Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-02-19
There was an immense gathering at the

pose. the two Houses of Congress met IN
Joint convention in the Representative
Chamber. The papers say that the Wit
nesses of this scene we're not merely the
French and English Ministers, and q
whole gallery full Of members Of foreign
legations, but, there were judges of the
Supreme Court Of the United States, Gov
errors Of States, prominent officers of the
army and navy, the wiyes'and families of
the most distinguished statesmen of the
country; there we're Government officers
and employees; there were mechanics and
4 and laborers; the high, the low and the
9 raiddling class, in such numbers that not a
foot of unoccupied room in the immense
galleries surrounding the hall was to be
found. The crowds. were injected in by
such force through the room doors, that it
was impossible to make Roadway in any
direction, save that which was borne by
the swaying. mass, which sought admis-
: sion. The Capitol has not for years been
so full of people as it was on that occasion.
/ Even the most exciting days Of the i'm
peachmert trial furnished no parallel. Ev-
cry corner was full, every class was repre-
sensed, and the Capitol, from early in the
morning until darkness interviewed, was
running over with representatives of every
y class, color and condition. There was an
unusually large attendance of the members
and more of the distinguished people Of
Washington than are commonly present.
p Gen. Grants family, excepting his wife,
was present, including his children, his
father-in-law and other members of his
household, and the wife, mother and sister
Of the Vice President elect were there. I'M
deed the entire society of Washington turn
ed out to witness the final formalities of a
Presidential election. 81 sioa =
d ~ At one o'clock the Convention assem-
bled, Vice President Wade taking the
/, chair of the presiding officer, and the COM
mittee Zone from the Senate and two from
the house, to count the votes took their
I places at the Clerks desk, and the work
. began. In February, a few days before
the second electoral vote for Mr.. Lincoln
was counted, the two houses of Congress,
each for itself, adopted what is known as
the twenty. second joint rule, the point of
which is, that if in counting the electoral
vote any question shall arise about the vote
Of any State, the Senate shall at once re-
tire to its chamber, and each branch shah
then decide the question at issue without
debate. This rule was and is still in force,
!, as will be seen. The first certificate
opened was from the electors of New
Hampshire. The certificate of the Gov
i ernor of the State relative to the choice Of
. the electors was read at length, and then
the vote announced. The certificates sets
forth that five votes had been cast for U.
S. Grant for President Of the United States
and five for Schuyler Colfsx for Vice Pres
ident.f Mr.. Wade then said that the read
ing of the certificates would be dispensed
with unless called for by some member.
! The counting then proceeded with the sew
eral States without incident for an hour or
50, the proceedings becoming very dry and
uninteresting.
The vote of fifteen States were announ-
ced then came Louisiana, to which Mr..
O Mullins (mullet would be more appropri-
ate) objected. ,s5 sy
A dozen persons were on their feet in an
instant, with points of order, and dozen
men were about Mullins, trying to per-
suade him to withdraw his objection. Mr..
Wade, as in duty bound, declined to enter
tain any points of order, and Mr.. Mullins
declined towithdraw his objections, declar-
ing that he was going to make " them ere
Senator'S go back to their own end Of the
capitol" The joint rule Of the day was
enforced. DIR. Wade directed the Senate
to return to its chamber, and the House
vas left alone with the great audience.
Within half an hour both branches had
voted, without debate and by large MAORI
ties, that the vote Of Louisiana should be
received. The joint convention thereupon
reassembled. 1t was known to many per.
sons that Gen. Butler would raise ques-
ton Of rejection when the vote of Georgia
was called. 1t was the last one presented
to the teller, and at the instant Butler was
upon his feet, interposing an objection TO
its reception. efs3
On the previous Monday, each branch
for itself, by very decided majority,
adopted a new joint rule, having sole and
especial reference to the vote Of Georgia.
This rule declared that the vote should be
included in the summary, but tina: the pre-.
siding officer of the Joint Convention, in
announcing the grand result, should state
what il would be with this vote counted,
and what it would be with it not counted.
Everybody knew that the result would not
be changed by counting or emitting to
count the vote of Georgia, and this was
thought to be a convenient and proper way
to avoid the issue as to whether the State
is orsis not yet in the Union.
Gen. Buffers objections to the counting
Of the Georgia vote were thus stated.