The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-12-05
ELECrING THE PRESIDENT.

The election of President and Vice-Presi-
dent of the United States took place
on the third of December. On that
day the electors, who were appointed by
vote of the people in the several States on
the fourth of November, met and gave
in their votes.
1t was explained, in an article printed a
few months ago, why the men who framed
| the Constitution of the United States chose
the method of an indirect election of Presi-
dent, and also how many electors State
may choose and how they have been SAP
pointed which is the term the Constitu-
ton employs-in former times. We now
describe the manner in which an electoral
meeting is conducted. As the system in
each State is regulated by the law and ems
tom of that State, only general facts and
rules laid down by the acts of Congress
can be stated. The Governor of State
causes three copies of document certify
ing the names of the electors of the State
to be made out, and these papers are de-
livered to the electors.
Having been previously notified of their
election, they meet usually on the day be-
fore that fixed by law. The day for the
election being the first Wednesday in De-
cember, they meet on Tuesday. The place
of meeting is required by the Constitution
to be within their respective States by
an act of Congress it is to be sat such a
place in each State, as the Legislature of
such State shall direct The universal
practice at present is to hold the meeting
at the State capital and in the State House;
but it was not so universal informer times.
The electors on assembling make choice
of one of their number to preside. They
also elect clerk and any other officers
they may think they need
Ever since the first election it has been
ger to carry one certificate of the result of
the election to the seat of the National
Government. To this appointment of a
majority Of the electors are
required to specify under their own hands.
The object of meeting a day before the
election is not merely to organize. There
is always a chance that one or more mem
bers Of the Electoral College may have
died since the election, or are unable to be
present, or are found not to be qualified UNI
der the Constitution to serve.
Each State is authorized to provide for
filing vacancies. Most, if not all of the
States have directed those who meet at the
time fixed to fill such vacancies by cleo
ton. IF only two or three out of ten elect
ors We're to meet they would have power
to choose enough to fill up the number to
which the State they represent is entitled.
On the day of the election, the electors
meet again and vote first for President
and then for a Vice President In each
case they must vote by ballot. But it is
common for the electors to announce, as
each deposits his ballot, for whom it is
east. In some cases electors make long
speeches of eulogy upon their candidates at
this time
When the votes have been cast, counted
and declared, three certificates are made
out, duplicates of each other, announcing
the result Of the votes which are to be
signed by all the electors. To each of
these certificates is attached one of the list
Of the electors appointed, certified by the
Governor of the State. The papers are
then sealed up and addressed. One copy
is sent by mail to the President of the SEN
ate at Washington. A second copy is
placed in charge of the Messenger before
who is directed to deliver it to
the President of the Senate in person, or, if
he is not in Washington at the time. to de-
posit it with the Secretary of State. The
third copy is delivered to the Judge of the
District Court of the district in which the
meeting of the electors is held. This COM
pletes the duties of the electors, and they
then adjourn finally Youths Companion