The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1877-01-18
The Powers of the Vice Presi-
dent-the Precedents.

We oollate the following from an
article in the New York Herald. 1t
is the fullest, clearest and shortest
statement of the history immedi
ately affecting the great question
now before Congress for solution
yet published. in1S4l, 1S45, 1S49,
1858, 1857, 1861, 1865, 1869 and
1873, as in every Presidential elec
ton since 1897, and including that,
the official record states that "the
two Houses of Congress being as
sembled, the certificates of the
Electors of the several States for
President and Vice President were
in their presence opened by the
Vice President and delivered to the
tellers, who, having read and ascer-
tanned the number of votes, present
ed to the Vice-President list there
Of" That is to say, the Vice Pres
ideat has never since the year 1897,
assumed to do anything more than
open the packages and hand them,
without even himself looking at
their contents, 10 the tellers, who
represent the two Houses.
In 1893, when General Washing
ton was unanimously re elected, the
proceedings differed somewhat from
all that followed. The record states
that, the two Houses having assem-
bled, the certificates "were by the
Vice President opened, and de-
livered to the tellers appointed for
the purpose, who having examined
and ascertalned the votes, presented
list of them to the Vice President" :"
On this occasion, observe, the Vice
President not only opened but read
the certificates; but observe, also,
the tellers thereupon first "exam-
ined'' them, and then "ascertained''
the votes. The Vice-President as
sumed no power to determine the
character, the validity, or the result
Of the votes.
In 1857 the vote of Wisconsin
was not cast on the proper day. In
quiry was made whether it ought to
be received After debate in each
House, the report of the tellers
recording it was adopted; but in
the course of the debate the Vice
President was bitterly accused OF
having assumed the power to de-
eide, was arraigned by mem
bers of both parties, but he repeat
edly and in the most emphatic Ian
guage disclaimed having done so or
believing himself to be possessed of
any power except to open the GER
tificates. He said that he did not
undertake to decide whether the
vote of Wisconsin was q good vote
or bad vote; he disclaimed "hav
ing assumed on himself any author
ity to determine whether that vote
was a good or a bad vote" In the
Joint convention, when the objection
was made, Mr.. Jones, one of the
tellers, remarked, al suppose, MIR.
President, the proper way would be
for the tellers to report the facts to
the convention of the two Houses
and let them decide" To which
the Vice President replied at once,
"The presiding officer so considers" ;"
In the debate which ensued after
the two Houses separated Mr.. Sew
ard said, GA misunderstanding ex-
lists in both Houses of Congress
whether the President of the Sen
ate, acting as / hold, as the organ
of the Senate, has not passed upon
the question and counted the votes
from the State of Wisconsin, and
whether they may not be drawn in
to a precedent hereafter. l am one
of the number who think that the
President has not counted them"
Mr.. Douglas said, 81 rise TO state
that in my opinion the tellers have
no right to authenticate the certifi-
cate until the two Houses have pass
ed upon it as being q true count. "
Mr.. Crittenden said "that any mem
Der of either House has the privi
lege and right to object to the count
ing of vote, and that it was COM
petent for the Senate and House oil
Representatives alone to decide up
on that objection" Speaking of q
supposed assumption by the Vice
President to declare the vote, he
said: at involves the privilege OF
determining a Presidential election
and declaring who shall be Presi
dent. 1 protest against any such
power" We might give number
of other citations, but it does not
seem necessary at this time.