CHAPTER XXXVI.

Electors.

1. AN elector, in the broadest sense of the word, means anybody who votes at an election for any person for any office or position, whatever it may be, and who is generally styled a voter. But in a more restricted sense, and that in which it is used here, elector means a person chosen to elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Two different methods have been used to choose these electors, and both were in conformity with the Constitution; for it says that each State shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in Congress. Now this left the Legislatures of the respective States to appoint the electors themselves, or to direct their appointment in any other way. Hence in some States the Legislatures chose them, and in others they passed acts directing their election by the people; and as far down as 1824 in six of the States the Legislatures continued to appoint or elect them themselves; while in all the remaining States their election was given directly to the people, and this method has now become universal in all the States, and is the one which seems to be most approved by the people.

2. These electors, when chosen, must meet in their respective States on the first Wednesday of December —that is, when a Presidential election occurs (which

is every fourth year;) and when assembled, they are denominated the electoral colleges, and vote for one man for President, and another for Vice President; after which these votes are sent to the President of the Senate of the United States by a messenger selected for that express purpose. When this is done, the duties of the electors are completed, and they have nothing more to do in the matter. The college is dissolved, never to meet again. But in four years, at the next Presidential election, a new college will assemble for the same purpose, and to perform the same duty.

3. When these votes reach Washington, the Senate and the House of Representatives assemble together on the second Wednesday in February, and in their presence the votes are opened and counted, and it is then declared who has been elected President and Vice President of the United States for the next four years. Until quite lately the Presidential elections were held in different States on different days; but by an act of Congress, one day for this election is now designated throughout all the States, and that day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This is the method which the Constitution has declared shall be used in the election of the President; but it is a clumsy and cumbrous piece of machinery-a wheel within a wheel-and we hope it will soon be worn out, and the people will be allowed to vote directly for the candidates they prefer. This would enable them to vote for their choice for Vice President, which they cannot always now do, for the electors are bound to vote for the Vice President who runs on the ticket with the President. Hence if a voter wishes to vote for a certain candidate for President, he must vote for the Vice President who runs on the same ticket, whether he prefers him or not.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Ambassadors, Foreign Ministers, Charge d'Affaires.

1. FOREIGN Ministers are the representatives of one nation to another, and are the agents used to regulate their political relations and commercial intercourse; to make treaties, and to settle disputes and misunderstandings which may occur between them. The office of a foreign minister is one of great dignity and honor. He ought to have extensive knowlege of national affairs, sound judgment, prudence and wisdom; for by these he may prevent contention, strife and war. This officer is not peculiar to our government, or to our times. Nearly all civilized nations of any standing or importance, both receive and send them, and did so in ancient times.

2. By the laws of nations, ambassadors are exempt from arrest, imprisonment or prosecution; because they are the representatives of the sovereign or nation who sent them. Even their servants are secure from arrest, and their property exempt from seizure for debt. The law of Congress protecting foreign ministers to this country, is but an enactment of what was before known to be the law of nations, all over the civilized world; and a violation of this well recognized law without reparation and satisfaction, would be a cause of war against the offending party.

3. Our own foreign ministers of all grades are ap

pointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. They are not, however, the representatives of the President, but of the government of the United States. We said of all grades, for there are grades of these officials, different in dignity and power. They are distinguished also by dif ferent names which indicate their rank, viz.: Ambassadors, Envoys Extraordinary, and Ministers Plenipotentiary, Ministers Resident, and Chargé d'Affaires.

AMBASSADORS.

4. This title in our country has no very specific meaning. It designates, however, a minister of the highest grade; but does not distinguish between one who goes to reside in the country whither he is sent, and one who is sent for some special purpose; such as that of negotiating a treaty of peace, or some other particular matter with which he is charged, and when that is accomplished returns home. In the latter case he is frequently styled a commissioner, because he was duly authorized, and commissioned by his government to act for it; but in both cases the officer is an ambassador, for that word means a person authorized and sent to transact business for his government.

ENVOYS EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTERS PLENIPOTENTIARY.

5. These titles designate ministers of the highest class; but generally refer to such as go to reside in the country where sent, and with full power to act for their government, in all matters and things of a diplomatic character.

Where negotiations become necessary between the

two nations, permanent ministers of this grade are only sent to great powers-governments of the higher class.

At the present time we have twelve foreign ministers of this class, one in each of the following countries: Austria, Brazil, Chili, China, France, England, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Prussia, Russia, and Spain. Those to England and France, receive in cash $17,500 per year salary, the one to Peru, $10,000, and each of the others $12,000.

MINISTERS RESIDENT.

6. These are not considered so high in rank as those termed envoys extraordinary and ministers plenipotentiary. Yet they are clothed with nearly the same powers, but are sent to countries of less importance, and receive less salaries, viz.: $7,500.

At this time we have twenty of this grade, one in each of the following places: Argentine Confederation, Belgium, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, Guatemala, Hawaiian Islands, Honduras, Japan, Netherlands, United States of Columbia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and Venezuela.

COMMISSIONERS.

7. There are a still lower grade of ministers (if we may call them so), or government agents, who reside abroad. They are sent to look after the interests of our government and its citizens in places of not much importance, and where there is but little to do. They also receive but small pay. We have now but two of them, one in Hayti, and one at Liberia, in Africa.