The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-07

in the olden time, that Of late j. has not been
customary 70 "cosnt bank ballots"
AS the General Asse by Of Rhode Island have
adjourned, IN not probable that Governor Anthony
will call them together to reverse their decisions
or correct his "mistake." as Governor SPrague
calls it. Mr. James will, therefore, we suppose take
his seat in the United States Senate unmolested,
unless some Of the citizens of Rhode Island should
petition the Senate to inquire into the circum-
stances, and decide whether he was fairly elected
by majority of the members who voted at the
election by the Legislature. BY the way, we OBJ
serve that General James has recently given hos
pitable entertainment to his friends, 30 that all
prospective troubles may have been settled over
canvas back ducks, oysters and champagne, &C.
cording TO approved usages.
The views of Gov Sprague with regard to count
ing blank votes in elections by legislative bodies,
are confirmed by the practice of several of the
States. He mentions a circumstance, indefinitely
recollected, of an election by the Legislature of
either Pennsylvania or New Jersey, Che believes
the former), where, some years since, in an cleo
ton by the Legislature, Of Senator or some other
officer, blank ballots were counted We observe
ALSO that in the recent ballotng for u S. Senator
in the Massachusetts Legislature, blank votes were
counted
But two prominent cases in point have recently
occurred in elections of U. S. Senator, N Delaware
and Florida, by the Legislatures of those States,
where blank votes were received and counted,
in the manner commended for by Gov. Sprague, and
under circumstances which, if they had been fol
lowed in Rhode Island, would have upset, or pre-
vented the election of Gen. James, on the ballot
when he was declared to have been chosen U. S.
Senator.
In Delaware, no less than eight unsuccessful bal
lots took place, and James A. Bayard was chosen
on the ninth ballot. Hereceived IL votes on the first
ballot, Mr.. Cullen 5, and there were IL blanks
On subsequent ballots, there III blanks given
each time, Mr.. Bayard receiving from Is to IA
votes, Cullen and Bates from to votes, toge her
| Still Mr.. Bayard was moi declared chosen until
the ninth ballot, when, for the first time, he re-
ceived majority of the whole number of vote:
given, $50 in alD as follows
| NINTH BALLOT.
| Bayard. .......... l6 Blanks. .,......... II
Bates. Total. .............. 81
Mr. Baysrd, the democratic candidate, wa:
therefore declared elected. The propriety o.
counting the eleven blank votes, which were
gwen by wings, will appear in a striking light
when it is noticed that they had the power, on any
ballot after the first, and previous to the last, o
electing either Cullen or Bates.
The recent election of United States Senator
by the Legislature of Florida, is one of the mos
curious on record. The democrats having bare
majority on joint ballot, it was supposed that Mr.
| Yulee, one of the present Senators, would have
been reelected, but he was defeated by the wan
of one vote, and by the blank votes given at the
election The following is a statement Of the
ballottings:-