The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-15
The Electors.

A correspondent favors us with the fol-
lowing article. telling how Virginia may
secure twelve electors in voting next De-
cembcr mot in November):
TO the Editor of the Dispatch:
Dear Sir,-In reply TO your editorial OF
to-day stating that there is "no doupt =
as TO the necessity OF an extra session oil
the Legislature to provide for the choosing
Of the twelfth elcctor TO which we are now
entitled. beg leave TO submit the follow
ing Suggestions:
1. The Constitution Of the United states
provides, Article H., section 2. that "each
State shall appoint. In such manner as Tue
Legislature thereof may direct, number
of electors equal to the whole number OF
Senators and ReprcsentaiiS to when Tue
State NAV be entitled in the Congress-"
9. Sections 1914 OF the Revised Statutes
of the United States provide that the eiec-
tors shall be appointed every fourth year
on the Tuesday after the first Monday IN
November: that the number oil electors
shall be equal to the number OF senators
and representatives from each State; that
4" each State may by law provide for the
filing OF any vacancy which may occur In
IFS College OF Electors when such College
meets TO give its electoral vote"; ana that
where an election has been held, and there
has been failure TO make choice on the
dav prescribed, the electors may be APP
polluted subsequently in such manner as Tue
State may direct.
2. Article ", section %, OF our state
Constitution, gives the Legislature the
right TO prescribe the mode OF filling va
cancies in office.
4. CHAPTER 3, section 10. OF the Code OF
1873. provides that when the electors meet,
II there be any vacancy in the Office OF
electors from any cause. such vacancy
shall be filed by the electors present by
ballot.
II would therefore appear from the fore
coin,, that the State has the absolute right
under the Federal Constitution to appoint
her electors in any manner that she may
prescribe by popular election or otherwise;
that the increase OF our representation III
Congress ipSO taCto created new elector
for the State and a new Office to be filed
under her laws; that this new office, when
the college of electors meets, VIII De vacant
from failure to elect; that the Legisla-
lure had the right to prescribe how this
vacancy should be filed; that 1t has pre-
scribed how the vacancy shall be hlled ana
when the college Of eleven electors meet 1t
will be their duty to choose twelfth
elector by ballot.
Yours, &c, NJ.
May Is. 1884.
That Is ingenious, but has an irremedl-
able fault. The elections are to be held
under the law as it stands. SO long as the
law remains as it is, therefore, there can
be no vacancy" to be filled by the cleo
tors themselves or by anybody else. Before
the Electoral College can acquire the
right to appoint the twelfth elector,
there must be a law OF the State
of Virginia authorizing the election OF
twelve. In word, if there shall be a
vacancy next December which the ElectO~
raj College can fill, it must be because the
peope failed to elect an elector whom the
law authorizes to be elected. Ii the law
authorizes the twelfth elector to be elected
by anybody, the people can do it in no
vember.
In a word, we cannot afford 10 take any
risks in this matter when we remember
that one electoral vote elected HAYES over
TMDEN in 1876.