The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-05-04


Senator Edmunds introduced in the Senate
on the 18th inst, . bill to regulate the counting
of the Presidential electoral vote hprovides
that the electors of each State shall meet on the
second Monday In January after their appoint
ment, that previous TO such meeting each State
may determine any controversy arising in con-
nection with such electors, and that such deter
mination shall establish lawful title Of the cleo
tors, and shall govern the counting Of the cleo
toral vote Both Houses Of Congress shall meet
In joint session on the second Wednesday IN FEB
ruary to count the electoral votes Objections 10
counting the votes shall be made in writing and
submitted to each House separately. If more
than one return from any State shall have beer
received only the votes given by the electors ap-
pointed in conformity with this bin shall be
counted. and the two Houses acting separately
shall concurrently decide which return il sup
ported by the proper State tribunal. No electO-
raj vote from any State from which only one re-
turn has been received shall be rejected, except
by the affirmative votes of both Houses- In cases
where there is no more than one return from q
State not supported by decision of State tribu-
nal. whose votes only shall be counted, which
the two Houses acting separately shall currently
decide to be the lawful votes o. the legally ap-
pointed electors Of such State The JOINT meet
ing Of the two Houses shall not dissolve until
the count is completed.
In explaining the bill Mr.. Edmunds said:
"The bill that passed the Senate at the last
session OF Congress on this subject embraced va
ri0us provisions rs TO the time Of holding the
Presidential elections for electors in the States
and various provisions fer better regulating the
law in cases of q vacancy occurring In the once
of President or Vice President, and 30 on. A
provision was also made locking 10 future legs
laGion by States in respect to providing means
Of determing controversies respecting the choice
of electors. Time has 50 run that Of coufse ANY
provision Of that kind would apply to the next
election, would be entirely useless. In conse-
quenee Of that, have taken that bill and mOdf-
fed 1t 10 Q simple proposition Of providing that
meetings Of electors shall be on the second Mon
day Of January instead q the sccond Wednes-
day In December. have also modified i 20 Is
to give time for such States a. haze any resisting
laws, to propose to determine for themselves,
and according to the constitution, which be-
lieve they have the sole right to do, who their
electors are. This bill, therefore, makes simply
provision for State disposition Of any contro-
versy under such laws, q Il may have IN exis-
tence prior to the date Of choosing electors. Il
provides for LATER meeting Of electors, in order
that each State may dispose Of any controversy
that may arise, and then provides Is the bill Of
last session did, for q meeting Of the two Houses
and proceeding in conformity with the decision
reached in the respective States in any case Of
dispute"
The bill was referred to the select Committee
on Presidential Elections