The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-03
VOTING FOR APREslDENT.
Agreement Between Party
Leaders. -
A Majority of All the Electors Neces-
nary to CsOice-COngress Gan
60 Behind the Returns
THE COUNT IN JOINT SESSION
THE COUNT IN JOINT SESSION
Special dispatch to the Baltimore Gazette
WASHINGTON, December 81.


WASHINGTON, December 81.
It is stated on good authority that
basis of agreement between The Two
houses in regard to the counting OF elec'
toral votes has been agreed upon by the
leading Democratic and Republican
members OF the Senate committee. The
first proposition to which both parties
assent is that a majority of the whole
number of electors composing the
Electoral College is necessary to
cleo. President; second, that it was the
intention of the trainers OF the constltu-
ton IN constituting the electoral college
TO have body OF men entirely indepen-
dent of any extraneous influence, either
from the State governments or from the
federal government. The federal con-
.titution was the result of compromise
between the advocates Of strosg CEN
trail government and the sticklers for
States rights. The latter were IN large
majority. and OF course obtained the
greatest concessions from the other side.
The entire machinery for the election OF
President and Vice President shows this.
The autonomy of ) ates is preserved
| throughout. The Legislatures OF the
States provide for the appointment OF
electors. The electors for State
meet and form an electoral col
| lege, and cast the vote OF that
State for the candidate of the
party they represent. Their return is
made out, signed by the electors, certified
to by the Secretary and Governor OF the
State, and attested by the seal of the
same. If 1t shall happen, when the re-
turns from all the States are received oy
| the president of the Senate, opened and
laid before the two houses OF Congress
| assembled Jointly, and counted, that there
has been no CHOICE for President, then
the House of Representatives elects, and
IN this contingency the autonomy OF the
States is preserved also, for before the
| House shalt proceed to an election two
thirds of the States must be present by
their representatives, in order to make q
quorum, and then majority OF the States
! must vote for a candidate before
he CAN be elected. This premise being
agreed upon by the Democratic and Re
| publican members OF the Senate commit
tee, the next important question Is, can
Congre go behind the returns forwarded
| by the electors o! the different States to
| the President o. the Senate? The ques-
ton will be determined athmatively.
The two Houses OF Congress are present
at the counting Of the votes, not as mere
| spectators, but as participants in the
| count. IL will be admitted that the
| trainers of the constitution intended that
the assembling OF the two Houses was
merely Tor the purpose Of witnessing the
| publication OF the result from the cleo
toral returns, but the fact that they were
| TO be present ~ witnesses, implied that
they were 10 participate in the publlca.
ton. Before there could be u publication
a result must be determined from the re-
turns. With the exception OF the first
Presidential election, both Houses have
claimed and exercised the right to par
tcipate in counting the votes. When
any dispute in regard 10 the form or lie.
! gality of return has arisen, bstn
| Houses have exercised their separate ca
! p4cIties Of jurisdiction. In no instance
| has return been rejected except by the
concurrent action of both Houses. 1t
will be agreed, therefore, in the present
case, that the vote of State can be re-
ieclcd by the concurrent action of the
Senate and House of Representatives.
Thus far 1t is quite ce'tan that major
| itv OF the Senate committee will agree.
Fu1Lher than this my Informant was not
able to speak definitely, but said that u
plan for the determination of the legal
grounds, constituting Il sufficient cause
Tor the rejection OF the vote OF Il State,
would be discussed.