The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-18
Counting of the Electoral Votes. Ex
citing Scenes

cudiI Inc feaulilS OF tle certlHcaeS WIS ~
with until Louisiana was reached when the vote
of that State was questioned. The Senate retired
when each body separately voted that it should be
counted.
The call of votes of States continued unit
Georgia reached, when Mr.. Butler OF Massa
chusetts said
object to the vote of the State of Georgia being
counted, and send my objection in writing to the
chair
ect, under the joint rule that the vote of the State
of Georgia for President and Vice President ough,
not to be counted, and | object to the counting
thereof because-frst, among other things, the vote
OF the electors the electoral college not given
on the first Wednesday in December, required
by law, and no in justification tor the omis
SION of such legal duty is set forth in the certificate
OF the action OF the electors second because at the
date OF the election Of such electors the state Of
Georgia had not been admitted to representation as
State III Congress since the re bellion OF her PEG:
pie. or become entitled thereto; third, that at said
date said State of Georgia had not fulfilled IN due
form all the requI ements of the Constitution and
laws OF the United States known as the reconstruc
ton acts, SO as enttle said State of Georgia to be
represented State Of the Union in the electoral
of the several States for the choice of President
and Vice President; fourth that the election pre-
tended to have been held in the State of Georgia
Oh the first Tuesday in November last past was not
free, just, equal ana fair election; but the people
were deprived of their just rights within Thy force
and fraud"
Senator Drake Of Mo.-As the objection will re-
quire the retirement of the Senate to its chamber
/ send an objection to the counting of the vote o
the Stare OF Nevada, which may 60 at the same
time.
The Presiding Officer-The lection is too late
The vote of Nevada has been counted.
Representative Pruyn OF n. Y, then, by direc-
ton of the presiding officer, read the concurrent
resolution of the two houses relating to the count
Ing of the vote of Georgia.
Senator Edmunds of Vt made a point Of order
.lo<+t pt,ln fhn two a.
having by special rule on the of Georgia made
d substantial change in the standing joint rule.
Mr.. Butler-I desire TO call the attention of the
president OF the convention to the law that the
votes must be counted or rejected by the conven-
non of the Senate sud House.
Mr. Wood call the gentleman from Massachu-
sets to order. The rule forbids discussion,
The Presiding Offcer-Debate is not in order.
Mr.. Butler claim on point of order that the
objection of the Senator from Vermont is not well
TAKEN and I desire the question to be decided by
the two houses.
The Presiding Officer speaking with much hest.
taucy)-Tne char is very much disposed to hold
the Senate and the House to their own doing-to
the joint resolution which they passed. the purporl
of which Is, if we understand it, that II the votes Of
the State of Georgia did not alter the result Of the
election they might be counted but if they did alter
the result they were not to be counted.
This simple AMI eXpclt declaration Of the mean
ing Ofthe concurrent resolution brought down the
House, and on the floor and in the galleries there
accompanied with the clapping of hands, stamping
of feet and other like manifestations Of uproarous
mirtD.
Senator Drake-I submit point of order that the
concurrent resolution does not dispose of the hrSt
ground of the objection taken by the representative
from Massachusetts, to w.t. that the vote of Georgia
was not cast on the day required by law. and insist
therefore that the point must be determined by the
votes of both Houses separately.
The Presiding Oficer-The concurrent resolu-
ton declares that the vote of Georgia shall be
nounced by the vice president pro. TEN. in Ger
tain special way. The Char is very much dis
posed to obey the directions of both branches OF
Congress in this matter.
Mr. Butler-l have great respect for the decision
of the Char, yet as this Is matter of high consti-
tutional law, and as in other times it might make
great trouble, I propose that the matter shall be
considered in both houses. ExclamatiOns of"No
no." II es! yes" from the opposite sides of the
chamber, the Senators, who were on the Demo-
cratic side of the House, appearing to have formed
u junction with the Democrats, and with consid-
cradle number of Republican members who were
adverse to Buffers position.
The Presiding Officer lose to face the storm,
and then, l1reSlstlblv, and he felt himself
utterly embarrassed by the persistency of Mr. But
Ter, took his seat again without venturing to ex-
press an opinion or make a ruling. This incident
also provoked considerable laughter.
Mr.. Jones Of Kentucky, put forward an objection
10 the counting OF the vote of Georgia in the man
ner indicated in the concurrent resolution and said
he would proceed to write out his objection in due
IOIu lie submitted uUueT l0c uiG lie llAu
right to object to that concurrent resolution
especially as it was passed subsequently to the
election.
While Mr.. Jones was sitting down at bis desk to
write out his objection, the presiding officer, as
being the easiest way out ofthe difficulties by which
he was beset rose and said that objection being
made The Senate would retire to its chamber and
deliberate.
After the Senate had retired, and after the OBJ
jections made by Mr.. Butler to counting the vote
Of Georgia had been read again at the clerks desk
the Speaker put the question, "Shalltae vote of the
State of Georgia be counted, notwithstanding the
objection Of the gentleman from Massachusetts,"
Mr.. Eldridge of Wis rose to a point of order
The presiding officer OF the joint convention had
twice decided not to receive the objection but hold
the convention to the direction contained in the
concurrent resolution, and the two bodies had sep
arated. He Insisted not the objections of the
gentleman from Massachusetts, (Mr. Buter) but
on that made by the gentleman from Kentucky
(Ml. Jones.)
Mr.. MAYNARD Of Tenn submitted that that was
not question of order but mere issue of fact.
The Speaker-The point in reference 10 the de-
clsion OF the President of the Senate must be sub
mitted to that officer when he Is occupying the
char In his official capacity. The speaker does
not rule on the ruling of the President of the SEN
ute
After some further points Of order had been
raised and overruled, the question was taken on
the direct question whether the vote of Georgia
should be counted, and it was decided in the neg
alive by vote of Al yeas to $50 nays, the only Re-
puDlIcanS voting yea beng MesSrS. Baker and HaN-
kns.
The House then, while awaiting the return Of
the Senate, disposed by unanimous consent of con-
siderable routine business.
MIR. Young OF Georgia declared that he entered
his solemn protest, in the name of the people OF
Georgia, and of the Constitution, against the action
OF the House.
After waiting patiently about an hour, and as
there was no sign of The return of the Senate, Mr.
Thomas of Indiana offered motion, which he sad
would allow the House to eXtrcate itself from the
unnecessary ENHANCEMENT IN which it had got
viz: A motion to reconsider the vote by which
Georgia excluded from the count.
Mr.. DIckey of Pa, moved to table the motion.
The House proceeded to vote bv yeas end NAYS
During the vote message received from the
Senate announcing that il had resolved that the OBJ
lection made to the sounting of the vote Of Georgia
was not in order.
Mr.. Wood of n. Y, moved that the further TAX
ing of the vote be dispensed with, the Senators
being in waiting.
The Speaker ruled that the call Of the rol, could
not be arrested except by the constitutional expira.
ton of Congress.
Mr. Butler-No. 10. Let the House stick to its
dignity.
The vote was concluded, and the motion to re.
consider was laid on the table-117 yeas, 81 NAYS
The following Republicans voted with the Dem
ocrats against laying it on the table: Messrs Ba.
ker, Beeman. Beatty, Bingham, Boyden. Farms
worth, Hawkins, Hubbard OF Iowa, Jencks Ketch-
Moorehead, File, Smith, Wilson of Iowa, and Win.
dom.
The Speaker then announced that the House
would receive the Senate.
Mr.. Butler (renewing the attack impetuously)-
Mr.. President rise to a question of order.
The presiding officer vaInly attempting to ignore
the question of order directed the teers to 90 on
a. IN .ppio