The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-12
THIRTY FOURTH CONGREss
HDuONp SESSION.
Senate.

WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1887.
The Senste mot a IL O'Clock, and Immediately repaired
70 the hail Of the House 10 take part in the opng and
counting Of for President and Vice PRECEDENT Of tho
United States In pursuance of the resolution adopted
some days since
See house report for proceedings Of the joint meeting
When the Senate returned 70 their chamber from NE
House, Mr. hGLsR OF Pa the teller the part Of the
Sena,e report to the result Of the counting Of
the electoral votes adding the fac: that the Electors OF
Wisconsin did not assemble and cast the vote or tnae
state wi the oay af,er the time prescribed BY law
M HUNTnR OF Va, said there would DO no difference
In the refult whether the Wisconsin be counted
omitted, but ,n he thought the hest 70 settle the
question would be TO ADOPT resolution that tho joint
ommttee which bad been appointed the part Of tho
Senate be Instructed to confer with the Houfe committee
both houses he TO cases whore similar d,fbcu
Ties had occurred In Michigan Missouri and observed
.naa those a,fcoes hat been settled In this way. He
Concluded ny making such a motion
the PRESIDENT announced that In his declaration OF tho
results ne nad OF assumed 10 decide the question whe
ther the vote OF Wisconsin should be not but
bad simply declared Aeasrs Buchanan and Breckenridge
Mr. Noupsl said that II was important 70 decide this
question because case might when similar Diff
Guilty might Affect the general result. This question
must be decided by somebody. II the two houses se-
psrate ana 90 NJ sgreee in their deoison who shs de-
eide the question: Il should be decided by joint con-
vention OF the two houses.
Mr. b. TIER Of South Carolina, felt . little concerned
about this matter. he disputed the right and 70
ASCERTAIN who was Pre.oenl except BY the simplest rule
shoud be counted and which should not be counted an
occasion might arise when such . convention In the
ercise CT is arbitrary power could make Pfesdent OF
the United states without an election.
Mr. STUART, OF Mich, said that tue subject had been
ended preosd,nts are very dang. ro. things: and he
and makirg precedent which nigh. bs relied here.
After The difficulty In the present not Of i'm
poitance % The reau weud not be Affected by the de-
csion; but showed the importance Of some addi.
tional legislation by Congress, declaring the electors,
votes which OF the day prescribs by law
should not pe counted in future He could sec no ne
cessiy or any further action on the subject this time.
o.. on TO 81 the 70, bs ,Te ~
The electoral votes counted, It became important
question whch were votes and which were not Who
WAS 10 decide that question: Suppose certificate Wa
received that ten votes had been cast In Ncxaga, and
the presiding ooer and the telers had said thss theso
should 80 In and be counted Was there no remedy for
tbatY &c protested again the action of the presidn
officer, because he had counted the veto OF Wisoonsn In
Of say Nc tba, James Buchanan had ia, and John c.
FRI mott ia votes II belonged TO the Senate and tho
House 10 decide which votes should be counted.
Mr.. BUrIIR thought Was . dangerous power 70
rus any one 10 d. eide what votes shoud or should noa
Mr.. DOUGLAS rsaid that everything hsd been done
which ough 10 be done TO render the aoon the sub
jto compete Tho vote Of Wisconsin ought not 70 DO
entered the at for the reason that not cast u
Ihe Electoral College The day desgnAted bylaw. fhc
only DUTY Of Congress was to guard against The dangers
Mr. SEWARD congratulated the country that there was
no necessity for oecicpg whether or not the vote OF
wisconsin snail be counted, He hoped Wisconsin win
be counted He hoped however, that some measure
will be adopted 10 provide sgains, further oonung
Mr. CouAnAn, Of VT, could not see necessity for
the proposed Committee OF Conference. IL generally
admiitd that Mr. Buchanan elected In . oonstisr-
nooa manner. and that the only qeson TO DO deter
mined.
Mr. Hale, OF N, a., decidedly Of the opinion thas
the vote OF wisconsin should be counted He bad always
ought be anchbed because Of the inability OF
The elecorsFo reach me seat OF goVernment given
d'EZ, Hur,, Of v. =, III, ,.ou.., ., ,,. s.,.,ou
wthdTew mis- motion.
Mr. BunlR offered resolution reotng The rao,s
in the case ana concluding with the declaration thst
Asssrs Buchanan and Breckenridge cleo ed; bus
a,erward the senate accepted substitute submitted By
MP Colsma similar In purtPors, bu' emitting refer
tpce TO The vote OF Wisconsin.
On motion Of Mr. MILLER the resolution tabled.
NJ WELLER offered rese luton tina. . COMMITTEES, 70
consist Of member Of the senate and two members
CT the House, be appointed TO inform kessrs Buohansp
and Breckenridge q thek election.
M CRrrKSDRS moved mepdment, IN substance
that the vote of Wisconsin ought Included In The
list u electoral votes ard mat any mber OF either
vote and that petent Tor the Senae and House
soue 10 decide that question.
Mr. wnn appealed to Mr.. Cri,tepdeu not 70 Insist 90
tbs amendmen ~ the two subjects had-Do conneoson.
Mr. CnIrTEpRS thought that that was the only way 10
get his p oposislon considered 81 all.
Pending The question the Senate adjourned.
House OF Representatives
wAsHisoroS, Feb. II, 1857.
rnB SUMMARIZE rEIpaAPB.
Mr. BARBorr moved the reconsideration OF the vote BY
10 the Committee en- POSI- ofioes.
The motion WAS entered, probably 70 be considered tc
morrow.
TIE kASsAs oovrIsru snAr.
Mr. wAssBruS, OF Name under the instruction Of tho
Committee On EessioDs. made report concluding With
. resolution that John W. Whitfield 10 not entitled 70 o
seat in this House the delegate from Kansas NOV
ed that the further considerasoa Of the subccs be pos
Mr.. olvlr Of No moved to lay the resolution on tho
table, and made minority report aud asted 70 have
aa the memorial Of Mr.. Withheld In response to ,he
port or the majority OF the committee.
JONI oosvDnoS- THE PRESIDENTIAL nBcnoS.
Furtser proceeonss Interrupted BY arrival Of
votes Of The Eecsors Of toe severa Sss Tor Prssssns
and vioe President The Sen aors accompanied by their
snsrso ne member, o. q, sss House rsssivns
M Bein, on ,hs psrt Of The Senate, and xss~s
JOINS OF Tennessee, and HowARD, on The part Of tho
Rouse acted eliers and occupied the Clerks desk.
The PrruDry1 announced the object Of the JOINT meet
ne neeins pursuant 70 law and In obedience TO she co.,
Tne PnnrpKSr fret opened the vote of Maine, which
VS. read by he siier, and taking the various states In
me certificate from Wisconsin having been read
M L1crn Of vs ssd ne understood tins electoral vote
that aA,e wA cast on the 4th insead Of the "a Of De-
cs mbtr. - prscribed By law. He aid mot bnov VIVA,
was now the prop~ course. but desired mat The fscs
might be brought W the attention Of the ooanlry. The
time might come when such state Of things vould con
ne Pusrprsr Of the Senate said Mr. Ie.ch ,r vas no,
In oreer while the tellers we're counting tue votes.
All the votes having been counted the telers reported
The result, win The net tina, oil the returns were found
regular and me electoral votes cast the day,
excepting .hose OF wncoosin These were cast mo
tth instead OF the 30 q December.
The fRrDKsT then announced the state Of tho vote In
deia, and further execution OF NE concurrent order
OF the Two Houses announced that James Buchanan and
John q Beckinridse were duly elected rresidens and
yeo President for the prescribed BY the consuu
ton, con mencing On The 4ih OF March nert
M e Ky, .sS y ; ~. c.:: ne
wrconsin, but whether this should be done nos
uou ana NOT on the decision Of the presiding
on1ocr, whose functions, according 70 the vevbiaeo
of The constuson 20 opening the osrs,.
fcsns me VI ,ch has arisen made no dlfyc,.
ence a. 70 result bu, the time mig vnen such
staae Of things woud be franght with the impor
tant consequences 70 the country.
The PpHpxSr said the woes having boon ooauted and
the result announced the functions Of tbe Houses
we're discharged
Mr.. Toorr Of Ca cotered bis Dissent from the deoison
of the chair which cloee mouths OF ssna,oys