Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-15
Opening Of TIC Electoral Votes.

The National lncllgencer presents graphic
description of the scenes of Wednesday last. "a
table had been placed in the area before the Clerks
table for The accommodation of The recording o.
iicers Of both bodies" The Members of the
House were generally in their seats. AT II
o'clock the Sergeant.at-Arms Of the Senate ap-
peared at the open doors OF the Hall, followed by
the President and Secretary OF the Senate, "and
then By The Senators walking Two by two, who
took seats prepared for them in double scmi.cir-
Gle round about the area in front of the Clerk S
table. The President Of the Senate having as
cended 10 The Speakers Chair the Speaker OF the
House being seated on his left, Stood as did The
Members OF the House, until the Senators were
seated in order The Tellers appointed by the
two Houses (Mr Walker of the Senate, and
Messrs. Kennedy OF Maryland and Burke OF
New Hampshire. OF the House, took their seats
at the table of the Clerk the Secretary of the
Senate on their right, the C'erl; OF the House on
their left hand: the chief clerks OF the House and
The Senate being seated al The table below, the two
Sergcants-at-Arms having seats on either side.
1.-THE spectacle was earnestly contemplated By
an auditory as large as the limits of the galleries
could BY possibility contain The Ladies, never
The last 10 catch prevailing enthusiasm, or 10
gaze with interest on solemn public acts, had
been pouring along every avenue, ard climb
they reach the narrow space allotted 10 them, lor
hours before; but The gallery called theirs could
b. no means contain all who struggled for seat
or standine-Ioom within its precincts; and those
who arrived TOO late for these privileged places
were fain 10 content themselves with the two
nearest wings OF the gentemen's gallery, into
which they seemed 10 have overfowed on either
side. The residue of this gallery, which runs
round the whole simicircular boundary OF the
hall, was piled up in dark masses with eager,
orderly, and attentive observers OF what was
lransaciing in the space below. Considering the
multitude assembled, an astonishing silence per
vaded the hall, when Mr.. Mangum, President OF
The Senate, rose and said that the Senate and
House of Representatives had met according TO
the Constitution for the purpose Of counting The
votes given b. the electors of the Several States
for President ard Vice President Of the United
States and then taking from the papers before
him one Of the sealed packages, broke the seals,
opened il, and said: i present 10 you. gentlemen
Tellcs, the votes Of The Electors Of the Stale OF
Maine, that they may be counted"
Mr. Walker then opened all The seals in the or
der of S,ates-and The Teers announced the vote
Of each State-and when the counting was con-
cluded, and duplicate lists were made out which
were found 10 agreee, they were handed 10 the
President ol the Senate who read the lists, and
then announced the general result, first for the
President and then for the Vice President The
Senate then rose, and retired from the Hall in the
order in which they entered.
The scene, thong distinguished By its simplci-
Is. was imposing in its moral character II was
sript Of all The splendors Of royalty. It was at
tended by no magnificent ceremonials-like those
which usher in The ascension of an hereditary
Monarch. But il was man OF the people, Ia
ken by themselves from their own ranks, TO exc
cute the powers olthe Government, which the Poo
pie Of The sovereign States have created and pre-
served. twas The official and public annuncia-
ton ofthe will Of great people, upon the cleo
ton OF two OF The first officers in the Republic
We again congratulate The People, that their
choice has fallen upon James X. Polka man,
who was taken from their own BOSOM in the
midst Of retirement, like Cnc;nnaus at the
plough, without any solicitation on his part;
without any ambitious aspirations; recommended
by no Clique; supported BY neither the seduction
Of gold, nor b. the power OF the sword-but rest
ins upon his own Republican principles, and Sc
iectcd by the People 10 carry oul their wishes
May his administration terminate as brightly as
it opens-conducing alike 10 his own glory, AMI
The happiness Of our common country