The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-12-21
HOW THE ELECTORAL VOTE SHOULD
v BE COUNTED.

ii ~ b &
tlficates, and the votes shall he count
ed. The person having the greatest
number OF votes fir PRESIDENT shall
be President, if such number be a.
majority of the whole number Of El-
ect%rs appoii ted +"
BY the acts Of 1892 and 1904, as
adopted III the Revised Statutes of
the United States, the following re &
ulation is made: a
Congress shall be in session on the
second Wednesday IN February sue
ceeding every meeting OF the Eject
orr. and the certificates, or SO many,
Of them as have been received, Shall
then be opened, the votes counted.
and the person to fiji the offices OF
President aud Vice-P President ascer-
tained and determined agreeable to,
the Institution. ....@
The foregoing are all the provis-
ions Of tie constitution and laws OF
the United States in relation tocuunt-
ing the Electoral Votes. The consti-
tution provides that the President Of
the Senate shall, III the presence Of
she Senate and the House Of Repre-
seutatlves, open all the certificates,
and that the votes shall be counted.
The law provides that Congress shall
be IL session on certain day and the
certificates, or 50 many OF them as
have been received, shall then be
opened, the votes counted, and the
persons t. fill the Offices Of the Presl-
dent and Vice President ascertained
and determined agreca ito the con-
stitutiOn.
Every thing is definitely provided for
by he constitution and laws excep rs to
who is to couns the votes and thereby
ascertain and determine who is elected
President and Weed President, and he
fair inference is hat his is to be done
by the Prtsidens Of the StnAte. Aud
this was he understanding Of the re-
qu;rcment of the constitution both BIZ
the last Congress # The Confederation
and the FIST Congress under The COL
stltution. #oAo1 aS
1t is on record that the Congress of The
Confederation provided that The Senate
should eI>ct President who sht uld
open the certificates, c unit thevotcs, and
declare the election.
The recordi of The first Congress under
the constitution contain the following
entries in relation to The first election OF
President and V.ce-Presid Mt:
MONDAY. April 6, 1880
"The President II tn s nate, elected
for the purpose Of counting the ootes.
dtCiartu % the Senate, 'haS The SENT e
ana House ot Repre> entative had met
and thai he 32 their presence had open
ed and counted tae W. ~ icr the Elect
ore ~ Pr,Sid, ut aud Vel r,sden, Of
the United States; whereby it Appeals
that Geoige Washington wa, udan IN JUS
ly elected Piestnens' 1870.
Thereupon he following certificate,
prepared by 4 committee, was adopted
by 'he Senate and slgued by their Presi-
denf; 80
b. it known hat the Senate and House
Of Represen atiyes Of the United S ates
OF Amtncl, beng convened IN the city
ami ale Of New York, the s x Ii day IT
Aprll, in the year III our Lord one thors-
and seven bundn@d AID elghty-ninp, Lhe
underwriters, appointed President of
tie Senate gor he sole purpose freceiv-
ing, cpeilng AID counting the votes Il
the Eieclols, 0ld, ia the presence If the
said Senaleand II ,uss % Representatives.
0pon all the cerl lfoafes and count oil
Dotes of The Electors fur Pres denl ana
for Vice President, BY which it ape
pears that &c 'ge Washington, e q
was unanlmt usy elected, ag, eeably 20
the cOnstitu ion. 10 the office oi PrCsiteil
OF Unltsd STATES of America. ea ai
lntes'imony whereof have hereunio
set my hand and seal JoHNI.ANGDoN
Mr.. Madison, from the House Vi
Representatives, thus addressed the
Senates Dir. President am directed
by the Houseut Representatives toiniorm
the Senate that Tie House have ayr &c
that the notifications OF tie election o
President aod Vlce-P resldens OF The
United States should he made ny such
persons and In such manner as tn
Senate shall be pleased to direct.
From the foregoing It is evident hal
the last Congress Of the Confederation
and the frs Congress under the Cnlsti
tuition understood the constitute ion alike.
and tina: both understood it that tbs
President of the Senate was to open ths
certificates, aud Co coGnt the votes of b,
electors for President and Weep President
and shat whoever had a.majDrity OF a 4
votes were elected.