The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-08-29
HOW PRESIDENTS AND VICE
PRESIDENTS ARE ELECTED.

the people at large on even the most
Interesting features Of the Constitution
empl.asizes ihe Importance of the study
of that document i'll the public ard
private sclIoais as We'll. At could
very well be made 10 take the place If
some of the readers. as information
could thus be gained that would be
useful in after life.
In omnn with nn- contemporary
of the Alexandria Democrat the States
is not infreeHently asked to explain
the process .f eIeeiing the President
and Viee-President of the United
States, and for the information Of a
much larger class than would be sup
posed. we will proceed to do o
The candidates fur the positions
are not directly voted for by the peo-
pie. Instead, each party selects as
many candidate tor ELECTORS as the
respective States are entitled to. The
number is regulated b. the member
ship of the respective States in the
Lower House of Congress, and. in adj
diti0n. two from each State At large,
representative IF the Senators. These
electors who are elected by the vote
OF the people. assemble at tiFir re-
spectlre State ca,.itOls and ballot for
President and Nice-Piesiden:. After
the result Is ascertaiied certificates of
election In triplicate are signed and
sealed. one of which is forwarded by
special messenger Ia tie President of
the United States Senate. another by
mail TO the same official. and the third
is delivered to the judge of the Dis
fiiet Court in whose jurisdiction the
electors assemble. This is tn guard
against accidents of miscarriage or
other.
AT the succeeding session of Con-
gress the President Of the Senate
opens all the certificates in the pres
ence oi boil, HOUSES. when the votes
are counted and tie result is nnoun
ced by the presiding officer.
LII IT Is fond that no candidate for
President has received a majority of
all the electoral votes, as might be
when there are more than two candi-
dates voted for, the Lower House
must Immediately proceed to the cleo
fiob 1T a President by ballot, voting
by States, the representation OF each
State heiDg entitled TO one vofe. a
majority snf tie States is necessary
To :, ciioice- Should the House be nm
able TO elect a President prior to the
4tl of March following the Vice Pres
ldent acts as President, as in case o!
the death or constitutional disability
of the latter.
IL case no candidate for Vice-Pres-
ident receives a majority Of the elec- |
forai votes, the Senate chooses that |
official from the two who have received
the highest number Of electoral votes:
a majority of all the Senators being
necessary to a choice.
Although Delaware has only three |
votes, while New York has !
thIrfy-six. the voice Of the former is
as potent as that of the latter in the |
election Of President and Vice-Presi- |
dent wien the election is thrown into
the House and Senate.
AS the Senate is compelled to elect
a Wee President from tie two candi-
who shall have received the
highest number of electoral yote it |
will really be seen that there is no
possible contingency in which Watson
would have the gaost OF a chance to
become Vic-President. But even if
the rule did no prevail his prospects
would ne nil. because with the help Of
the boiling silver Senators the DEM
ocrats would have a majority of one
over the combined Republicans and
which would be a bar to the
successful combination of these latter.
What the Watson Populists, then, can
hope to accomplish further than the
possible weakening Of Sewall and the
consequent Strengthening of HOBART
passeth the capacity of the average
mind to understand.
In regard TO the matter of election
as the States recently remarked, there
las never been an instance where an
betrayed his trust by failing to
his vote for the candidate Of his
party.