The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-12

Macon. Nathan Sanford. John Sergeant, Francis
Granger, Ialllcton W. razeweli Theodore FREEING
ward Everett and Herschel v. Johnson
VOTING ron PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
The choice oil President and Vice President ol the
United States by colleges OF electors in the several
States was first proposed in tho Convention Tor the
gate from Pennsylvania After discussion the
plan adopted and its operation regulated by
OF Congress, March 1892 The electors must 10
chosen within thirty-four days next preceding the
first Wednesday of December IN the year In which
election for President and Vice President DO held.
Thcs must be equal Ia number TO the Senators and
Representatives in Congress from the State: but
Senator person holding place OF trust under the fed
crai government can be such cector. Electors have
been chosen in TOUR different modcs-trst JOINT ballot
OF the state siatures, second concurrent resoi
by the two houses; third, by direct vote OF the
people single districts. the two answering 10 the
United States Senators being a general ticket
throughout the State fourth by general ticket bear
methods have been tried in New York and most of tho
other States and finally the last has been almost uni
versay adopted South Carolina alone adhered 10 leg
slative appointment up to the breaking out OF the
rebellion The single district system seems and is the
alrest getting the expression OF the people, but
was unpopular with party managers. who wished to
throw the power State sodly just lind peo-
pie insisting that states should vote rs units in
party national conventions. The effect OF the single
dis system ivrcbly shown in the contest OF
1924 when New York gave 20 votes for Adams, Tor
Crawford, for Clay and for Jackson Four or five
other states split up in the same way.
Each state was al liberty to choose its Presidential
electors any time before the specified thrty-iour
days. Hence we had New Hampshire leading OIL early
IN March, and state alter State drIbbng along all sum
mcr When Legislatures selected electors they were
sometimes chosen as much as eleven months before
their duties 10 be performed THIS was another
source OF to politicians; in jan
uary 1S45. Congress passed an act for uniformity,
which provides that electors OF President and Vice
President shall DO elected or otherwise chosen on the
Tuesday next alter the first Monday Of November IN the
year in which elections OF President take place. The
effect OF tins law has been to consolidate state
elections also that day and now nearly thirty OF the
thirty States do their annual or bannual voting
on that especial Jay or the Monday before.
Tho electors their several Enthusiastically
at the capitaon the frat Wednesday OF December and
vote for President and Vice President, Of whom
must not be inhabitant OF the same State so IL Is
impossible to have both officers from single state.
I'VE may here say that the qualifications Tor
Vice President must be the those for
President; therefore iorcign born citizen be
Wee President. Having voted official record is made,
copy sent by special messenger to the President
OF tho senate at Washington, one copy mailed to Inn.
and copy flied with the Judge OF the United States
Court in the district where the voting takes place.
That ends tho dulles OF the Electors.
COUNTING THE voTEs-ELEcr1oSs ny TUE HOUSE
REPRESENTATIVES,.
The Senate and House Of Representatives meet on a
day ixed--thc OF 1892 made 1t the second Wcdncs-
day in February, and that We believe, IS adhered to-
when the President OF the senate. occupying the
Speakers chair, opens the certificates and the votes
are counted. clear majority is necessary To an
election. should no Que have a majority, then,
se o% hree The House ssa
choose by ballot to be President But III voting
such occasion the members do not vote directly but
case Rhode Island and Delaware have just much
weight New York and OHIO.
HOW THE VICE PRESIDENT MAY BECOME PRESIDENT.
Here comes in provision very little known. II is
we'll understood that in OF the death, disability
removal of the President the Vice President dis the
place, as Tyler, Fillmore and johnson have
done that II the Vice President acting us
President falls then the President pro tenn.
o. the Senate steps in Senator Wade did,
nomnally while Andrew Johnson before the Senate
on Impeachment; that in all these officers give
out the speaker Of the House must take tho helm.
a ap hp plpct ipnO nj prps idput do
wolves upon The House, and that body should fail to
agree before 0l the 4lh OF March, then the Vice
President becomes President de Jure 81 dc J0cto
The House itself expires at that me anu can ballot
longer No such has occurred, but it IS impos-
stole. In February, 1901 the House had to decide be-
tween Jefferson and Burr, there being tic in the cleo
toral rho contest was fierce and prolonged for
several days. Jefferson at last winning HAD the strug-
gle lasted weeks longer that Congress would have
died by limitation, and, as the law then
stood, John Adams would have held over
until there could be a new election. But
IN 1925. when the House was again called upon
10 choose between John Quincy Adams, Jackson and
Crawford protracted meeting OF that sort would have
made John Z. Calhoun the actual Presiuent Tor TOUR
years.
SEPARATING THE VOTES
The original constitution PROVIDED that electors
should tor Prcsideni and Wee President without
requiring them to specify ktch they desired
either Office so II happcncf that State would send
in her votes for smith Jones President and Vice
president But how 70 place hemg Confusion reach.
ell IT'S height In 1897 when l42 electors made out to
Cast 2a5 votes. BY good luck or management John
| him, and Jefferson having the next highest, was
accorded the second place, as was tne custom. To
remedy this doubtulress tho twelfth amendment to
the constitution was proposed October, 1903 and
rushed along and ratified within eleven months THIS
amendment requires the electors to vote separately
Tor the Two officers and specify in the returns.
Since that date there has been no difficulty IN knowing
| the great man from his adjuant-
The summary OF past elections herewith given shows
| some curious voting, and recalls many names now
almost forgotten
Al 4 ha nrst aie VA NUT
dent by CO volcs-unan mousIy. For Vice President,
John Adams had o. John Jay 0, Robert H. Harrison O,
Samuel Huntington =, James Armstrong l, Edward
Tclfr and BENJAMIN Lincoln /. There appears
have been less votes for Wee President than for
President, Adams had a bare majority.
In 1898 Washington was unanimously reelected
having l32 votes Adams was reelected Vice frcsi-
dent having II votcs George CHton had 80, Thomas
Jefferson and Aaron Burr
In 1871 Adams was chosen President by Il only Of
140 votes--a tight squeeze Jefferson, who made a
hard tight for tho first place had to be content with
the second He had 6S votes and according to tho
record Thomas Pinckney had 5S Burr 10 samuel
Adams 10 Oliver Ellsworth H. George Clinton 7, John
Jay 8, James Wcdcli 3, Samuel Johnson ?, George
Washington ., John Henry and Charles Pnckney
At the lourln election IN 1901, jefferson and Burr
werc tied, each having 70 votes, and the choice dc.
VOWED upon tue House. That body resolved 10 COM
mencc baoting on Wednesday, February 10, and TO
attend To no oshcr business nor To adjourn until a
choice Effected Seats provided on the floor
Tor President ana Senators, but curing the act of
balotng the galleries cleared OF spectators and
the doors closed. on the FIRST ballot New York. New
Jersey. Pennsylvania Virginia, North Carolina
Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee ts voted for Jeicr
son; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode lslaud
Connecticut, Delaware aud South Carolina t6)
voted Tor Burr; while Vermont and Mary
land whose representatives were divided, voted blank
The baloting continued and the House remained In
session, nominaly without adjournment, for seven
days during which l0I members were present. Some
OF tncm iniirm or indsposed that II became
necessary provide beds, aud one member, who was
quite III, attended by his vie. The deadlock was
al broken the 18th OF February and the thirty
sixth ballot, when Delaware ami South Carolina voiei
blank, Vermont and Mary land went for Jefferson
thereby eecting him. AS matter Of course The Vice
Presidency dcvolved upon Burr.
In 1905 jefferson was reelected having 1G2 Of tho
the 176 votes IL going for Charles Coatcsworth Pnck
ney. George Clinton chosen Vice President by the
Jeerson's vote, the other IA going Tor Rufus
King.
In 1900 Madison for President had LIZ Of the It's
votes cast Pinckney had AZ and Clnton6 For Vice,
Clinton had ll3 Rufus liking AZ, Madison and James
Monroe 3.
Madison rcchoscn in 1918 by l2s out OF 2l7 votes
the other 50 going tor Dc Wit Cinton For Vice
Ebrdgc Gerry had l3l ana James Ingcisol So
Al the eighth Presidential election Monroe had 1873
out OF 2l7 votes For Vice Daniel D. iompgins had
same. 1855; John T.. Howard -, James Ross g.,