The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-12-01
A Primer Of the Electoral College.

4 reader asks us % explain an abOu
the Electoral College heroic reGuesI
In view az the popular WEAKNESS Of the
whole subject. But there i larg,
class 40 every Presidential election Z,
whom 30 must be a new thing % vote %
o. take an interest IN the vote, and foi
such the subject is always new, and a
proper theme for instruction.
When the Constitution If the United
States was framed, the faith Ia the ca
pacity II the common people % decide
upon their dcstinies was much les.
strong than Do is now Hence, in the
election Of President, the fathers sought
20 place the choice IN the hands Of a
body Of men who should themselves be
the picked Of the picked. For the same
reason, the choice Of the Senators was
devOlved not directly upon the people
but upon the Legislatures Of the sew
eral States. In the Presidential cleo
ton, the Constitution therefore proyid-
ed a body Of Electors, Of whom each
State should choose as many BIS il had
members Of Congress and Senators.
livery State has two Senators, and add
ing 20 them the number OF its Repre-
sentatives gives the number Of Electors
~ which IL l. entitled. Massachusetts
therefore, has -. How these Elect
Ors should be chosen, or appointed, -
10 use the constitutional word, is left
10 the legislature thereof, and if the
Massachusetts, Legislature were 10 au-
thOriZe the Governor o. appoint them
or -ho1ld proceed - elect thrun Itself,
there would 81 no objection under the
Federal Constitution. Ia fact, In many
States the legislature have elected the
Electors, though we believe none DO so
now. The original idea was, first, 10
provide an intermediate olectiug body
"A buffer between the direct will Of
the people and the highest olIice-aEd.
secOld, 20 magnify the slver. irntv Of
the States - taking part in their indivit-
ual capacities In the election. II l.
necessary 20 clear understanding Of
the subject 20 SAY here that, IS "a mat
Ter q history, the Electors did not meet
these autIcIpatiOns. From the first there
was q strong tendency % regard them
s. 20 many ciphers, merely represent
ing the viii Of the people who chose
them they have been compelled 20 give
up all pretensions % a deliberate and
free choice. and are simply set up 10
vote s. the people have distinctly voted.
On the second point, state boundaries
seem 90 have vanished also. aud the
people never DO a more decidedly ua-
tIoual act than when they elect the
President
Now, then, the Electors. having been
chosen IN each state ia November on a
general ticket, % represent the whole
State- and according as {. O. whole State
has gone for one party or the other,
meet in each State and ballot fOr Pres
Ider- and ice-Presilelt. one II wh0m
must not be- q resident II that State.
That D., II both % one party were resi-
dents 90 one state. the vote Of that
state could not be- cast for those candi-
dates This voting Is fixed on the same
cay in All the States hy Federal law.
and viii take place. this year, December
g. Lists of the votes are made out and
transmitted % the President Of the Sen
ate SO Washington, who opens them iu
the presence 81 both houses Of Congress
on the second Wednesdav ~ February.
The votes shall then be- counted. and
those two having maj0ri-ies fthe Elect
oral College (as the Electors all togeth-
or are Cllled) are chosen President and
Nl-e-Pr=sident. As there are 293 MEM
beers Il Congress ard 15 Senators. the
Electoral College numbers 800, ms
i0rity II which would be- ISj. Hence
Illden or Hayes must receive, % be
elected, az least lsj votes
ftwO men are thus phosen, they arr
ilaugurated, according % the law, on
the fth II March following II no one
receives a majority for President. the
House II Representative immediately
proceeds % elect one, from the three
highest candidates; each State has one
vote. II no one receives a majority for
Nice-Pre-ideut, the Senate mast imme-
diats.v ballot for that officer, two-thirds
being present and a majority deciding
II the House should not choose q Presi-
dent by March /, the Nice-Presideut
chosen shall act as President. And Il
neither should be- chosen, the Presideu,
pro tenn ~ the Senate would ac- ~
President aud order q new election.
I-Is last procedure Is matter II Fed
eral Jaw and not of the Cousitut.6l.-
sPriggf-ld Mss EepE5ltcGH.