Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-20
DOES THE VIGE-PRESTDENT COUNT
THE VOTE?
From the New York Herald

THE VOTE?
From the New York Herald
Whci the electoral vote was counted
IN 1917 he vote of Indiana was objected
10. On this occasion the records show
mat 'tlc seal of the votes were broken
oy the president OF the senate. and by
nm handed to the tellcrs, by whom
/ they We're read aloud and recorded on
, me journals Of the senate and of the
mousse representatives, by the secretary
! OF III" nrnatc ard the clerk of the house
respeCtiN "!y.~ The vote of all the state.
having zen read, with the exception OF
those "t the state OF Indiana, the two
houses separated 10 deliberate on this
question. 1t was nut pretended by the
Nlc.-pre>id or by any one for him
that he had the power To- decide whether
or not ludiana vote should be received
JanuarE 81, lSU9, Messrs. Narnum.
Seavrr, Cook, E!sicy. BARKER. QUITS and
Green ''p-es"ntrd petitions from various
towns i'll the state ut Massachusetts.
demonstrating against the mode in which
the late election Ui electors WAS con-
dnrtrd in that state 1t was ordered
that the 'clrri. of tni, house do carry 10
the senate the several memorial, above
mentioned. and desire their concurrence
IN the aforesaid resolution" Nothing
further WAS done in this matter; but
again no one set up claim that the
vicr-prcSident had power to interfere OF
decide such questions.
In iS2l. when the vote Of Missouri
was announced in joint ronvcution, 1t
WAS objected to by Mr.. Livermore, Of
New Hampshire. and on motion the
senate retired Mr.. Floyd u! Virginia
thercTpun moved that the vote OF Mis-
sour ought to be received, aud on this
debate arose in the house. Mr. Archer
o: Marylaud maintained that the ques-
ton ought tu be decided IN Joint con-
Nen'iDn and not bv the separate houses.
lie said he could not agrG. that this
house had right to determine whether
any vote should he received or rejected.
I w hat are The words OF the constitution?
/ The president OF the senate shall, in
the presence Ot the senate aud house OF
representatives., open ali the certificates,
and the votes shall then BE counted
Does it not follow, asked Mr.. Archer,
that the votes must he counted in the
presence of the two houses For what
purpose do they assemble together uil-
less II he to determine on the legality Of
the votes. Il not Tor Tins purpose the
( JOINT meeting is tor form and show and
Lothiny else" Nr Archer. nt Mary
/ lnud. said: ''Ilc was 4 little surprised
at one GROUND which had been taken on
this occasion That the house hat no
power to pass any Judgment on any
return. He had always thought that
WHEREVER WAS lodged the power to re-
to pass Il Judgment ON the validity If
that return"
IT wI.i he seen that MIR Archer
Thought the two houses should act and
vote a, one body in Joint cunvt ntioG,
while Slr. Randolph adhered - his
uplniu., that the state aioue coutd de-
eide All matters regarding the electoral
vote. Bat neither these two mr. any
one else pretended that the vlcr-pre-i-
dent had ANY power or authority IL de-
eide what votes should be received or
rejected.
/ In $50. in the senate, on the report
OF the ioint committee TO ''rcp.rt
I mcthud Of examining the electoral vote"
several amendments. were proposed and
some discussion arose. when Mr.. Jaze-
well went At some Ienuth into an cypIs-
nation and Justification OF the course
adopted ~ the committee. lie saiI.--.In
some poiris in wnjrhth,. committee urthe
mart oi. ,ne scnat. wouId have preferred a
different arrangement they were over
ruled bv the committee on the part ofthe
other house. which had its rights ~ we'll
os the senate The mode reported by
the committee WAS precisely. however,
the same A. that adupted hv the senate
and arreel on bv the two houses on
similar occasions, from the wear loUj -
| Still no suggestion that the vice pres
/ i,ient should decide disputed que.tiuns,
/ though this would have been the short
est way out Of the difficulty.
! In 1887. several electors in several
/ different states were discovered TO he
! disqualified. In the senate. on January
/ %. ON \ motion tor the appointment Of
a i3in, committee to "rep5rt Il method
of examining the electoral vote. MIR
| Clay. after Il few remarks. offered the
! following amendment And also To- in
uuire into the exprdirucy of ascertain
! ing whether any votes We're given a The
recent election contrary to the prohlhl-
| ton contained in the second section OF
the second article OF the constitution.
! And il anv such votes We're given what
ought to be done with them: and wheth-
er any AMI what provision ought to be
made Tor securing the faithful obSGrv-
ance i'll future of that section ol the
| constitution. Inc IcSoIuiloh was W'"Pt-
eli without dissent. Al ms cittllun tHe