, 1877-01-20
Powers OF the Vice President.

In 1Sll, 1876, lS49, 1858, 1857, 1861,
1e65, 1863 and 1878. ard in every Presiden-
tial election since 1877, and including that,
the official record states that, "the two houses
of Congress being assembled, the certificates
of the electors of the several States for Presi-
dent and Vice President were in heir pres
ence opened by the Vice President and d-liv-
cred 10 the teilers, who, having read and as-
certained the number If votes, presented 20
! the Vice President list thereof" That is
to say, the Vice Pr. sident has never. since the
year 1888, assumed TO do ANYTHING more
;han open the packages and hand them with
out even himself !, okiug at their contents, to
the tellerS. who represent the two houses.
| In 1893, when General Washington was
! unanimously re-elocted. the proceedings diff
fsre1 sumewhlt from all that followed. The
record states that, the two houses having a.
senbled. the certificates "were by the Vice
! President opened, read and delivered to tie
tell"rs appointed for the purpose, who, hav-
| !ng examined and ascer,ainei the votes. pre-
! sruted list Of them TO the Vice President"
! OE this occasion, observe, the Vice President
not only opened but read the certificates but
observe also, the telIers thsreupou frs, sex
aminei them, and then "asceriaiGed " ihe
votes. Tire Vice President assumed no power
/ to determine the character, the validity or the
result of the votes.
/ In 1857 the vote OF Wisconsin, was nc. cast
on the proper day. Inquiry WIS made
( whether II night 10 be received Afr de-
bate in each house the report Of the telers
recording 1t WAS adopted but in the course
/ Of the debate the Vice President was bitterly
| accused of having assumed the power to d.
! eide, was arrGigaed by members of both
parties, but he repeatedly aad in The most
emphatic language dIsclaimed haviny done
50 OF believing himself to br plss-s-ed OF ary
wer sxccP: 10 open The certificates H.
said that he 81 did not undertake I, 6rcid,.
whether the vote OF Wisconsin WAS a good
vote or a bad vote ;" h- dlstlairnei f" hay
ing assumed 20 hirD-lf any authority 10 de-
terpiue whether that vote or any {. hrr vo.e
WAS good or bad vote" Iu the Joint coz
veution, when the Obi -O'ion was made. Mr.
Jones, one Of the tellers, remarked. - I sap
pos, Mr.. President, the proper, way would
BE- for The te!IeIs 10 report the facts to the
convention Of tie two houses, and let fh-m
decide" To which the Vice President re-
piled at once, 1.-The presiling officer so con-
S4t4tlS- III illG Atbdtt WDicn euSueu after
the two houses separated Mr. Seward said.
\ Misunderstanding exists in both houses
OF Congress whether the President of the
Senate, acting a. hold, as the organ of fhe
Senate. hHd not passed upon The question
aud counted the votes from the State of
Wisconsin. and whether that NAV not be
drawn into "a precedent hereafter. | am one
Of that numbsr who think that the President
has not counted them" Mr.. Douglas said.
" / rise to state that in my opinion the tellers
have no right to authentic4te The certificate
nu'il the tao houses have passed upon it as
being true count. Mr. Crittenden said
- that any member If ei her house has the
privilege and right 10 Obj let to the eouuting
Il vote. and that II was competent for the
Senate and House Of Representatives alone to
decide upon that objection" " Speaking Of IA
supposed assumption by the Vice President
TO declare the vote, he s,id, " Il involves the
privilege of determining a Presidential cleo
ton and declaring who shall be President !
protest against any such power" We might
give number OF other citations. but it does
not seem Necessary at this time.--N. T. !
Herald.