The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-02-16
COUNTING THE VOTES.

COUNTING THE VOTES.
DIsGRACEFUL SCENES.
The following is Radical version of
the disgraceful scenes attending the
counting of the Electoral votes, in Con-
gress, on Wednesday, the 10th inst:
The first certificate opened was from
the Electors of New Hampshire. The
certificate Of the Governor of the State
relative to the choice of Electors was
read at length; and :hen the vote an
nounced, The certificate set forth that
five votes had been cast for o. S. Grant
for President of the United States, and
five for Schuyler Colfax for Vice-Presi
dent. Mr.. Wade then said that the
reading of the certificates would be dis
pensed with, unless called for by some
member. The counting then proceeded
with the several States, without incident,
for an hour, the preceding becoming
very dry and uninteresting.
When the State of Louisiana was
reached, the irrepressible Mullins OBJ
jected to the counting of the vote, on
the ground that the election was not
valid. The Senate repaired to its
room to agree on vote, and during
the interval the House also considered
the objection, and it was overruled by a
vote of 136 to 80. Soon after, the Senate
returned, and the announcement was
made that it had also decided to re-
ceive the vote of Louisiana, and it was,
therefore, counted.
The monotony of the proceedings was
not again interrupted to any extent, un-
til the whole list of States had been
gone over excepting Georgia, which
had been delayed until the last, in an
ticipation of trouble. The seal Of the
envelope was at last broken by Mr..
Wade, and the papers handed to Mr..
Conkling, who began 10 look them over.
when Mr.. Butler sprang to his feet and
objected to the convention receiving the
vote, at the same time sending to the
Clerks desk his reasons in writing.
THE DIRT.
At this time began the scenes which
are alluded to above. The President
declined to entertain the objections, on
the ground that both houses had already
taken definite action on the case of
Georgia by the passage. of Mr.. Ed
munds' first resolution. Objection was
made, and Mr.. Drake wanted the Senate
to retire and consider also the case of
Nevada, whose returns were irregular.
Cries of 'too late, too late" came from
the President and from all parts of the
House. Mr. Butler declared that the
House could not be bound by the joint
action, and proceeded to tell why, when
the President called him to order. The
cry was taken up by Senators and men,
bcrs, and "order, ORDER" came from
every quarter, Mr.. Wade rapping Wig
orously with his gavel, but the confu-
sion increased. The President tried to
explain, but could not be heard, and Mr..
Butler again took to the floor, showing
little courtesy to Wade, and began to
speak on the coLstitutionality of some
thing or other, and its effect hereafter
In the midst of his impassioned Grafton,
Mr.. Wade said, "The Senate will retire ="
Mr. Washburne, of Illinois, cried,
out, "Wh hat for?" when the President,
with emphatic show of temper, threw
down his gayel and said the Senate
would retire according to law, which
raised great laugh, and the Senators
went to their chambers, where they re-
mained until after 4 o'clock. There
was much rambling and discussion du-
ring the interval, and an irregular vote
Yves had and Mr.. Butler was sustained
by vote of III to 81. :@-
When the Senate returned to the hall
Mr.. Wade announced that the joint res
olution had been sustained. Mr.. Butler
snapped back angrily with slurs at the
Senate and its President, insisting upon
his objection. Mr.. Wade said the vote
would be counted. Mr.. Butler, at the
top of his voice cried out, II appeal
from your decision
Mr.. Wade-"There is no appeal"
The excitement now became intense,
and there was the widest confusion, the
President having no control over the
thoroughly excited body. Butler again,
at the top of his voice, appealed from the
decision without avail Salisbury and
Doolittle sprang to their feet and hurled
invectives at Butler; Butler hurled them
back. Half of the members and spec
tators were ON their feet swinging their
arms and yelling for order. Farnsworth
tried to have his say and Ingersoll called
him to order half dozen times. Sharp
words echoed through the hall from every
quarter, mixed with cries of "order," :"
clapping of hands and laughter.
Mr.. Butler was wild with rage. Mr..
Wade was cool and obstinate, but inca
pable of preserving order "Let us
have peace" came from the Democratic
side. Butler, with his sleeves rolled up,
shricked that the Senate ought to have
leave to go home; that the House could
take care of itself, and intimating that
the Senate and its President were inter
lopers. The excitement at this point
can't be described. 1t extended through
the entire Hall and into the galleries.
Only the word ''order!' could be heard,
repeated from thousand lips, from eve
ry direction. Colfax sprang to his feet,
and, with voice that could be heard
above the terrible roar and din, directed
the Sergeant t>at-Arms to arrest any mem,
Der Of the House who refused to obey
the orders of the President. The Ser
geant sprang into the thickest of the
fray, apparently just in time to prevent a
personal collision between Messrs. In
gersoll and Farnsworth. There was lit.
tie abatement of the excitement for some