Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-15
Openiing Of tie ELECTORAL Votes.

The National lncllisencer presents a 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.
Gcers OF both bodies" The Members of the
House were generally in their seats. Al II
o'clock the Sergeant. alarms Of the Senate ap-
peared al 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 semi.cir-
Gle round about The area in front Of the Clerk s
table The President of the Senate having as
cended 10 he 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 (Afr. Walker Of the Senate, and
Messrs Kennedy Of Maryland and Burke OF
New Hampshire, OF the Honse) took their seats
at the table of the Clerk. the Secretary Of the
Senate on their right, the Clerk OF the House on
their left hand the chief clerks of the House and
the Senate being seated al The table below, the two
Serscans-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
ing The endless multitude of steps By which
they reach the narrow space allotted 10 them, Tor
hours before; but the gallery called theirs could
b. no means contain all who struggled for seat
or siandins-room within its precincts; and those
who arrived TOO late for these privileged places
were ian 10 content themselves with the two
nearest wings OF the gentlemen's gallery, into
which they seemed 10 have overtiowed on either
side The residue Of this gallery, which runs
round the whole simicircular boundary OF the
hoI ,;la al IN, 5ar
orderly and attentive observers Of what was
transac,ing 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 mel, 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 it, and said: i present 10 you, gentlemen
TelIels, 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 Staes-and The Tellers announced the vote
of each Siate-and when the counting was con-
cluded and duplicate lists were made out, which
we're found 10 agreee, they were handed 10 The
President Of 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, though distinguished By its simplici-
IS. was imposing in its moral character. II was
s,rpt of all the splendors of royalty 1t was at
tended by no magnificent ceremonials-likel 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 Peo-
pie OF The sovereign States have created and pre-
served. It was The official and public annuncia-
ton ofthe will of a 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 Cincinnalus 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
ing upon his own Republican principles, and Sc
Icctcd by the People TO carry out their wishes
May his administration terminate as brightly as
it opens-conducing alike 10 his own glory, ana
The happiness Of our common country