New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-06
ELkCTiONS BY THE HOUSE.

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES IL CASE
THERE Is no ELECTION BY Tnt PEOPLE.
In view OF the current tax about the possibility
OF the Presidential election being thrown into the
House. 1t will be intc.esting 20 readers at this time
to have set before them the provisions OF the CohSt
tuition Of the United states bearing upon this subject
They contained In the Twelfth Amendment. which
superseded Section OF Article H. The Twelfth
Amendment reads as follows
i. The Electors sail meet In their respective
States and vote By ballot for President and Wee
mt. one Of whom at least, shall not be an In
habltant OF the same state rs Themselves They ahNI
in their ballots The person voted for 40 Prt>
dent and In distinct ballots the person voted for rs
ali person, voted for as President and Of all persons
voted for Nceiresident. and Of 'hc number Of
votes for each; which lists they .haS sign ana orH
and transmit. sealed. 70 the sat OF the Gov .rnmcnt
Of the United states directed 10 the President OF tn"
presence Of the senate and House Of Representative
open all the certificates. and the votes shall then be-
votes for President shall be the President II such
Der be majority Of the whole number OF Eect"fS
appointed and II no pcr'3n have secn majority, o men
ceedng three the list OF those voted for os Prr'i
dent the Honsc Of Representatives shall choose I'm.
nediatcly. by ballot tn" President. But In choosing
the President the vote hall be taken by -talos the
representation from each STATE having one vote; n
quorum for THIS purpose shall consist Of member or
members from twoikirds OF Inc states. and majority
Of sll the states shnll be necessary to chocc tha
President whenever The right OF choice shall devco?
uDcn them before the fourth dny Of March next fol
lowing then the Vice Prcsd nj shall act rs President
os in the case al the death or other constitutional n'-
ability OF the President. ...
9 The person having the grrptest nunibrr on No'cS
ne Vice President shall be the Vice President II >uch
number be majority OF the whole number OF Electors
opp1,nted and II person have n majority. then.
from The TWO highest Numbers on the list the Scnai"
shall choose the Wee President. onorlm for TINS
nurnose shnl consist Of twOthrds Of the whole mum
her Of Senators and q majority OF the whole number
shall be necessary to a choice ,..,,u,,. - 81.
,, But no person constituionally ineligible 10 inc
onlco Of President shall be eligible 10 that OF wee
President OF the United states
II will be seen that, while the Electors nre pro
hbtod from choosing the President and VicePrcsidcnt
from the same state no such prohibition is Laid upon
the House and the senate The provisions on ms
po,nt are identical both IN Article H. Section g. ana
I'm the amendment quoted. Section 2 begins thus
The Electors shall meet In their respective states
and vote by ballot for two persons, OF whom one az
least shall not be inhab,ont Of the same state
as thcmselvesn and in the portion OF the section re-
fer,ng 10 election by the House nothing Is said about
the President and vicc-Preeldent coming from the
same state. . A., r,.o,, w.,
In the event OF election by the Electoral COZ.
lere-that is TO say, by the pcope-th" PRESIDENT
would DO OF the same political fnih MS the majority oi
The Tousc-unlcss the extraordinary contingency oi
no election BY the House should artse and the Vice
President Of the political faith as me ma)oi1'Y
M the Senate II circumstances should arise render
Ing an election BY the House impossible j. con
| cciynbl- though extremely unlkcly.t would become
thr duty OF the Sennte In naming the wee PRESIDENT
| also 10 name the President.