Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-09

Senate Chamber, TO proceed 10 Tue pIesenSe "
House TO discharge that duty, and that the senate
nave Amounted one of their number TO Sit at the
Clerks table TO make a list OF the votes as hel
sIaN be declared, submitting 1t to the wisdom OF
the House to sppoint one or more OF their lnem
be-s for a ike purpose" The House assented,
and returned reply that the notifications OF tne
election should be made "by such persons and IN
such manner as the Senate shall be pleased 10 d.
rect.
When Washington was chosen Pfesi-
dent the second time the following Is The
record Of the action taken:
The Senate informed the House that Presi-
dent of the senate was elected for the sole puT-
pose of opening the certificates ana counting me
totes of the several States in the choice OF Pres-
dent and Vice President of the United States,
aud subsequent 10 this the House tellers delivered
TO the House a list of the voice OF the Electors
"a- the same were declared by the |res'deaf Of
The Senate"
Four wears afterwards, after an exciting
election campaign, on Feb s, 1I9', the
House sent message to the Senate that
they were ready TO meet the Senate 10
attend the opening and examining OF the
votes of the Electors for the President and
Vice President of the Udited States, as tie
Constitution proridcs.
John Adams, then Vice President and
successful candidate for the Presidency,
officially certiics that he did "open all the
certificates and count all the votes Of the
Electors for President and Vice Presi-
dent" The record then declares: The
Vice President then delivered the votes
of the Electors to the Secretary Of the
Senate" which shows how utterly incor-
rect is the democratic theory that the Vice
President parted with those votes when he
had opened them.
Four years later was made another his
torical monument to guide after gen
erations on this great question. 1t is pre-
cisely as follows:
Be knopH, That the Senate and House Of Rep
re.eutatiyes of the nlted States of America, be-
ing convened at the City of Washington on the
second Wednesday of February, A. D. 1901, the
undel written Vice President of the United States
and President of the Senate, did, in the presence
of the said Senate and House OF Represe natives,
open all the cert fcates and count all the r0tes Of
the Electors for President; whereupon it appeared
that Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, and Aaron
Burr, of New York, had Il majority of the votes
of the Electors, and an equal number OF votes; IN
consequence Of which the House of Representa-
lives proceeded to a choice of President, and
have this day notified to the Senate that THOMAS
JEFFERSON has by them been duly chosen Pres-
dent; by all of which it appears that AARON
BURR, Esq, of New York. is duly elected, agree
ably to the Constitution, Vice President OF the
United States Of America.
In witness thereof, have hereunto set my hand
4 1.L. htl, i -,t Lahr.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Thus ii is Clear beyond all controversy
that the early statesmen of the Federal
school-Wa Arlington, Marshall, Adams,
Hamilton, and Jay-and those OF the
Democratic school, efferson, Madison,
Gallatin. and Clnton-were In complete
accord as TO the method Of conclusvely
declaring the Electoral vote. From the
declared views and proceedings of either
school of the early statesmen there can
not be deduced the slightest proof or ar
gument 10 favor of the startling theory
that the House of Representatives has the
combined power of rejecting the Electo-
raj vote of States and filling the uacancy
which their action has created. The States
through their legally appointed agents
certify who have been chosen Electors, the
President of the Senate in the presence Of
the two Houses opens and declares the az
gregate vote of the States, and in case Of
non-election the House Representative;
makes choice of the President, and will
this great power the House should be
abundantly satisfied, if it has any REGARD
to the present and future of the Republic
Years ago, when the country was agi
tated by no pending issue, well did Chan
cellor Kent. than whom it is admitted
there is no higher authority on the Con
stitution, remark as follows IL presume
in the absence of all Legislative provision
on the subject, that the President of the
Senate counts TIE vote and determines the
result, and that the two Houses are pres
ent only as witnesses to the accuracy and
fairness of the transaction, and to act only
if no choice be made by the electors
That there may be some objection to the
mode of proceeding of the trainers of the
Constitution is doubtless true. 1t is utter
ly impossible to frame course of pro-
ceedings on this grave subject free from
objections. But until some new and bet.
ter method is devised and cons,itutionally
and legally adopted. we should observe
the landmarks of the authors of the Con
stitution, the heroic builders of the Repub-
lie. Any other course must have its origin
and inspiration in the brain of the reck-
less agilator or in the heart of traitor
to his country.
The developments IN regard to the case
OF Cronin are of such a.kind that the dem
Gratis would rather he and his bogus vote
were at the bottom of the sea than in
Washington. First Cronin acknowledged
before the Senate committee that he had
received $4,000 for his part in the attempt