Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-18
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
"Wednesday, February ID.
VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE
pnEAIDE NIrN

After acting on some business of a mi
nor character
On motion of Mr.. Jackson, a message
was sent To the Senate, informing them,
t,,at the House of Representatives were
ready toprOceed, agreeably 10 the mutu-
al resolution ofvcsterday, to open and
count the votes for President and V. Pre-
sident of the u. States.
he Senate, soon after entered the II .
at REPRESENTATIVES, preceded by their
President, who was received by the Spea-
ker al the chair of The House, i'll which
the President of the Senate took his seat.
and the Speaker of the House beside him l..
The Teliers of the two Ii0uscs-Mr. Na-
con on ttepart of the Senate, and MIR.
Jackson and MIR. Pithin on the part of the
II. of Representatives, seats in
front ofihe chair
The seals of The votes were broken by
the President ofthe Senate, aud by him
handed 70 the IeiIcrs, by whom they
were read aloud, aud recorded on the
Journals al the Senate and Of the House
of Representatives, bV the Secretary of
tie Senate and Clerk of The House, res
TeriiVeiY.
The votes Of al the States having been
read, with tle exception Of those Of the
State of!rdiana
Mr.. TUTOR of New-Y ork, rose, and(ad-
dressing himselft~ the Speaker OF the
House, expressed his unleigned regret at
being compelled, by his sense of duty, TO
interrupt the proceedings OF the two iIou-
seq. Mr. /. was then going on TO state
lbs reasons for Directing to the votes
from Indiana being read and recorded
when
The Speake, interrupted him. and said
that the two Houses had met for tile pur-
pose-the single, specific purpose, of per-
tSrming the constitutional duty which
they were then dlscharging, and thatwhiIe
so acting, IN Joint meeting, they could
consider no proposition nor perform auy
business not prescribed by the CONSTITUTE
on.
Mr.. Tarna,a, of the Senate, addressing
the President of the Senate,) expressed
his concurrence in the propriefy of what
had been stated by the Speaker; and for
tire purpose of allowing the House OF Re
presentatives to deliberate on the question
which had been suggested-he moved,
that the Senate withdraw to their Cham
Der.
The motion was seconded by Nj. Da-
na. Of the Senate
Aud the question being put bv the
President to the Members of the Senate.
it was unanimously agreed to-
And the Senate Withdrew according
ly.
The Spsaher having stated 10 the TI.
that ltnOw remained Orthem to consider
tie subject which had interrupted the
tUrms OF the Constitution
Mr.. IdglOr Of n. Y. said. that although
the question, as regarded the present cleo
ton, was of no consequence, vet the time
might arrive when it would be Of the
greatest Importance In tire election of
President Of the United States, and thatif
was better to settle it now, when lis deci-
sion would not affect the election. lie
tlitn proceeded with his objections TO re-
eeiylng the votes frO n Indiana, contend
Iug that the JOINT resolution Of December
iast, admitting that State into the Union.
was not a matfer'of form merely, bot .
great constitutional pfcrosative, TO be ex-
eriscd by Congress HB,il which. asisier
State could not be admitted into the Uni
onupoG an equal footing. iffhis was moi
50. wher vas the use of passing OF the
form fgovarnment, adopted by the State.