Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-22
THE sLEoroRAL YorB.
HOW 10 will be Ascertained Under
the Law Passed by the Forty-ninth

HOW ht VIII be Ascertafned Under
the Law Passed by the Forty-nintia
Congress.
This is good time, says the Washing
| ton correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger, to call attention 10 the fact that
on act was passed by the Forty-ninth
Congress ''to FIX day for the meeting Of
the electors of President and Viee-presi-
dent, and to provide for and regulate the
counting of the votes for President and
Vice-president and the decisions Of ques-
tions arising hereunder" 1t IL also q
good time to direct the attention OF the
executive officers of the several states
who have duties TO perform in connection
with the ascartainment of the electoral
vote to this important matter, and to sug
gest that they should at once fami large
themselves with the requirements Of the
Federal statutes touching the meeting OF
the electors and the methods prescribed
for the procedure Of the electors.
The act Of February Sd, 1887, providse
that the electors Of each state "shall
meet and give their votes on the second
Monday In January next following their
appointment, at such place in each state
as the LEGISLATURE OF such slate shall
direct" Under the old law the fifst
Wednesday in December was the day for
meeting.
Tbe third section of the act makes II
the duty OF the governor Of each state, as
soon as practicable after the result OF the
election has been officially ascertained, 10
communicate, under the seal OF the state,
to the Secretary of State OF the United
States, q certificate OF the ascertainment
or the electors chosen, "settin2 forth tho
names of such electors and the canvass
or other asoertainmsnt under the lava of
such state Of the number Of votes given
or cast for each person for whoae ap-
pointment any and all votes have been
given or cast" II is also made the duty
of governors Of states to deliver to the
electors, on or before the second Monday
in January, like certificate in triplioate,
under the seal of the state.
The electors are required to ''name in
their ballots the person voted fer as
President and in distinct ballots the per.
son voted for az vice president, and they
shall make distinct lists Of oil persons
voted for as President md OF oil persons
voted for ns vice president, and Of the
number OF votes for each, which lists
they SHALL sign and certify and transmit,
sealed, to the seat Of government Of the
United States, directed to the president
OF the Senate" That Is the first clause
of Article XII of the Constitution OF tbs
United States. Having made the oertii
Gates tho law directs that the electors
"shall seal them up and certify unon
each that the lists Of all the votes Of such
state given for President and of all the
votes given for vies-president are con-
tanned therein"
Next comes the duty of transmitting
the three certificates, which must be done
In the following manner;
First. They Che electors shall, by
whiting, under hands, or the hands OF
majority OF them, appoint person TO take
charge OF and deliver to the President OF
the Senate, at theseat OF government, forth
with after the second Monday IN january,
on which the electors shall give their votes.
one OF their certificates.
Second. They shall forthwith forward by
tho post ONCE, to tho president OF the
senate, a. the seat OF government, one
other Of tho certificates.
Thiid-They shall forthwith cause the
other OF the certificates TO be delivered 10
the judge of that District In which the cleo.
tors shall assemble.
Too much cannot be observed By the
governors Of states and electors in COM
plying with these regulations. Every
ttsas1ieshiJ Tf7i1 ts'7s7y 'iqMs'its snoaia
be aeruprlously observed, o.heyvipa a
controversy IA nkoly to ar.sS cga- 10 &
formality when the two Houses Of Con-
gress meet in joint convention on the
second Wednesday of Fehruarv nsxt