The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-04-04
What if the Presidential Election
Y Should go into Congress.

We have said that under existing circum
stances, it will be 9,S cause of regret to the
! South, if the choice Of the next President
should devolve upon Congress, where small
Democratic States like Florida, Oregon and
California, will stand on an equal footing with
large Black Republican States, like New York
and Ohio.
In connection with this subject, the New
York Herald opportanely calls attention to
the importance Of placing good man in no.
mination for the Vice Presidency It is
easy to imagine baw.. events may happen
which will defeat an election in the College Of
Electors 1t might occur thus If the Char
lesion ConFentioa 81 bsnla abelitionize the Ma
tional Democratic 9ganzatlan BIZ nominating
Douglas, the author and peculiar exponent OF
the doctrine which provides the highest cut
to all the ends of Black Bepublcanism," the
Southern Democracy will repudiate its action,
and select Southern candidate who would
probably carry. in addition to a majority of
the South, one or two Northern States, which
could be induced to swallow neither Douglas
ism nor Sewardism. These results would
prevent an election in the Electoral College,
and it would, therefore, be thrown, by provis-
ion Of the Constitution, into the House, of Re-
presentives, which votes by States upon the
three highest candidates. The Constitution
provides as follows, in case no election takes
place in the Electoral College:
From the persons having the highest mum.
bers, not exceeding three, on the list of those
voted for as President, the House of Repre-
sentatives shall choose Immediately by ballot,
the President. But in choosing the President,
the votes shall be taken by States, the repre-
sentation from each State having one vote a
quorum for this purpose shall consist of a
member or members from two thirds of the
States, and a majority Of all the States shall
be necessary to choice"
In the present House Of Representatives,
into which the Presidential contest would be
directly thrown, if an election "by the People,"
as it is called, was not had, no candidate
could obtain majority of States. The Black
Republicans have the most States, but not
majority Of all. 1t would be the Speakership
contest over again, with ten fold intensity, and
without the possibility Of the adoption of the
plurality rule, or compromise between the
parties, unless the South Americans could
be bonght out by the Black Republicans
The Democracy would prolong the contest,
until the fourth of March next, when the
Congress would expire.
The next trial would be in the Senate,
where the supremacy of the sound Demo-
cracy is not disputed except in case of trea-
ties for the ratification of which two thirds
are required.
The Constitution provides "And if the
House of Representatives shall not choose a
President whenever the right of choice shall
deyolve upon them, before the fourth of March
next following, then the Vice President shall
act as President, as in the case of death or 9th
or Constitutional disability of the President
The person having the greatest number of
votes as Vice President, if such number be
majority of the whole number of Electors ap-
zFele folia The Two highest numbers on the list
/ IifE SENATE snail cheose INC v4ce-rrssidunr.
A quorm for the purpose stall consist Of two |
thirds of the whole number of Senators and |
majority Of the whole shall be necessary to a |
choice"
Therefore, if the Electoral College should |
all to choose President, it its next to GER
tain that the Charleston nominee for Weep |
sident will be elected, and become Chief Mag
Strate of the American Republic.
Let the Southern Democracy take courage
oy these facts, and neither be driven nor cajoled
nto the support of the champion of Squatter
Sovereignty, as an alternative between so vile
L traitor to his party and the Black Republi-
AN candidate. Let them remember that their
7otes will count as much towards the defeat |
If the Black Republican nominee, if cast for
! third candidate, as ifgiven to the Charleston
nominee. And if their course result in
throwing the election into Congress, so much
he better. The game will then be in our
lands. We must have sound candidate and
sound platform, at Charleston, or we will
AVE none. -