The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-19
Proposed Method OF Counting Elec.
roraI Votes


on every 'ourth year thereafter, the
members Of the Senate and House
shall conyens in joint assembly,
in the hall Of the House, for the sole pur-
pose OF counting the votes given by the
electors for President and Vice Presi-
dent and of ascertsining and declaring
the result. Both Houses shall have pres
eat their secretaries, clerks, sergeants-at.
arms and doorkeepers, and when they
are assembled, the President of the Sen
ate and Speaker of the House shall con-
jointly preside, and the sergeants-st-
arms and doorkeepers shall conformity
exercise their respective functions. A
joint assembly beng thus formed, and
majority OF all the members OF
each house being present, the President
of the Senate shall appoint teller
on the part Of the Senate, and the
Speaker OF the House shall appoint tel
Ter on the part OF the House, and the
President of the Senate shall tnen pro-
Ceed, in the presence Of the House, 10
open the certificates of electors, comnen-
eng with those of the original States In
the order in which they ratified their
constitutions, and then opening those OF
the other States in the order of their
admission into the Union. The certlh-
Gates when opened are to be passed TO the
Speaker OF the House OF Representatives,
and the President of the Senate is there.
upon to demand whether there be any
objection to the counting OF the
vote authenticated by such certificate,
and If no objection be made the
certificates shall be handed TO the tellers,
who shall count the vote therein certi-
fed. and secretaries and;clerks shall re-
cord the same. If either the Senate
or House OF Representatives shall by
resolution before the second Wednesday
in February have declared the Official
certifcation of the appointment or
election of electors OF any State was
falsely or frsuiulently given, or that
It is invalid because the governor in
consequence of, or upon the authority OF
false, corrupt or fraudulent finding,
decision or canvassing returns oil
any officers, board OF csnvassers,
returning board or other agency
or organization empowered to
canvass the returns, and that the votes
OF such persons ought not to be allowed,
and that other persons were elected, the
questions as TO whether the votes OF such
persons shall be counted, or whether the
votes Of such other persons shall be
counted. or whether the State shall lose
its electoral vo.c, shall be considered by
the ioint assembly. If the objection be
on any ground made on behalf OF the
Senate or House TO the votes o: any
other electors or electOr Of State, the
same shall also be considered by the
Iont assembly. If there shall have been
transmitted TO the President of the
Senate two or more certified lists
from any one State, purPorting TO be lists
of persons voted Tor by the electors OF
such States, all shall be read, and the
questions arising thereon shall be con-
sdered by Joint assembly. If It shall lap
pear ~ be so resolved by either House,
that success at the polls or before the
esnvassing or returning officers WIS In
any wise owing 10 armed or other inter.
vention, or intermeddllHg OF authorities,
civil or military, o! the United
States, the question rs TO whether the
votes OF the persons so made electors
shall be counted, or whether the State
shall lose its vote, or whether the votes
of the defeated electors shall be counted,
shall be considered By joint assembly.
Any member of either House may, in
iolnt assembly, object to counting vote
gwen by any elector on the ground that
he was Ineligible or disqualified, either
by the laws or Constitution Ofthc United
States or Of his own State, and such oh.
lection shall be considered by the joint
assembly and such electors vote shall be
rejected if it appears that ne was so ineIi.
glble or disqualified. The questions consid-
cred bv the Joint assembly Of the two
houses shall be decided by rtrd Uoce
vote Of each member present, and the
decision and determination Of the qucs
ton by majority Of the members shall
be its decision and determination by the
Joint assembly, and # there shall be
difference Of opinion and ruling on any
question between the President Of the
Senate and the Speaker OF the House
the question shall be submitted 10 the
Joint assembly and shsll be in like manner
decided by majority of the votes. All
questions shall. with the assent
of the Speaker OF the House be put TO the
ioInt assembly by the President Of
the Senate and the result declared BY
him. The Joint assembly may, l. neces-
ssrv, adjourn from dHy To day until the
counting Of the vote. shall be completed,
and there shall be no debate on any
question of difference between the pre-
siding officers, unless 1t involves the
counting or rejectinZ Of Il vote or votes
and no question shall be debated longer
than six hours, nor by more than two
members speaking aitern stely on each
SIDE. The Senate and House may con
currently adopt rules for the govern
ment of the joint assembly, aud may,
by their concurrent action. alter,
amend or abroglte the same, and
in the absence Of such rules the rule. Of
the Senate not Inconsistent with tie pro-
visions OF this act shAll be ceem'd
% have been adopted. The powers Of
each house 70 repre-s disorder for con
tempt shall be possessed and exercised
by the joint assembly. A vote By yeas
and nays snail no. b" taken except upon
questions material % the Issue Of the
counting or rejection OF the votes, and
then only on the demand Of I'VE
Senators or twenty presentAtives.
When the count OF the votes u con-
cluded the Secretary Of the senate and
Clerk Of the House shall each read 20 the
Senate aud Hyu-e his own record of the
votes a. counted and If IL b. found cor
rect shall each give 20 the Pre''dent Of
the Senate and the Speaker OF the House
a statement 0: the aggregate number Of
votes, waereupon the Presiden! Of the
Senate shall announce toe result and
declare elected the persons having
majority Of the votes 0! all the electors
cgu tel by the JOINT assembly. sad if
the-. b. no election be shall 50 declare.
1he New York Conference.