The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-01-20
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.


Congressman Bicknell, of Indiana, in
PRODUCED a joint-resolution in the
:. House of Representatives, providing
for an amendment to-the Constitution
relative to the election of President
and Vice President of the United States.
The resolution was referred to the
House Select Committee, on the state
OF the law respecting the ascertain
sment and declaration of the result Of
elections of President and Vice-P resi-
dent The subcommittee, Of tue Sc
lect Committee have reported favorably
on the proposed amendment, which
provides for the election of President
and Vice. President by the people of the
several States, and presofibesthe mahr
ner of counting votes and determining
questions Of contest. The electoral
votes and fractions thereof Of each per-
son votedfor as President in any State
ehall be ascertained by multiplying bis.
! 2 HtEe popular vote blythe number. OF
the States electoral votes, and diyid-
ing the product by the sum of all the
votes given in the State for President,
and the quotient shall be the number of
:" Electoral votes and the fractions there
-Hof assigned to such person, using for
such fraction three decimals only. The
foregoing provisions shall be applicable
to the election of Vice President, but
Sc mo person ineligible to the Office of
President shall be eligible to the office
of Vice President. In case of contest
lin any State as to the election of Presi-
dent or Vice. President, the same may
be passed upon by its highest judicial
Tribunal in accordance with the Jaw;
and the decision thereof shall be by it
scertified and transmitted, sealed, to the
seat of Government of the United
s.,~n States, directed to the Presidsat,ofi the
Senate. The electoral vote shall be
: counted by the two Houses as certified,
unless rejected by both Houses. But
if there be certificate of decision by
Athe highest judicial tribunal of any
State upon contested election there
lin. the electoral votes Of such States
shall be counted in accordance with
.esuch decision. unless the saHeTbe over
ruled by both Houses. II there be no
such certificate of decision, the con-
tested votes shall not be counted un-
less both Houses concur therein. If
there be more than one certificate of
"a electoral votes from any State, such
Judicial decision, or if there be more
- t,,lan one such decision from any State,
in either case that certificate of cleo
- aestoral votes on the decision which shall
he held by both Houses to be made by
rs etightful authority, shall be'scoselusive,
and the vote shall be counted accord
.ingly, unless rejected by both Houses.
This arrangement, if adopted, will
:sggive minorities a vDice in the'eleetion
of President. For instance, if $4,000
votes are polled in Nevada at Presi-
dental election, and one candidate re-
;. SELVES ii 900, and the Others, 900 of
them, the candidate receiving the
greater number shall receive one and
,y~two-thirds, and the other one and one
s<hird electoral votes, and the highest
Courts in the State Shall decide all con-
tested cases. This seems to be- an
equitable manner of electing President
and Vice-President, as it will give mi
,rnorities a voice in mattdr in which
they, as well as the majority, are inter-
,ested. Before it can take effect, how
ever, it. has to be approved by two
thirds vote OF both Houses of Congress-
.annt ratified by the L.egislatnref Of
three-f ourths of the States, and like the
. ~ Fifteenth Amendment will rhaxe'tb be
rushed through to make it effectiTe in
the ensuing Presidential Election.
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