The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-18

4 IloHHt' ttAIts VI OlueI lIOlh tuc pCIl-
atoria side of the chamber, and encouragement
from the opposite side.
Mr.. Farnsw orth-I rise to question o. order.
Mr. Butler (wlthout allowing Mr.. FarnsWorth to
go ally further with his question OF order, and
pushing his coat sleeves up to his elbow, if pre-
pairing for an encounter. and deernn med to hold his
own in it, went on to say: Il do not understand
that the representatives of the people can DE so
overruled. Loud shouts OF order. l raise the
question OF order, sir that the decision OF the Sen
nate shall not overrule the orders and resolutions
OF this House, and know that l therein speak the
sentiments of the House turning to the members
around him J do not?' Conflicting declarations
Of s'He does = Gle does no." and increasing con-
fusion and excitement Now, sir he continued
addressing the presiding officer, who seemed over
powered by the impetuoslty of the attack, end was
| silently wishing to be back again in the quiet and
sedate Senate chamber, "shall we have this I'M
scemly scene!'
The presiding C1lceF only answered tn2t ueDaie
W as not in order.
Mr.. Butler Growing more imDetuous aud less
respectfully VI am not debating 1t, sir. Noa.bitrary
proceedings will be suffered mere.
The Presiding Oticer-lf the gentleman IS not
debating he will take his seat.
This papable hit drew forth laughter and APP
plause, which seemed to inspire the presiding otti-
Ger with fresh courage 10 meet and resist the attack.
Mr. Buer-I am not debating; | appeal from
the decision OF the chair
The Presiding Officer (cnrtly)-The appeal is not
entertained.
Mr.. Butler Gin an appealing though by no means
tender mood)-I appeal from that decision
The presiding officer, deaf to all such appeals,
again directed the tellers to 60 with the count.
Mr.. Butler persisted IN addressing the chair.
Mr.. Wood inquired whether there was not SER
geant- alarms attached to this body, and expressed
the hope if there was that he should exercise his
authority.
der to call for the reading Of the rules governing
! this body.
The pre- siding officer replied it was not.
| Mr.. Ingersoll, coming to the aid of Mr.. Butler.
S1id II
part of this body until that appeal is entertained
and action had on it by this body
! The Presiding Otficer-Ihe tellers viii declare
| the vote
| Mr.. Ingersoll-An appeal has been taken.
The Presiding Officer-An appeal cannot be ia
| ken.
| Mr., BUTTERFLY. President
| The Presiding Otdcer-rhe gentleman from Mas
sachusetts will resume his seat. [Great con fusion
and excitemelt] The gentleman from Massachu
sets will come to ordar.
Mr. Butter (defianty)-I am in order, sir Mr.
President desire the reading OF the Joint rule on
the counting of the votes, which expressly states
that vote which is objected to cannot be counted
except by the concurrent vote of both Houses.
| This House has voted that it c9nnot concur.
Mr.. Covode (en:ouragngly )-Ihat is tne point
| Mr.. Butler-Now do not know any power that
the President of the Senate has to override the rule
and the resolution OF the H0nse.
| The presiding officer, persisting in not mndng
Mr.. Butler, again called upon the teers to per-
form their duties under the concurrent resolution
! The scene continued some time longer, Mr. But
Ter meantime respectfully moving that the Senate
have leavs to retire, and Mr.. BromWell desiring to
know of the presiding officer what authority he
mad to deny the right Of appeal, to which answer
was given. In the midst Of the turmoil, Senator
Conkling, one of the tellcrs rose to announce the
result ofthe vote. His first sentences were drowned
in vociferous shouts OF 'No vota.' ''No vote !"
from the anti-senatorlol side of the House. The
disorder so great that at length the Speaker,
for the first time taking active part in the proceed
QpS OF the convention, rose aud directed the
geant-at-armS to arrest any members who refused
10 obey the orders of the convention. This order
as hailed with satisfaction and greeted with APP
proving signs and clappmg OF hands on the sena-
torial and democratic side Of the House, and with
marked cessation of nproarousness on the oppo-
site side. AT last after varions Interruptions the
result announced by Senator COnklin. and
afterwards repeated " the presiding officer, that,
including The State of Georgia, Grant and Colfax
had received PA votes and Seymour and Blair 80
votes, and that excluding the State of Georgia,
Grant and ColfaX had received 214 votes and Sey-
mour and Blair Il votes,
The presiding officer after repeating the result,
said u do, therefore, declare that Ulysses 5.
Grant Of Illinois, having received majority OF the
whole number of electoral votes, is duly elected
President of the United States for four years. COM
mencing the fourth day Of March. 1869, and
that Schuyler ColfaA Of Indiana, having received
majority of the whole number of electoral votes
is duly elected Vice President OF the United States
for four years, commencing on the fourth day of
March. 1869 The joint convention having accom-
t..
| Sen ate Will now retire TO the Senate chamber
| The Senate having retired at quarter before five
Mr., Butler OF Massachusetts arose and offered the
| following resolution.
ReSOloed That the House protest that the count
ing OF the vote of Georgia by the order of the Wee
President pro- tenn was gross act of OPPRESSION
ard an invasion OF the rights and privileges Of the
House.
The Speaker decided that the resolution was a
question OF privilege.
Mr.. Randall OF Pa. made the point of order that
this House has no right TO reflect on coordinate
branch.
The Speaker ovcrruied the point, stating that the
House has a right to adopt any rules it may think
proper. The speaker made brief statement to
the effect that the President OF the Senate had com
piled with the rule which the two Houses had
legislated for him, and had complied exactly with
what his oath and duty required of him.
Mr. Bntler resumed, and in the course of his re-
marks said Although it could make no differ
ence at this moment, yet if this House say with
the Senate that such state shall be counted and
such another shall not be, then der given state
of facts it the power of the House and of the
Senate at any time to overthrow the vote, and it
will be done. Nay, more, sir, if it is within the
power of the House aud Senate to make rule that
no vote of a State shall be counted unless both
House and Senate agree together, then is it put in
the power of either House to determine who shall
be President Of the United States, and from this
day forth there can be 70 election whenever the
Senate and House of Representatives are opposed
to each other. The Speaaer has thought that the
action of the Senate was right. Admit that for
moment, but What would have happened if it had
beer wr"ng-1 believe it to have been-what re-
dress had We? Supposing he had declared, stand
ing III that place, that Horatio Seymour was elect
ed President of the United States against our pro-
tests as we did protest against the declaration he
made. he could have done it just as well as he did
now what he has done, and we should have been
as powrrless under the Constitution as we are now
and nothing left but the sacred right of revolu-
ton. Excitement. The same arbitrary proceed
lngs, the same croWdng down of he representative
OF the people, the Same-( no not like to what
might be unparllamentary words )-the same eX-
ercse of arbitrary, despotic and monarchia power
which was tired on the represent atVcS CT the peo-
pie to-day, could just well have declared Horatio
Seymour President, and there would have been no
redress within the Constitution and within the rule
He then alluded to the decision of the Speaker,
putting the supposabe question to his (the Speak
er's) good sense, which he (Butler) would rather
agree to then any other power on earth Suppose
doubtful Whether he had been elected by the voice
of the people, he could, bv the power of the qens
0drnaS OF tbs House by the power of the constabu-
larry OF the House, check the voice of the people
through their representatives. and allow the Presi-
dent of the Senate to declare that he was elected
Vice President OF the United States Mr. Butler
continued, and commended that the House TO- day
by its action on the Georgia case, rescinded the
concurrent resolution and concluded bv saving that
he proposed that the resolution. and another one
be would offer abrogatng the joint rule, shall be
referred to a select committee of seven, with in
structions to al consider the same and report
what action the House should take for preservation
Of its rights He accordingly offered such resolu-
ton.
Mr. Colfax spoke at length on the subject of the
Joint rule. He said there could be no anne ais from