The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-11-16
Countins,Eh ELECTORAL Vote.

Counting. 'ahc Electoral Vote.
The intimatio0 that has been omin-
ously thrown out in certain quarters,
that the votes OF some Of the Southern
States may be rejected on the assump-
ton that they we're obtained byimprop-
er means. has awakened inquiry rs
to thesprocess of counting the electoral
vote. The New Orleans Times has
presented the facts SO clearly that we
have awaited ourselves Of its statement
OF the case:7 1LsTHF
The Constitution of the United1
States preseribes the manner in which
the Presidential electors shall meet and
east their votes. The Article IL section
} of the Constitution was not sufficient
ly definite III this respect and the vague
ness of the section gave rise to the
conflict between Jefferson and Burr and
caused the adoption of the 18th amends
ment. This amendment prescribes
that 'sthe electors shall meet IN their
respective States and vote by ballot for
President and Vice President, n OF
'whome at least shall not be an lnhabl-
tant of the same name in their ballots
the persons voted for as President, and
in d;.tinct ballots the person voted for
as Vice President" Lists are then
made out of all persons voted for and
the number of votes for each: these lists
are certified, sealed, directed to,the Pres
ident of the Senate and forwarded By
special messenger to the seat of Gov>
ernment. 1t is the duty of the Ptesi-
dent of the Senate to open all these
sealed packages OF certificates from the
several States in the presence, Of the
Senate and House Of Representatives
j. joint session.
The method of the procedure is pres
cr;bed by the twentyssecond joint rule
ii the two Houses. This rule was
passed by the a Republican Congress in
1860 and is still III existence. Under it
the two Houses meet njoint session at
one o'clock p. m. in the Hall OF the
House on the second "Wednesday in
February, the President Of the Senate
presiding. The House appoints Two
tellers and the Senate one. These tel
lers annonnceand list the votes as the
certificates are opened and handed to
them By the President of the Senate.
II the votes are all right and no objec>
ton made, the President Of the Senate
declares whoi is elected President, and
who Vice President of the United States
and it is so entered on the minutes of
both Houses. But the rule says "if
upon the reading any question shall
arise in regard to counting the votes
therein certified, the same having been
stated by the presiding Officer, the Sem
ate shall thereupon withdraw and said
question shall be submitted TO that
body for, it's decision and the Speaker
NhsIhe House of Representatives shall in
like manner submit said question to the
House of Representatives for its dccis-
ion and 70 question shall be decided
~afirmatively and no vote objected to
shall be counted except by the concur
rent vote of the two Houses which be
ing obtained the two Houses shall i'm
mediately re assemble and the presid>
inc ofiecrshallthen announce the de-
cision of the question submitted; upon
any such question there shall be no de-
bate in either Houses; and any other
question pertinent so the object for
which the W houses are assshloiea
may be submitted and determined III
like manner.
The rule concludes with the direction
that the joint meeting shall not be dis.
solved until the electoral votes are all
counted and the result declared.
Should the Presidential election re
suit in II close vote the votes of one or
more States might be objected to Tor
fraud violence intimidation or other
grave eanses. In case OF Objection