The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-02-18
CONGRESS-
COUNTING. THE HECCPORAL VOTE
DiSgraeGfHl HranglG over the Vote Of
Georgia. -. .,.,,.. -
0verseer Butler in bis Glory.
INTENSE EXCITEMENT. 3
"LET Us HAVE PEACE.,
C0NGREss.
WAsH1NGroN, FEB. 10.


the formality of counting the electoral
votes for. President and Vice Presi-
dent takes place in the House, there
was great pressure, to obtain seats in
the galleries. Long before noon, ey-
cry position in those portions that
were open to the public was occupied.
The d00rways were blocked up, and
the corridors were thBonged with per-
sons asking TO gain admittance. Many
ladies occupied places in the gentle
mems gallery. Two rows of seats in
ladies gallery, on the southeast side,
were reserved for the families of the
and Vice President. The
southwest gallery was occupied by la
dies of the families of members and
Senators. There were only some half
dozen persons in the diplomatic gal
iery. But very few colored persons
were present. No special arrange
ments were made in the hall for the
intention being to let them occupy the
seats of the members nearest the
Speakers chair.
The proceedings were opened with
prayer by Chaplain Boynton.
The ordinary business Of the House
was observed till nearly l o'clock,
when the door-keeper announced the
Senate of the United States.
The Senators advanced, two by two,
up the main aisle; the members of the
House standing ilI the meanwhile, and
took seats in the portion OF the hall
assigned them.
Senator Wade, presiding officer of
the Senate, took the Speakers chair,
and the Speaker took chair beside
him.
The counting of the vote proceeded
quietly till the presiding officer hand
ed the teller the vote of Louisiana.
Representative Mullins rose and
said: s ~ - .gessf
Mr.. President, I ask the reading OF
the certificate accompanying that re-
port.
Presiding O OfReer-Let-it be read. =
The credentials of Leuisiana were
read by Representative Pruyn. The
word SJunior" is omitted in the name
of Mr.. Blair, and the word States is
omitted in the United States.
The credentials having been read, ?
Representative Mullins rose and
said:
Mr.. President: / object to the count
ing of the votes from the State o.
Louisiana.
The Vice President directed the
reading OF the tWenty,second join
rule, which provides that, when il
joint convention, any question shall
arise in reference to the counting O.
the votes, the Senate shall withdraw
and heiquestion shall be submitted tc
that body for its discussion, and the
Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives shall, in like manner, submit the
question to the House.
Mr.. iEldridge, rising to a point O
order, insisted that the rule was in vi
olation, of the direct terms of the Con
stitution; and he called attention tt
the twelfth amendment. The provis
ion of the constitution was, that I"Tht
President of the Senate should, in tht
presence of the Senate and House O.
Representatives, open all the certifi
Gates, and that the votes should thel
be counted.V) Fk At)YkH TI &
The Presiding Officer This rule has
been adopted by both houses, ,ant
therefore the chair will not entertain
the question of order. -'''
Mr.. Woodward rise tea point o
order which, / think, will be enter
| tanned. / submit that the objection
coming from the gentleman from Ten
nessee does not raise the question con
templated by that rule. There mus
be some specific objection made !. an6
until specific objection be made, there
is no occasion for the Senate to re
tire. -. 80 ,, = -.
Presiding oficer-It will be OBJ
/ served that the rule says "if all.
question arise" An objection withou
any reason for it hardly appears to tn
chair to be reason. The reason will
be stated in writing, so the chair ma,
know what it is. = =
Mr.. Washburne, of ILL., hope tn
gentleman from, Tennessee will with
draw his objection. F. 3-o2ai es -
Mr.. Mullins-No, sir, l cannot.
I Senator Sumner wonld inquir
of the chair whether we cannot pas
over the count of Louisiana inform
ally, and proceed with the rest Of. tn
count p IA lA4ltLiJ ~ 10 $t1JtlEi
Representative Wood-Go on regu
larly, Mr. President. 4 i f Z 7 /
1 Presiding, Otficer-No debate is i
order until the reason for the objec
! tioD is presented. E1
Senator Salisbury call for tn
reason of the objeeti94.. is>Sa =.
I Some moral slasion was meantim
being brought to bear on Mr.. MulliI
to induce him to Withdraw his objet
4 ton; but he sternly refused to with
draw it. tl..s7 E-i'- r
I A formal objection having bee
furnished by him, it was read at tn
Clerks desk, as follows: II object t
any count of the votes certified frol
the State of Louisiana, and l raise tn
question in relation to it, that no vail
| election of electors for President an
Vice President of the United STATE
has been held in the said State"
Presiding Oficer-Objection bRiB
made, the senate will retire to. i
chamber and deliberate on the obje
ton according to the rules III (
The Senators theD;a half-past on
z retired to. the Senate chamber, am
I considerable excitement and conf
sion. t' ga
The Speaker, having called Il
. House to order, had the ZZd JOl
}, rlile read, He said that the questit
g was, Shall the Vate of Louisiana
4 counted? gle.sia ,gteie sJ't. - ,u
d Mr.. Washburne-is it iR order
l. lay the objection on the table? =
The Speaker-It is not.
Mr.. Jones demanded the ayes al
nays, which were ordered. .a 10 ;i
The vote was then taken and L
Is sulted-ye yeas 1877, nays 63. Il .,s5
ID Atqnartero pastltWo "a message "
4 4 received from tho Senate, Aptifyil
10 the House that the Senate had reso1V
. that the electoral vote of Louisia
i. should he counted. ~ ~ =, ,l'5 III ie ~
ID Immediately thereafter the Senate
% returned to the hall of the Hou
the members oftthe House standil
j. while the Senators were taking tn,
= !, The Presiding Oiiicer anitounc
y that, by concurrent resolution
both houses, the vote of louisa
should becounted. 1t was thercup
III announced by Mr.. Pruyn as seven
Y Seymour and Blair.
:" The counting praGeedea withe