Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-06-09
The Presidency and the House of ReDresen-
fati

tatives.
AS there is some probability that the choice
of the next President of the United States
may dcvolvc upon the present House of Rep
rcsentatiycs, we subjon u statement of its DO.
litical cast by States. 1t will be borne in
mind that in choosing President, each State
casts one vote. The present House is divided
politically as follows
Democratic Aabama, Arkansas, Culifor
MIA, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Lou
{. isl"na Mississippi, Missouri, Oregon, South
Carolina, Texas, Nirginia-l4.
Republican. n.--Counoctcut, Indiana, Iowa.
Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
New Hampshire, New Jersey New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,
Wisconsin-l5.
Equally Divided -Kcntucsy, Maryland
and North Carolina-3
American n-Tcnncssec-1.
1t requires II votes to effect choice. and
as neither the democrats or republicans have
sufficient number, the four last named States
will, of course, hold "the balance of power"
Should the House fail to elect a President be-
fore tho 4th of March, that duty will then in
effect deyolvc upon the Senate, which has the
election Of Vice President, who, undcr,thc
provisions of the constitution, becomes Prcsi
dent of the United States The Seuatc is
composed Of majority of democrats.
WHAT THE CONSTITUTIONS SAYS on THE
SuBJECr,-Articlc twelve Of the Constitution
provides as follows:
The electors shall meet in their respective
States and vote by ballot for the President
and Vice President, one of whom, mt least,
shall not be an inhabitant Of the same State
with themselves; they shall name in their
ballots the person voted for rs Vice President,
and they shall make distinct lists of all per-
sons voted for as President, and all persons
voted for rs Vice President, and of the mum
ber OF votes for each, which lists they shall
sign and certify, and transmit sealed TO the
scat of government of the United States di-
rcctcd to tue President of the Senate. The
President Of the Senate shall, in 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 for President shall be the
President, if such number be majority of
the whole. number of Electors appointed, and
If no person having the highest numbers, not
exceeding three on the list of those voted for
as President the House of Representatives
shall choose Immediately, by ballot, the Prcs-
dent. But in choosing the President the
vote shall be taken by the States, the repre-
scntation from each State having one vote ; a
qeorup for this purpose shall consist of .
member or members from two.thirds of the
States, a majority of all the States shall be
necessary to choice. And if the House of
. Representatives shall not choose a President
whenever the right of choice shall devove
upon them, before the fourth day of March
next following, thcm the Vice President shall
act as President, as in the case of tho death
or other constitutional disability of the Presi-
dent. The person having the greatest num-
Der of votes as Vice President, if such number
be majority of the whole number of Electors
appointed, and if no person have a majority,
then from the two highest nnmbcrs on the list
the Senate shall choose the Vice President; u
quorum for the purpose shah consist of two
thirds of the whole nhnlbcr of Senators, and
a majority of the whole number shall be nee
cssary to choice But no person constitu-
tonalfy ineligible to thc Office of President
shall be eligible to that of Vice President of
the United States