member "r men,
Der. tro,n t~ thirds III the Slaes. and mnj or,y
OF all ,he S'a,c- shall Ia necessary Ia n chn,cc.-
if the House oil Representative shall no, CHI ,sc a
Preside Mt henever e ght Of choice shall dev"lve
up them, befor thu fIuth day II Marrh next tho
following then The Vice President shali Hc, as
President ~ in the Of the death other
constitutional disability Of thu President The
persn having the greatest number IT vos- as
Vice Pesident shall be the Vice Pres,-
dent such number DO majority Of the
whole number oi electors appointed. and
If no person have mn Gritty, then ircm
the tico hghes, numbers on the list the Sen.
ate .hall choose the Vice President. A quorum
FIR the purpose .hall consist Of two.thrd- Of the
whale numb.r Of Senators. and n maturity Of the
whole number shall lie necessary to a choice But
n" person constiiaunslly Ineligible to The uitce OF
Presiden, shall he eligible u that of Vice presi-
dent Vt the United States"
In the present state ofSparties. it may happen
that there will be no choice VI n President hv the
House. in case the election should devolye on that
BODY, for the reason that no party has ma ori,y
of States. II, after voting daily from the second
Wednesday in February to the fourth day oil
n
then the person chosen BY the people, or ty the
Senate from the two highest candidates for the
Vice Presidency. as Vice President. will become
by virtue Of his Office. the President Of the United
States for four years, and the Senate will ,her
elect presiding officer for its own body for tn,
term.