The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-09

of Missouri TO be counted, the result
would be, for A. b. President of the
United States - votes; If not counted,
for A. B. as President OF the United
States - votes; but in either event,
A. b. is elected President OF tue United
States" This procedure me ely avoided
a collateral questions Oh this trouble
some issue. While this count was In
pr gress, Floyd, oil Virginia, attempted
to address the Cnair, bat Was imme-
date,y called to order. John Randolph
likewise made the same attempt, ana
was directed by the Chair to take his
seat as being out Of order, "tne only
business at that present time was
that prescribed by the ruie." 80, no de-
bale whatever was pc emitted.
In the count OF 1887, when Van Buren,
was elected, precisely the same question
was raised concerning the vote oL Mich
igan that had arisen about Missouri IN
1871; and was disposed OF in the same
manner.
But, in the count of 1887 there arose
another question, The decision OF WI Gu
has perJlnency now. At the recent
election, it is said tnat Postmaster in
Oregon mas been pronounced by the
Governor Of that State, (IorLlhed, as ru-
NOR saith, by an "0pinlOn" from the
legal wisdom OF our own Geo. Hoadly
ineligible as an E,ector because OF his
office: aud the certificate of his election
gwen TO the 'mInOrity man" Of oppo-
Site politics. In 1887 1t was found That
among the Electors there were no less
than five Postmasters returned. A
select joint committee, consisting OF
Henry Clay, SIlas Wright and Felix
Grundy, of the Senate, and Messrs.
Cambreling, Thomas, Conhor, Reed and
| Lyon, OF the House, was appointed TO
consider OF this; and they reported
| mat they aid nOL teel themselves war.
ranted in recommending The rejection
of Lne votes OF those Electors, who
were Deputy Pustmasters; and giving
as their reason, (wuiCh the Governor OF
| Oregon and ms legal ADVISER would dc
well TO pUnderI) ''tnat 1T would be very
delicate power w be exercised on the
part of Congress to determine upon the
qualification CT Electors OF President
and Vice President of the Unlteu
States" And that committee, all dis
tluguished lawyers aud state men, dis
tinCJly indicated that il "De.onseu tC
the Electoral College itself 10 judge OF
the qualifications or its own memveis,"
as in Inc case vi any other Independent
deliDeratlVe body.
The Two succeeding counts were con
Quoted under the old-Glme rule. La lo4;
jeff. DAVIS was teller OF the count Ioi
the Senate, George NJ. Dallas being the
Vice President. In opening the pro
ceeuinga lOr the count III 1919, Mr.. Dal
las used these significant words: Ut
obedience TO law, Lne senate ana House
of REPRESENTATIVES nave assembled on
he present occasion. so that n10y JuLft
| the duty eROiRed on me by the CORSttGH
ttOE." Mr Stephens, ut ueOrSlu, arOs(
10 make suggestion respecting The
count; but was immediately ruled 10 or
der, the chair stating that no. motor
was in order, ana no mode Of procedure
| but that pointed OuC by The Cons tIUutloL
could be adopted.
In 1861, Llncoln's first election, Vice
President breckenridge made the cOun
and declared the result, with senate
TrumDull as. the teller. AT LlncOlHl
second eleoabn, 1865, Senator Wad
submitted "a motion 10 dispense VIII
certain formal readings. But he wat
sharply called to order by ). S. Cox
who reminded the JOINT convention tina
il was not competent to nave any mo
tIOn Whatever submitted tor its consld
eratiOn; III which the President OF tn
| Senate concurred, and SO ruled.
| Thus during the tweutV-two counts o
! Electoral votes had since the organlZa
| tion Of the Government Lnere has betl
no occasion when either House absenGe
itself from tne Call w this duty; nor ha
| the dignity of any sucA occasion eve
been marred by unseemly Wrangung 0
oGher improperly of demeanor on til
part Of either branch OF Congress.