The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-09-28
VOL. VI.
HOW TO ELEor A PRESIDENT.

The Bonham Ne,cs gives the following
well prepared summary, showing the pro-
Cess by which a President of the United
States is elected:
The first step is the selection OF presi-
denrlsl electors by each State. Section l.
article Q. Of the Federal Constitution pro-
vIdes thar each State shall appoint, in such
mana as the Legislature thereof may di-
Rec, number of electors, equal to the
whole number of Senators and Represents
tives II which the State may be entitled in
ID" Congress; but no Senator or Represen-
tat.Ve, "I person holding an office of trust
or prof under the United States, shall be
appointed An al .ctor.
The statutes provide that these electors
shA be appointed in each State on the Tue
day after the first Monday in November vi
every iourth year succeeding he election
( President ami Vice President
Under these Provision, Texas will elect
eI"ht presidential elecsoTs - the election
| WHICH takes place on the seventh of No
vember.
These eight electors will, on the first
Wednesday 10 December, meet in the city
of Austin, and Cast their votes for Presi-
dent and Vice President. ThCy will hen
make out and sign three certificates of all
votes given by them. These cert fcates are
to be sealed up; one is To be delivered to
the President of the United States Senate
Ivy . person appointed for that purpose
one is 10 be forwarded to him by mail ana
the other is to be delivered to the judge of
the district in which the electors assemble.
The same process having been gone
through in each State and the returns trans
| l.. i e -
ate will open all the ertiicates in the pres
ence of the Senstc and House of represent
atives, in c,mpiIuuce with the following
| Joint rule:
"The two Houses shall assemble in the
hall of the House OF Representatives at the
hour of O'Clock P. NJ, ON the second We'd
nesday in February next succeeding the
meeting Of electors OF President and Vice
| President of the United States, and the
| President of the Senate ShIll he their pre-
siding uffic,r; one teller shall be appointed
| on the part of the Senate, and two on the
part Of the House of Representatives, to
whom shall be handed, as they are opened
| by the President of the Senate, the cortfi-
Gates of the electoral votes and said teleIs,
having read the same III the presence and
| hearing of the two Houses then assembled,
| shal make list of the votes rs they shall
! appear from the said certificates, and the
votes having been counted the result of the
The same shall be delivered to the President
| Of the Senate, who shall thereupOn an
nounce the STATE of the vote and the names
OF the persons, if any, elected; which an
| nouucenIent shall be deemed Il sufficient
| declaration of the persons elected President
and Vice President of the United States,
and, together with list of the votes, be
/ 81 4, Il, I
If upon the reading of any such certificate
by the tellers any question shall arise In re-
gard to counting the votes therein certified,
the same having been stated by the presid
| ing officer, the Senate shall thcrernOn with
draw, and said questions shall be submit
ted to that body f,r its decision; and the
| Speaker of the House of Representatives
shall, In like manner, submit said question
to the House of Representatives, for Its de-
cision, and no question shalt be decided af-
| tirmatiVely, and no vote objected to Shall be
counted, except by the concurrent vote of
the two Houses; which being obtained the
two Houses shall Immediately reassemble,
and the presiding officer shall then an
nOunce the decision of the question sub
mitted, and upon any such question there
shall be no debate in either house."
1t will be observed that either house can
| reject the vote of any State. Previous to
1865, it required the concurrence of both
Houses to reject.
The vote having thus been counted the
person receiving the largest number of votes
| for President shall be declared elected,
provided he has received majority of the
entire Electoral College.
Should no person receive a majority Of
the entire number of electors, then, from
the persons having the highest numbers not
exceeding three on the list of those voted
for as President, the House of Representa-
tives will Immediately proceed to elect a
President by ballot. H. such case, the vote
is tn be taken by States, the representation
from each State having one vote. A quorum
for this purpose to consist of a member or
members from two-thirds of the States, and
m jnrity of all the States to be necessary
| for u choice.
II the II puse of Representatives, when this
duty devolveS upon them, fail to elect a
President by the fourth of March following,
the Vice President will act as President,
as in case of death or constitutional dIsa-
billtv.