Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-02-13

raj votes, addlng TIE IacG tnAE the electors OF
Wisconsin did not assemble to east the vote of
that Stete Till the day after the time prescribed
by law.
Mr.. Hunter SAID there would be no differ
ence in the result whether the vote of Wis
consin be counted or omitted but still he
thought the best way to settle the question
would be to adopt a resolution hat the joint
committee which had been appointed on the
part Of the Senate, be instructed TO confer
with the House committee, and agree upon
such a report as shall be satisfactory to both
houses. He alluded to cases where similar
difficulties had occurred in Michigan and Mis-
souri,, and observed that those difficulties had
been settled in this way. He concluded by
making such motion.
The President announced that in his de.
claration of the result he had net assumed to
decide the question whether the vote of Wis
consin should be counted or not, but had
simply declared Messrs. Buchanan and Breck-
enridge elected.
Mr.. Nourse said that it was important to
decide this question, because a case might
occur where similar difficulty might affect
the general result. This question must be de-
cided by somebody, if the two houses separ-
ate and do not agree in their decision. Who
shall decide the question, if not the joint
convention Of the two houses
Mr.. Butler felt little concerned about this
matter. He disputed the right out and out
to ascertain who was President except by the
simplest rule of addition. but if the conven-
ton could say which votes should be counted
and which should not be counted, an occas-
ion might arise when such a convention in
the exercise of its arbitrary power could make
President of the United States without an
election.
Mr.. Stuart said that the subject had been
ended. Precedeuts are very dangerous things,
and he objected to going on now with sort
of opposition case and making a precedent
which might be relied upon hereafter
Mr. Toombs said that when the Senate was
called on to meetthe House for the purpose of
~having the electoral votes counted, it became
an important question which were votes and
which were not. He protested against the &C
ton of the presiding officer because he had
counted the vote of Wisconsin in announcing
the result, and assumed to exercise the right
of saying that James Buchanan had ia, and
John G. Fremont ia votes. 1t belonged to
the Senate and House to decide which votes
should be counted.
Mr.. Butler thought it was dangerous
power to entrust to any one TO decide what
votes should or should not be counted.
Mr. Douglas said that everything had been
done which ought to be done, and action on
the subject was completed. The vote of Wis.
consin ought not to be entered on the list for
the reason that it was not cast in the electoral
college on the day designated by law. The
only dut! OF Congress was to guard against
the danger in future.
Mr.. Seward congratulated the country that
there was no necessity for deciding whether
the vote of Wisconsin shall be counted. He
hoped Wisconsin will be counted He hoped,
however, thatsome measure will be adopted
to provide against future contingencies.
Mr.. Collamer could not see the argument
for the proposed Committee of Conference
1t was generally admitted that Mr.. Buchanan
was elected in a constitutional manner and
that was the only question to be determined,
Mr.. Hale was decidedly of the opinion that
the vote OF Wisconsin should be counted. He
had always preferred substance to form. The
people Of that State ought not to be disfran-
chised because of the inability of the electors
to reach the seat of government on given
day.
Mr.. Hunter, at the request of the Senators,
withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Butler offered resolution recting the
facts in the case, and concluding with the
declaration that Messrs. Buchanan and Breck-
lnndge were elected, but afterwards the Sem
ate accepted substitute submitted by Mr..
Coilamer, similar in purport, but emitting
reference to the vote OF Wisconsin.
On motion Of Mr.. Weller, the resolution
was tabled
Mr.. Weller offered resolution that com.
mittee, to consist of one member of the Sen.
ate and two members of the House be
appointed to inform Messrs. Buchanan aud
Breckenridge of their election.
Mr., Crittenden moved an amendment. in
substance, that the vote of Wisconsin ought
not to be included in the list of electoral votes
and that any member Of either House has the
privilege to object to the counting of said
VOTE and that 1t was competent for the Senate
and House alone to decide that question
Mr.. Weller appealed to Mr.. Crittenden not
to insist on the amendment, as the two sub
jeats had no connection.
Mr.. Crttenden thought that that was the
only way to get his proposition considered at
ALL
Pending the question the Senate adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Barbour moved a reconsider
alton of the vote referring the Submarine
Telegraph bill to the Post Office Committee.
The motion was entered for consideration
tomorrow.
Mr. Washburne reported that Mr. Whit
-aseld is not entitled to a seat as delegate from
Kanzas. A resolution to lay this report on
the table was pending when the hour arrived
for counting the Presidential vote, which bus
mess was proceeded with in accordance with
the usual custom.
The Senators, accompanied by their officers,
entered, the members OF the House receiving
them Standing.
Mr., Bgler, on the part of the Senate, and
Messrs. Jones of Tennessee, and Howard, on
the part of the House, acted as tellers, and
occupied the Clerks desk.
The President announced the object of the
JOINT meeting, it being pursuant to law, and
III obedience to the concurrent order of the
two Houses.
The President first opened the vote of
Maine, which was read by the teller, and
taking the various States in rotation
Tie President announced the result of the
count, and declared Mr.. Buchanan elected
President and Mr.. Breckenridge Vice Pres-
dent. The question was raised as to counting
the vote OF Wisconsin, the electors having
met on the 4th instead of the Sd OF December,
The President said that tie functions of the
two Houses were now discharged in this mat
ter, but this decision was earnestly discussed
by both Senators and Representatives.
Mr.. Crlttenden said that the decision in
yolved the privilege Of determining the cleo
tons OF the President of the United States.
The President replied that he neither as
sumed nor exercised such power, but had
merely performed his duty as required by the
constitution Much confusion ensued, and
various propositions were offered to relieve the
two Houses of their difficulties, but the Pres.
ldent said that no vote could be taken in con-
vention
Mr.. Stuart moved that the Senate return to