Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-06
EoaM De sIncrosAL yorns.
Remarkable Shtftiugs tn the ReIa
tive sl0lllicnI nnAi,nrInlacsa nf SIsxrsssl

EhAuhnThADtc ShRtttugs tn the xeIN-
tive s'olitjcni Importance OF stases.
A Washington special to the New York
Sun Gays Ourrent speculations aa to the
probable efient which the admission OF
new states and the Redistribution Of the
electoral vote under tho next census will
have upon tho Presidential election Of
1892 give interest to tho record Of like
changes in the past.
New York, whose vote was 80 important
In the election of ~ days ago, took no
part In the fsst election OF Washington
as President, The whole number Of
electoral votes then cast was So thrown by
10 states, New York, Rhode Island. and
North Carolina not votiog, and the two
latter, In fact, not having then asssnted
TO tho Constitution. Massachusetts, Viz
gtnis, and Pennsylvania cast 10 votes
eaoh; Connecticut and South Carolina, z;
New Jersey and Maryland, 8; New
Hampshire and Georgia, 8; Delaware, 8.
The electors were chosen at that time ON
the 7th of January, 1859, by direction of
Congress-, under marked diversity Of
planB. For example, in Massachusetts
each Congress district chose three per-
CONS, Of whom the Legislature then picked
out one, while two electors on general
ticket were chosen directly by popular
vote. In Virginia, on the contrary, the
selection of electors was wholly by popu.
lar vote, the state being ,istricted for this
special purpose. After that year the
methods Of choosing electo<s were made
more uniform.
For Washipgton's second term the eleo-
toral vote showed not only the addition
OF New York, Rhode Island and Ncrth
Carolina to tho list, but also that of the
newly admitted states, Kentucky and
Vermont. The whule number OF electors
was 1879. Virginia YVES then much the
most important state, casting 81 votes,
while Massachusetts came second with 16,
and Pennsylvania third, with is. The
two states following in electoral import
ance were North CAROLINA and New York,
with IL yotas each. Georgia, Rhode
Island and Kentucky were tied at four
votes each, whereas Connecticut was next
to New York with nins.
The third term, for which John Adams
was chosen, brought Tennessee into the
electoral list, casting three votzs, tha
same numbsr as Delaware. The Ave
leading states remained the sans, but
MARY land had taken sixth place, casting
III votes, or within ono as many as New
York. For the following term, that of
Jefferson, the same States voted in the
same proportions, ssvc that the whole
number was reduced from 1879 to l3S,
Maryland's vote beng TO-
IN the election for the fifth term, after
the census of 1900, thera was decided
change. The whole number OF electors
appointed was 176 Virginia still led with
24 followed by Pennsylvania with 30,
while Massachusetts and Rev York tied
with 10 each. Next to them came North
Carolina with IA while Maryland had
ii and South Carolina 10. Connecticut
kept up to her nine votes followed closely
now, however, by Kentucky sud New
Jersey with eighs eaca. Ohio appeared
on the Scene, casting three votes, or one
less than Rhode Island.
The first term OF Madison, beginning
March 4th, 1863, showed no change ex-
cept that Kenturky's electors wers re-
duoed TO styen, naming the whole num-
Der l75. Bus for this second term, fol-
lowing the census Of 1910 the number Of
elsctors increased 20 2l7. New York
with 20, then took FIRST place, which she
has ever since retained, while Virginia
and Pennsylvania tied for second, With
25 each, followed by Massachusetts with
~. North Carolina still held fifth place
with l6 votes, but Ksntuoky had come
next to her with IL, going ahead of Mary
land and South Carolina, which tisd at
IL. Now an eighteenth state WAS added
--tsaygssa9si.assa.. W.: =. Iq--s Ns1rii7;';
SIS: brought ia Indiana wtth tire usaal
three votes Of o new atEte, Maryland IelI
Of from II TO s.
For the ninth term, Monroe's second,
i've new states were added, Missi, sippi,
Illinois, Alabama and Missouri, casting
three votes each, and Maine casting nine,
With the tenth term, that OF John O.
Adams, beginning March 4th, 1925, the
effect Of the census OF 1920 vas seen In
the rise OF Ne~ York to SO electors, FOL.
lowed py Pennsylvania with 2S
and Virginia with "a Now Ohio
hrst showed her modern political
Importance by reaching fourth place
With IL votes. Massachusetts and North
0arolina mating tie at 10, followed by
kentucky with IA and hisryland, Ten
nessse and South Carolina at II eacn. The
whole number was 26l, which also re-.
manned for the following term.
The election for Jaokson's second farm
showed toe effect OF the Redistribution Of
the census Of 1880. There were 10 nev
states, bat the Increase OF population
yielded 2S6 electors. Nov Yofk no " h,d
AZ, Pennsylyenia 30 anil Virginia as
The three leaders were folio gad by ONO
with u votes, North Carolina, KENTUCKY
and tennessee with 10, and Massachu-
sstts with II. Next to hase cana Soush
Oaroilna and Georgia win l each eGc and
NAME and Maryland With 10, thu relative
growth OF 81 line and Georgia beng
noticeable. Tue following term, yaS
buren's, saw no change in the electoral
vote except in tosal increase Of six
equally divided between Arkansas AID
Michigan, the newly admitted stat 8.
Preclseiy tia HGne distribution ruled in
the following term, that OF Harrison.
elnoe- 1t began March 4th, 1871. before
the census was calculated. But in the
next term, that OF Polk, beginning in
lS45, there we're Notable chaDpes. The
nuabsr of ates had remained The ssrns
90, but the electoral body had been ont
down from 294 10 275. This bscnvht
NOW YORK dGWn to SO electors ard Penn
sylveAia to 26. BnG Ohio with 23 toox
thire piace, which she has ayer slace kept,
virginia then obtained fourth With IL
while Tennessee wsa fifth with 10. Mag.
sachrsetts, Kentucky end Indlaua tied al
y, while North Carolina had ii and
Georgia 40. The eomiug Importance OF
lLliIoss was alscGdy Indicated Ia RECEIVING
fous additional electoral votes. WhHe
most OF the states vera losing. Missouri
and Iaaians has gained three aud Ala.
hama, Mississippi and Mi,higan two each,
The following election, that Of TAYLOR.
YVES eooduoted under the same censas,
Wills the Subsequent elections Of pisros'
Buchanan, ana Their successors were
effected in titnes sufficiently recent d
make it unnecessary 10 continue the
record. The three leading states h
nnmnricnl iI1-lnrtna,na will nt;ll d