Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-17
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10.
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SENATE.
The Senate withdrew from joint session to con-
slider Mr. Buffers objections 10 counting the
electoral vote of the State of Georgia. While the
Senate were considering the objections raised by
the gentleman from Massachusetts a mesa qe
was received from the House announcing that
that body had voted not to count the electoral
votes of Georgia. The Senate. however, by a vote
Of 81 to 26 decided that Mr.. Buffers objection
was not in order, in view Of the adoption Of the
concurrent resolution.
4 resolution BY Mr.. Howard declaring that the
electoral vote of Georgia should not be- counted
was rejected, % yeas, "a nays.
On motion Of Mr. Edmunds. the Secretary was
directed u inform the House ot the action of the
Senate, and then at 4 10 the Senate again pro-
coded to the Hall Of the House
At las the Senate returned 10 the Senate Cham
Der
Mr.. Morton offered resolution appointing a
Senator TO be with two members Of the House. a
JOINT committee of three TO wait on Gen. Grant
and Schuyler Coltax, and inform them Of their
elections as President and Vice President respect-
lively adopted. The Chair appointed Mr.. Nor
gan as Senate member Of the committee.
HOUSE.
At two O'Clock the Senate notified the House
that it had voted that the electoral votes of Lou
isana shall be counted.
immediately thereafter the Senators returned
10 the Hall Of the House Of Representatives, the
members of the House observing the ceremony of
standing while the Senators were taking their
seats. The presiding officer announced that by
the concurrent resolution OF both Houses the vote
OF Louisiana should be counted. Ii was therefore
announced by Mr.. Pruyn as seven for Seymour
and Blair.
At three clock the counting Of votes having
proceeded as far the State of Georgia Mr. But
Ter of Mass objected 10 the counting of the votes
OF that State, and submitted reasons in writing.
After much hesitancy on the part of the presid-
ing officer, as to whether he was not bound BY the
concurrent resolution relating 10 Georgia, he di-
rected the Senate to retire to its own chamber to
deliberate, and the Senate accordingly returned.
The objections OF Mr.. Butler in counting the
electoral votes OF the State of Georgia We're then
read as follows
| object under the Joint rule that the vote of
the State of Georgia for President and Vice Pres
ident ought not to be counted, and object 10 the
counting thereofbecause first, among other things
the vote Of the electors in the electoral college was
not given on the first Wednesday in December,
as required by law, and no excuse in justification
for the omission of such legal date is set forth in
the certificate of the action of the electors. Sec
Ond, because at the date of the election of such
electors the State Of Georgia had not been admit
ted 70 representation as State in Congress since
the rebellion Of her people, or become entitled
thereto. Third, that at said date said State of
GOrga had not fulfilled in due form all the re-
qulrements Of the Constitution and laws of the
United States known as the Reconstruction Acts
so as to enttle said State of Georgia to be repre-
scented as a State Of the Union in the electoral
vote Of the several States for the choice of Pres
dent and Vice President Fourth, that the cleo
ton intended to have been held in the State of
Georgia, on the first Thursday of November last,
was not free, just, equal and fair election, but
the people were deprived of their Just rights there
in by force and fraud
The Speaker put the question, shall the vote of
Georgia be counted, Notwithstanding the obiee-
tons Of the gentleman from Massachusetts,
After much discussion, the House decided. by
vote OF yeas to $50 nays, 10 exclude the vote
Of Georgia.