The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-12

transmitting report Of the director of the mint on the
assay of foreign COIN which was referred to the Com
mittee OF Ways and Means and ordered TO be printed
Also communication from the same department ask
ing additional appropriation OF hive thousand dollars
for contingencies under the act for the issue of loan and
treasury notes which referred to the Committee Of
Wsys and Means and ordered 10 be printed.
Also, memorial from the legislative assembly Of New
Mexico in to the claims Of citizens of that Terrific
against the United States which was laid the table
and ordered to be printed.
ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.
Mr. BARBOUR of Indiana moved to reconsider the vote
by which Senate bill TO expedite telegraphic commun
cation for the use Of government in its foreign inter
course referred to the Committee the Post oice
and Post Roads which motion was entered the jour
nal.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Mr. SMITH, ofvrgnia in pursuance of notice introduced
bill authorizing the Alexandria and Washington Rail-
road Company TO repair and the Long Bridge and
bill to revive the act of 9th February 1908 incorporating
the Washington Bridge Company and appointing COM
mssioners to receive subscriptions for other
which severay read twice aud referred the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia.
KANSAS.
The SPEAKER stated the first business in order to he
the consideration of the bill for the relief of the people of
Kansas heretofore reported from the Committee Terri
tories.
Mr.. WASHBURNE of Maine rose to question of priv-
lege stating that he had been instructed by the Committee
OF Elections to submit report in regard to the right of
the delegate from Kansas TO seat in the House. accompa
MED by the following resolution:
Resolved That JoHs w. WHIrTIRLD ia not entitled to
seat in this House the delegate from the Territory of Kan
sas. W
Mr. WASHBURNE, of Maine, asked that the report
might be printed and the further consideration of the sub
ject postponed until Saturday next
Mr.. OLIVER, of Missouri submitted minority report
from the Committee of Elections which, in connection
with statement of the sitting delegate in response the
contestant he asked might be printed.
Mr.. ACKERS, of Missouri moved to lay the resolution
the table upon which motion the yeas and nays
ordered and taken; but before the result announced
Mr.. JONES' Of Tennessee, the hour being IL o'clock
moved that the Clerk inform the Senate that the House
Representatives ready receive that body for the
pose of receiving opening and counting the of the
electors of the several States for President and Vice Pres
dent
The question was taken and the motion was agreed to
accordance with which the Clerk of the House notified
the Senate of the action OF the House, shortly after which
the senators were eccved-the members of the House
standing.
THE MEETING COUNT THE ELECTORAL
VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT.
The PRESIDENT pro smpore Of the Senate took the
chair aud stated that pursuant law and in obedience
the order of the two houses the body would
open and count the that had given
for President and Vice President of the United States
prescribed by the constitution The teller appointed
part of the Senate and the eers the part of the House
would proceed to take the stations assigned to them
The votes were then opened and counted
When the tellers read the certificate from Wisconsin,
Mr. LETCHER, Of Virginia said that he understood that
the electoral of that State on the fourth in
stead of the third Of December as prescribed by law
He did not know what the proper course pur-
sue but he desired to call atentio TO the fact that the
point might be brought before the country The time
might come when it would be matter of moment to have
those votes in a regular shape.
| The PRESIDING OFFICER stated that the gentleman
not in order while the eers counting the votes
ALL the votes having been counted the teers reported
the result to the effect that all the found
uar and that the electoral votes were cast on the
day. excepting those of Wisconsin which were cast on the
| fourth instead of the third of December.
The PRESIDING OFFICER then announced the state Of
Jua.,
paper for the respective candidates for President Vice
President Of the United States and in further execution Of
order of thetwo houses declared that
Buchanan Of having the greatest number of
votes and that number being majority Of the electors
had been duly elected President Of the United States for
the term prescribed by the constiu ion from the 4th
March, 1857 and that John Breckenridge Of Kentucky
having the greatest number Of votes for Vice President
and that number being majority Of the electors had been
duly elected Vice President for the same term.
| Mr. H. MARSHALL Of Kentucky said that In this case
the Presiding Officer through the elers had announced
the of Wisconsin, but whether this should be done
necessity must depend upon the determination of the
vention and not on the decision of the Presiding Officer
whose functions according to the language of tie const
ton 60 further than opening the certificates The
which had now arisen made no difference to the result
but time might when such state of things would
be faught with most important consequences the
| try. .--.- .r &. sa.sls .-
The PRESIDING OFFICER said that the votes having
been counted and the result announced the functions
| the two houses were discharged
Mr. TOOMBS of Georgia, entered his dissent from the
decision OF the Chair which would close the mouths of
ators and with whom the decision rested
! The PRESIDING OFFICER quoted the language of the
constitution relative to the counting of nust6c
| ton of his decision.
Mr.. BUTLER, of South Carolina would regard the
cepnOp of the vote of Wisconsin setting dangerous
precedent If State should not through its electors
the time the other States but reserving pow
err with the telegraph running from end OF the Union
to the other it might become the umpire in eectng Pres
dent and Vice President of the United States 1t clear
that this vote ought not to be received.
Mr. BGLER, of Pennsylvania under the instructions
his associate eer informed the House that they had
yet signed the certificate had merely reported the votes
Mr. CRITTENDEN, Of Kentucky, said that the decision
of the Presiding Officer involved the privilege of deermn-
ing the election of President of the United States and
| therefore he protested against this decision.
The PRESIDING OFFICER, in reply, stated that he was
that he had assumed exercised any such pow
err II was his duty to announce the vote.
Mr. ORR of South Carolina moved that the vote of Wis
consin having been cast upon day different from that
provided by law be rejected and that the teers be
structed not to include it in their report
Mr. CASS Of Michigan, thought that the proper plan to
for the senators retire to their chamber
they had discharged the duty which had brought the two
houses together.
Mr.. DOUGLAS, of Illinois, was willing that the Senate
| should retire to its own chamber for consultation.
WASHBURNE, of Wisconsin, desired that the report
accompanying the certificate might be read the
/ ton.
Mr. COBB of Georgia. desired to know what disposition
had been made Of the motion of the gentleman om South
the convention be adjourned by the decision of the
presiding officer or by the judgment of the convention and
| therefore appealed from the decision of the Chair
| The PRESIDING OFFICER stated that he had enter
tanned no MOTION The Senate was sitting here pursuant
the constitution and when they determined that their