The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-11

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVE
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1869.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR COUNTING THE ELECTORAL
VOTE.
This being the day when the Formally Of counting
the electoral votes for President and Vice President
of the United States takes place in the House Of
Representatives there was q great pressure to OBJ
tain seats in the galleries, and long before noon
every position In those portions Of the gallery that
were open to the public was occupied, the doorways
were blocked up and the corridors were thronged
with persons seeking TO gain admittance. Man y
facing the Speakers chair TWO rows Of seats il
| the LADIES' gallery, on the southeast side,
snd vices PresiGent The south GALLERY was
occupied exclusively by ladies' OF the families Of
| members and Senators. There were only some half
| few colored persons were present. No special ar
rangements were made in the hall for the accom-
mediation OF senator's the intention being 10 let them
occupy the seats Of members nearest the Speakers
PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS.
The proceedings were opened with prayer by the
Chaplain MR. Boynton) who alluded to the special
| duty OF the day In these terms:-
beseech Thee that they who be declared
may DO endowed double portion OF Thy spirit tina. In
ney Ws may ss ne 81 s es ad rus
the which they must give Of their ruling on the last
thing that they shall 90 establish By
y e the n p w a' b ss v
short time q separation . and de- civil war
allowed to believe shis day WIN inaagurase
and universal oyoy in each ohsr Tuss o IN our
| rule over US
The journal OF yesterday was then read
Mr. FARNswoRTH, (rep.) OF Ill. asked and obtained
the consent Of the House 70 have ladies admitted to
| the cloak room.
The practical eject OF the permission was to have
the spaces In the hall outside Of the ranges OF the
| members chairs Immediately occupied by ladies,
and in many instances to have the chairs Of men,
bers 80 occupied.
Mr.. SCHENCK, (rep.l Of Ohio, at forty minutes past
twelve O'Clock, offered privileged resolution d.
recting the Clerk to inform the Senate that the
House in session ready to receive that body for
the purpose OF proceeding to open the votes OF the
electors OF the several States for President and Vice
| President. Adopted.
| THE AIR LINE RAILROAD BILL.
| The New York and washington Air Line Railroad
bill came up as the frst business IN order.
Mr.. PHELPS, DENY Of Nd, moved to lay II on the
| table. Negatived-yeas g. nays Ill.
REGULATIONS OF THE JOINT MEETING.
Further proceedings on the bin were interrupted
by the proximity Of the hour for the JOINT meeting Of
the two houses and the Speaker had the rule read
| purpose The rule directs seats TO be provided a
followsFor the President OF the Senate, the Speak
ers chair; for the Speaker the chair Immediately on
his left; for the Senator'S In the body OF the hail.
the right Of the presiding ocer; for the Representa-
Senator'S for the toers Secretary OF the Senate and
Clerk OF the House, at the Clerk desk for the other
Officers Of the two houses N Trent OF tne Clerks
In accordance with this rue the SPEAKER stated
that the first ave spheres OF seats IN the southeastern
quarter were reserved for the Senate, and he re-
Guested members to vacate them and occupy seats
| ENTRANCE OF THE SENATE.
This order had hardly been carried ont before the
doorkeeper announced the Senate OF the United
| States. The senators advanced two by two up the
| main aisle, the members OF the House standing
meanwhile and took seats In the portion OF the hail
assigned to them. Senator Wade, presiding oficer
Speaker took chair beside him and to his left SEN
/ ator Conkng and Representatives Wilson tof Iowa.
and Pruyn lof New York. occupied places at the
COUNTING THE VOTES.
The PRESIDING OFFICER, without any preliminary
electoral e.t vote Of New Hampshire OPEN Senator
CoxKLiNG read the certificates In full, the result
being that New Hampshire had given for Ulysses 5.
Grant, OF Illinois, five votes for President: for Schuy
Ter Colfax, OF Indiana, nve votes for Vice President
Senator SUMNER and Representative WAsHBuRNE,
OF ILL.,, rose at the same moment and addressed the
The PRESIDING opr1cRR-If there be no objection.
the reading OF the formal certificates viii be omitted
unless required by some members
i Mr. suMsER-I was gong TO make that motion
The vote OF Massachusetts Itwelve) was next an
i nounced By Senator Conkling and the votes OF
/ Rhode Island and Connecticut lsixl and Vermont
tivel by Representative Wilson, Of Iowa, for Grant
The vote OF New York was then announced by
Representative Pruyn as thirty three for Horat1o
| Seymour, OF New York. for President, and Frank p.
|
| nounccment appeared to cause considerable amuse-
ment on the floor and In the galleries. but there was
no violation OF propriety, nothing but very pal
pabe suppression OF tenuelcy 70 indulge IN o
The vote OF New Jersey was next announced by
| Representative Pruyn- seven Tor seymour and
The vote OF Pennsylvania was next announced by
Senator Conkling. Twenty-six for Grant and Colfax
lsevenl announced by Representative Pruyn as
| cast for Seymour aud Blair In the certificate from
Junior in the name OF Mr.. Blair, which omission.
\ on Its being made known, caused some laughter.
Representative WOOD, ydem Of \. y, appealed 70
The votes OF North Carolina nine and south Caro-
lima (six) were next announced by Representative
Wilson as being given for Grant and Colfax
The vote OF Kentucky teeven was announced by
Representative Pruyn for seymour and Blair.
The votes OF Tennessee item ana ONO twenty,one
wert announced by Representative Wilson for Grant
TME VOTE OF LOUISIANA OBJECTED TO
The presiding o'uccr. having handed to the teller
Representative MULLINS, rep.l OF Tenn, rose and
said:-Mr President, ask the rcadin. OIL the ccrtin
| Gates accompanying that report
The PRESIDING oFFIcKR-Let II be read
The credentials OF Louisiana were read ny Repre-
the name Of Mr.. BIa,r and Inc word states, Is
omitted in the term "United States"
The credentials having been read, RepTesensa,ye
the reading OF the votes from the state OF louisiana
| the vIcE PRESIDENT directed the reading OF the
Il tWeuty-acCOuu
In Joint convention any question shall arise In refer
ence 10 the counting Of votes the Senate shall there
upon withdraw and the question shall be submitted
to that BODY for decision and the speaker Of the
House OF Representatives shall in like manner sub
init the question to the House
Mr. EIpRIDar. ldcm.I OF Wisconsin. rising to a
point OF order insisted that the rule was IN violation
OF the direct terms Of the constitution, and he called
attention to the twelfth amendment. This provision
OF the constitution was-rhat the President OF the
senate should, In the presence of the senate and
House OF Representatives open all the certificates
and that the votes should then be counted
THE PRESIDING 0FFIcER-This rule has been
adopted BY both Houses, and therefore the Chair Will
not entertain the question Of order.
Mr.. WOODWARD, (dem.) OF Pal rise to point Of
order, which think VIII be entertained. I submit
that the objection coming from the gentleman from
Tennessee does not raise the question contemplated
by that rule. There must be some specific objection
made, and until such specific objection be made there
is no occasion for the Senate TO retire.
The PRESIDING OFFrCER--t VIII be observed that
the rule says "ff any question arisc.- An objec-
ton, without any reason for It. hardly appears 70
the chair 10 be reason. The reason will be stated
In writing. that Chair m know what IL