Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-11-19
HOW THE PRESIDENT IS ELECTED.

Notwithstanding the fact that the
voters of this great country cast their
ballots recently with the Intention of
electing some one of the several can
didates for tn" irrsidency, and that
one of them has in consequence nom
inally secured majority of the
| electoral college, it is possible for un-
scrupulous men to defeat the will Of
the people and actually elect another
man to that exalted Office.
The electors are apportioned among
| the several states on the basis of two
| for every state and one for each of the
| representative of that state in con-
gress. Vermont thus has two electors
at large, as it were, and one for each
of her two congressman.
| These electors were chosen from
among the various party tickets in
every state. They are in honor bound
to vote for the man nominated for
president by the party they represent,
but that there is Il possibility by which
| they can avoid this is shown by the
| law governing their action which is
contained in the twelfth amendment
of the constitution Of the United
| States, and is as follows:
The electors shall meet in their re-
spective states, and vote by ballot for
president and vice president, one of
| whom, at least, shall not be an in
| habitant of the same state with them
selves; they shall name in their
| ballots the person voted for as presi-
dent. and in distinct ballots the person
voted for as vice president; and they
shall make distinct lists of all persons
| voted for as president, and of all per-
sons voted for as vice president and
of the number ofvotes for each, which
lists they shall sign and certify, and
transmit, sealed, to the seat of the
government of the United States,
directed to the president Of the senate.
The president of the senate shall in
presence of the senate and house of
representatives open all the certifi
Gates, and the votes shall then be
counted. The person having the
greatest number Of votes for president
shall be the president, if such number
be majority of the whole number of
electors appointed; and if no person
have such majority, then from the
persons having the highest numbers
not excee ding thee on the list of
those voted for as PRESIDENT the
house of Representatives shall choose
imme diately, by ballot, the president.
But in choosing the president, the
vote shall be taken by states, the rep
resentation from each state having
one vote; a quorum for this purpose
shall consist OF A member, or members,
from two thirds of the states, and a
majority of all the states shall be nee
essary to a choice. And if the house
of representatives shall not choose a
president whenever the right of
choice shall devolve upon them be
fore the fourth day of March next
following, then the vice. president
shall act as president, as in case of
death, or other constitutional disabil
ity, Of the president. The person
having the greatest number of votes
as vice president shall be the vice
president, if such number be major
ity OF the whole number Of electors
| majority, then, from the two highest
numbers on the list, the senate shall
choose the vice president; quorum
| for the purpose shall consist of two
| thirds of the whole number of sena-
tors and majority of the whole
number shall be necessary to a choice.
But no person constitutionally ineli-
gible to the Office of president shall be
eligible to that of vice president of
the United States.
In accordance with an act of con-
gress passed February 8, 1887, the
electors will meet in their several
states the second Monday in January
to give their votes casting separate
votes for president and vice presi
dent. They make three certificates
of their vote, sign and seal them,
deliver one to the judge of the United
States District Court, forward one by
| mail to the president of the senate at
Washington and appoint messenger
to carry the third in person to the
president of the senate at Washing
ton.
The votes are counted by congress
! the second Wednesday in February.
"I'm puzzled about this custom of
| eating to music"