The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-11-13
Prr.IaentIaI EIeeforr.

The election of the President and Of
the Vice. President, by Colleges Of Elee-
tors, chosen In each State, was first pro-
posed in the Convention for the forma-
ton OF the Constitution, by James
Wilson, a delegate from Pennsylvania
Il was adopted after a prolonged dis
cussion, and was regulated by an Act
of Congress OF March !, 1872. The Elec-
tors must be chosen within thirty-four
days preceding tho frst Wednesday OF
December OF the year in which an cleo
ton of President and Vice President
takes place. They must be equal In
number TO all the Senators and Repre-
sentatives In Congress, but NO Senator
or person holding an once OF trust or
profit under the United States can be
appointed an Elector. The Electors
were at hrst chosen in four different
modes, viz: by joint ballot Of the State
Legislature, bya concurrent vote OF the
two branches of the State Legislature,
by the people Of the State voting by
general ticket. and by the people voting
In dIstrIcln- This latter mode was evil
IDENTIFY that which gave the fairest ex-
preston to public opinion, by approach
ing nearest to direct vo;e. But those
States which adopted It were pIaeedsat
the disadvantage OF being exposed to a
division OF their strength, and neutral.
ization of their vote; while the Electors
chosen by either OF the other methods
voted In body on one side or the other,
thus making the vote OF the State de-
cisively felt. This consideration Undue
ed the leading States of Massachusetts,
and of Virginia. which originally. adopt
ed the direct system, 10 abandon It In
1900.
An act OF Congress was approved jar
uary %. 1915. TO establish a Uniform
time for holding elections for Electors
In all the States Of the Union, Whereby
they areaPpointed in each State on the
Tuesday next after the first Monday in
the month Of November of the year in
which they are to be appointed. Each
State may also by law proyioe for the
filling OF any vacancy or vacancies
which may occur in Its College OF Elect
ors, when such College meets 10 give
its electoral vote; and when any State
shall have held an election for the pur-
pose of choosing Electors. and shall
fail TO make a choice on the day aEore-
said. then the Electors may be appoint
ed on a subsequent day in such man
ner as the State shall by law provide.
The Electors meet at the capitals of
their respective States, on the first
wednesday,6i December, and vote by
distinct ballots for President and Vice
President, one OF whom shall not be an
inbabitant of the same State with them
selves. They make lists OF the number
of votes given, and of the persons voted
for, which they transmit sealed, by a
special messenger, to the President oil
the Senate at Washington.
The Senate and House OF Representa-.
lives. having met in convention on q
day fixed, the President of the Senate
l are counted. The person having the
greatest number of VOTES for President
is duly elected, II such number be q
majority of the whole number OF Elec-
tors appointed. II no person have such
! a majority, then from the perBons hay-
ing the highest number, not exceeding
three, in the list of those voted for as
President, the House OF Represents.
uves shall choose Immediately and by
ballot, the President II the House OF
Representatives shall not choose Pres.
ident, whenever The right of choice de.
wolves upon them, before the 4th oil
4 March next following. then the Vice
President shall net as President, as In
the case of death or other constitutional
disability OF the President
4 Should the Offices OF President and
] Vice President both become vacant, II
then becomes the duty OF the Secretary
of State TO communicate Information
thereof to the Executive OF each State
and TO cause the same to be published
In at least one newspaper in every
State, giving two months previous
notice that Electors OF President shall
be chosen or appointed in the several
| States, within thirty-four days next
preceding the first Wednesday or De-
csmber ensuing, when the choice Of
President must proceed as usual.