The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-04-25

SIXTEENTH AMENDMENT.
Tho New Plan Proposed for Elccting the
President and Vicc-Prcsldcnt Of the
United States.

President and Ylce-Prcsldcnt OF the
United States.
The proposed amendment TO chsngc
the method Of counting the elcctoraI
vote for the office Of President has been
made by a sub committee Of tour TO lh'
full committee on the Electoral Count
and accepted by the whole committee
by a minority OF n We believe the
change a desirable one, and we trust
This amendment, or Que substantially
like il, will be offered by Congress to
the States for ratification. IL will re
ouire three rourths Of the Legislatures
to ralify it.. The Importance Of this
proposed amendment induces US to
give ii in foil:
ARTICLE lG The President and Vice,
President Of the United States shall be
chosen by the people OF the several
States. The electors in each State shall
have the qualifications requisite for
electors Of the most numerous branch
OF the State Legislature, and they shall
vote by ballot tor the President and
Wee President on the day provided by
law, which shall be fixed by Congress
aud be the same throughout the United
States. Each State shall he entitled to
q number Of electoral votes equal to
the number of Senators and Represen
t]alives to which the State may be entl~
tel in The Congress. The electoral
votes and fractions thereof of each
person voted Tor AZ President in any
State shall be asccrtaned by multiply.
my his entire popular vote therein by
the whole number OF the electoral votes
OF the State and dividing the product
by the aggregate popular vote OF the
State for all persons voted for as Presi'
dent, and the q%nolient shall be the
number Of electoral votes aud fractions
Lhereo. to which such person shall hc
entitled, using for such fraction three
decipnls and no more. The foregoing
provisions shall apply to the election Of
Vice President; but no person consti-
luuonNlly ineligible to the office Of
President shall be eligible to that o
Vice President of the United States,
Within ten days after any Presiden-
tal election, the returning officers o.
general elections in each State shall
make proper returns Of the yotes cas-
for President and Vice President, and
shall transmit the same under seal tc
the Secretary Of State, or other officer
lawfully performing the duties OF such
Secretary, by whom the said returns
shall be publicly opened in the presence
OF the Chief Executive Magistrate OF
the State, or, in case OF his failure to
be present, then in the presence Of the
Acknowledgement and Auditor or Con,
lroller of the State, and said officers
shall appoint and make apportionment
of the electoral votes o: the State, as
herciubefore provided, and shall there,
upon make distinct lists Of all persons
voted for as President, comprising the
popular vote by counties, parishes, OF
other principal divisions Of the State,
and their apportionment aforesaid
which lists they shall sign, certify, anC
transmit under seal to the seat Of gov
eminent Of the Uaited States, directed
to !he President of the Senate. Sale
apportionment shall he made on thu
same day throughout the United States
The person having the highest mum
Der of electoral votes for Preslden
shall be the President but if two o,
more persons have an equal and thu
highest number OF such votes, thel
from such persons the House Of Rep
rcscutativcs shall choose %immediatel,
by ballot the President, but in cboo is
the President the vote shall be tukul
by States, the representative from cacl
State having one vote. A quorum fol
this purpose shall consist Of a member
or members from two thirds of tho
States, and a majority Of all the State.
shall he necessary to a choice. And i
the House of Representatives shall no
choose u President, whenever the RICH
Of choice shall devoive upon them, be
fore the fourth day of March next fol.
lowing, then the Vice President shall
act as President as in the case of dealt
or other constitutional disability of th'
President. The person having TIT
highest number of electoral votes a,
Vice. President shall be the Vice. Presi
dent but il two or more persons hav'
an equal and the highest number o
such votes, then from such persons th'
Senate shall choose the Vice. President
A quorum for such purpose shall con
sist of two thirds of the whole nulhbe
of Senators, and n majority of til,
whole number shall be necessary to
choice
Winchester, Tenn.