The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-06-20
MANNER OF -EnEor1No PRESIDENT AND

MANNER OF EnKorENo PRESIDENT AND
Woe PRRsIDKNT.-The Cincinnati En-
quirer gives the following interesting &C.
count OF the manner in which the cleo.
tion OF the President and Vice President
OF the United States is conducted:
There is nothing more complicated
than the election of the President and
Vloe-Presldent under our present politi-
cal system. How it ever could have
been devised is mystery. There are
few, even among our most Intelligent
men. who can explain from the com
mencement the manner in which Pre-.
sident and Vice. President are elected,
and the great mass of the people are
profoundly ignorant. We propose here
to trace the election up from the germs:
First. there is the primary town or
local caucus for the different parties;
then comes the County, District and
State Conventions. Through that ma
chinery delegates are appointed to a
National Convention. These National
Conventions nominate candidates. These
nominations, however, legally amount to
nothing. Each State elects number of
electors corresponding to its Senators
and Representatives in Congress. and
they vote Tor whom they choose abso-
A0~Ssy AoA = ACnA0Cub lC6-X E6blu61t.
There Is nothing requiring them to vote
foi any man who has been nominated,
e1oeps 30 far as they may consider it
binding in honor. The Constitution in
tended that they should have the first
and final choice. It's trainers supposed
that the electors would be among the
frst men in the country, and would lie
better judges of who would be fit for
President and Vice President than their
constituents, the people; hence they
have made an intermediate body.
In order to give these Electoral Col
leges full authority, the electors are OBJ
liged to vote by secret ballot. Suppose,
for instance, Ohio should popularly cast
Its twenty-five electoral votes for the
candidates who were in the field, and
suppose it to be against Grant and his
colleagues, but upon counting the cleo
toral votes, there might be number for
Grant. These votes would stand, and it
would be next to or quite impossible to
| find out the person who had cast them
against the will OF the people. The
United States Senator in this State is
voted for by the members of the Legis.
lature, oiud Doce, and if there is any be.
trayal of pledges, the responsibility eau
not be lodged. But there is no such
security in our votes for President and
Vice-President. It is to the credit of
the country that thus far in seventy
years no eleotor, under the shield of the
secret ballot. has ever cast vote differ
ent from that which it was intended by
the people he should give.
After the Electoral College has met in
each State, on the first Wednesday of
December, and casts its vote, it sends a
messenger with it to Washington. Early
in February the votes of the States are
opened in joint session of the two houses,
the President Of the Senate presiding.
In case one candidate has O majority
over all the others, he is declared elected.
1t not, the Senate retires to it's chamber,
and the House proceeds to vote for the
three highest candidates who had been
voted for by the electors. The vote is
not, however, according to the usual
form, but is given by States. Thus New
York is called with her thirty-one mem
bers. They ask leave to retire, and do
retire. Sixteen OF them direct that the
vote OF the Ssate-and it is only one
be recorded for the candidate running
against Grant. Delaware is called. which
has but single member. and he casts
one vote, the same as has been given by
| VIZ sAhA u -Oao t6OheiOAn0A VI lAo
State. Each State has simply one vote,
and majority OF the delegation deter.
mines it. A majority of all the States,
which are now thirty-seven in number,
would be- nineteen, and that is absolutely
required. If the vote should stand
eighteen for U. 8. Grant, eighteen for
Judge Davis, and one State equally di
vided and casting no vote, there would
be no choice.
On the 4th OF March, the session ol
Congress not only terminates, but the
terms Of its members expire. In the
two or three weeks they have to vote
they may not elect any man for Presi
dent. The House has been, on one oc
casion, nine weeks in ch hoosing Speaker
and it is reasonable to assume that il
might be three weeks and not elect
} President. Then, we hear the reader
inquire. who, on the 4th of March
would be President2 We will further
explain. When there is no choice fo
President, and no choice for Vice. Presi
dent. the United States Senate choose
the latter officer. BY wise provision
In the Constitution, the Senate select
between the two highest candidates votet
1 I2- IL