The weekly union record., 1864-09-24
'THE UNTON RECURD.
The Electoral Vote.

uc approaching iSc4NtAt4dl StSN y
ton presents many interesting ques-
tions, some of them new to cur history.
Just two months from to-day, namely,
ION the Tuesday following the first
Monday in November" which quota
.ion is from the law Of Congress fixing
the time, the election for Presidential
Electors viii take place. That fixes
the date on the Sth Of November. All
the States that have not seeded, will
elect on the same day. The seeded
States, and which have been declared
in state of insurrection, have been
prohibited by act of Congress from
participating in this approaching elec-
ton. They are, Virginia, which, if
loyal, would be entitled to cast in the
Electoral College, eighteen votes, less
FIVE allowed to Western Virginia;
North Carolina, twelve votes; South
Carolina, eight; Georgia, twelve
Alabama, eleven; Tennessee, thirteen;
Mississippi, nine; Louisiana, eight;
Florida, four; Arkansas, six; Texas,
eight. Totol of excluded votes, one
hundred and four. The States whose
votes will be counted, will throw as fol
lows: Maine, seven; New Hamp-
shire, FIVE; Massachusetts, twelve;
Rhode Island, four; Connecticut, six;
Vermont, five; New York, thirty
three; New Jersey, seven; Pennsyl-
vania, twenty-six; Delaware, three
Maryland, seven; West Virginia, five;
Ohio, twenty-one; Indiana, thirteen;
Illinois, sixteen; Michigan, eight;
Wisconsin, eight; Minnesota, four
Iowa, eight; Kansas, three; Kentucky,
eleven; Missouri, eleven; California,
FIVE; Oregon, three; total, two hun
ared and forty votes. A majority of
this vote will be one hundred and
twenty-one. Whichever candidate OBJ
tains that number viii probably be de-
clared our next President. We say
probably, because it is not only posi-
bic, but probable, that Nevada Terri
tory, which voted yesterday upon the
question of becoming a State, may
have adopted the Constitution, in which
case she will vote for three electors in
November. This would make the
whole number two hundred and forty
three, and would require one hundred
and twenty-five to constitute major
Ity and elect President. There Is
hnother Territory now in process Of de
,iding upon the question Of State exist
ence, viz: Colorado. But there seems
title or no likelihood that the people
will decide in favor Of State Govern
nent. The whole number Of Electoral
sotes that will 90 into the Electoral
College may be safely put down at two
hundred and forty three. Including
Nevada, twenty four States viii parti-
;pate in the election. Seven of these
nay elect the President, viz: The six
arger, and the smallest, Delaware, all
# which one may hear the Copper
reads and Seccssionists already claim
ng for Mcclellan. They cast one
hundred and twenty three, one more
Eote than is necessary. Probably when
he votes shall be counted, Mr.. Lincoln
sill give different account Of the mat
er.
Not little discussion has been had
as to the effect of tie seeded States
hot choosing Electors, some claiming
hat it requires a majority Of all the
Electoral votes to which all of the
States, seeded as well as loyal. are
Entitled, in order to elect a President,
md that unless a candidate receive L
na iority of all, that is to say, Il ma
ority of the three hundred and forty
even, viz: one hundred and seventy
our votes, the election will deyolyc
lpon the House of Representatives.
Ne cannot so read the provision for the
Election of President as provided in
he Constitution. That instrument
provides that each State shall appoint
Electors but the failure of any State,
pr number of States, to appoint, cannot
Ifect the result, so long as any States
10 so appoint. The Constitution fur
her provides that the President of the
Senate, TO whom the Electoral vote of
Fach State is to be directed, shall open
he same, in presence of the Senate and
House Of Representatives, and the
otes shall be counted then, and the
persons having the greatest number Of
Totes, if such number be majority of
he whole number Of Electors appoint
ID, shall be President. Now the Con
|ention of the Senate and House can
axe notice of only the Electoral votes
before them. If any State or States
hall have failed to appoint, or trans
nit her Electoral vote, that vote can
pot be considered at all in counting and
reckoning the majority. The Elec-
oral vote returned can alone be consid-
|red The seeded States can have
pothing to do in deciding this ques-