The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-11-26
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From "our Rulers and our Rights"
Electors.

l. An electOr, in the broad sense of
the Worn, means anybody who votes at
an election for any person for any Office
OR position whatever it may bes and
who is generally styled voter. But
in more restricted sense. and that in
which it is used here. elector means a
person chosen to elect the President and
Vice President of the United States
Two different methods have been used
to choose these electors, and both were
in conformity with the Constitution;
for it says that each State shall ap-
point, in such manner us the Legisla
ttlrc thereof may direct, a number of
electors equal to the whole number of
Senators and Representatives to which
the State may be entitled in Congress"
Now this left the Legislatures of the
respective States to appoint the electors
themselves, Or to direct their appoint
ment in any other way. Hence in some
States the Legislatures chose them, and
in others they passed acts directing
their election by the people; and as far
Legislatures continued to appoint or
elect them themselves; while in all the
remaining States their election was
given directly to the people, and this
method has now become universal in
all the States, and is the one which
seems to be most approved by the peo-
pie.
2. These electors, when chosen, must
meet in their respective States on the
first Wednesday of December-tllat is,
when a Presidential election occurs
(Which is every fourth Year,; and when
assembled, they are denominated the
electoral colleges. and vote for one man
for President and for another for Vice
President; after which these votes are
sent to the President of the Senate of
the United States by a messenger Sc
lected for that express purpose. When
this Is done, the duties of the electors
are done, and they have nothing more
to do in the nlatter. But in four wears.
at the next Presidential election, new
college will assemble for the same Dur
pose and to perform the same duty.
When these votes reach Nashinuton,
the Senate and the House of Represen-
tatives assemble together on the second
"ednesday in February, and in their
presence the votes are open q and
counted, and it is then declared who has
been elected President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States for the next
four years. Until quite lately, the
Presidential elections were held in diff
terent States on different days; but by
an act of Congress. one day for this cleo
ton is now designated throughout all
the States,and that day is the first Tues
day after the first Monday in Novem-
Der. This is the method which the
Constition has declared shall be used in
the election of the President; but it is
clumsy and cumbrous piece of ma
chinery-a wheel within a wheel-and
we hope it will soon be worn out. and
the people be allowed to vote directly
Tor the candidates they prefer. This
would enable them to vote for their
choice for Vice President. which they
cannot always now do. for the electors
are bound to vote for the Vice President
who runs on the ticket with the Presi-
dent. Hence if Il voter wishes to vote,
for certain candidate for President
he must vote tor the Vice President
who runs on the same ticket, whet her
he prefers him or not.