Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-02
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., January 20, 1881.
Mr.. acknowledgements as we'll as republicans
ire beginning TO anticipate trouble over

counting the votes cast for president and vice
president Both parties entertain radically differ
ent views as to the proper method to be employed
In ascertaining the result Up to this time no
measure has been introduced In congress that il
favored by both parties, and It looks Just as II
congress would have to fall back upon the consti-
tuition In counting the vote this year Should the
occasion arise upon which Vice President Wheeler
would necessarily have to act judicially, It is
probable that the democrats would interpose n
vigorous protest, and lengthy discussion would
be the result, II nothing worse. A protracted de-
bate Is expected to arise when the vote Of Georgia
is reached, as the electoral college OF that state
did not meet on the day required by the law to
count the votes of that state. Some Of the dem
ocrats even believe that for this irregularity the
vote should not be counted while others Of that
party maintain that 1t should be. Republicans
generally will vote to reject It, But whether 1t be
counted or rejected, II Mr.. Wheeler should at
tempt to decide the case there is likely to be
trouble ahead. In 1857 the state OF Wisconsin
cast Its electoral vote on different day from the
one set by law. In joint convention Of the two
houses the vice president In the absence Of all
rules regulating the count, announced 1t for FIRE.
mont and Dayton. There being no question as to
the election Of Buchanan and Breckenridge, the
vote OF Wisconsin made no difference as to the
result, but the two houses debated the question
several days, and finally adopted a resolution de-
claring Buchanan and Breckenridge elected, with
out coming to any decision upon the particular
question which Is now again before congress
In the senate to-day, Mr.. Edmunds offered a
resolution, which was unanimously adopted, d.
recting the committee on Judiciary to inquire and
report its opinion az to the legality OF the vote Of
an electoral college cast on day other than that
fixed by law for counting the vote. Mr.. Ingalls,
Of Kansas then called up his resolution inviting
the house to be present in the senate chamber on
the second Wednesday in February to witness the
count of the vote for president and vice-president
Of the United States, This led to an animated
debate upon the merits of the question, whether
the count should take place in the senate chamber
or in the hall Of the house of representatives,
the discussion branching off into the real point at
issue concerning the rights of the e-president
in the case. Mr.. Bayard moved that the resolu.
ton be referred to the committee appointed to
consider the law relating to the electoral count.
Mr. Edmunds thought the matter should be set
tied now as there were but six legislative days
before the duties to be performed would devolve
upon them. He took the ground that the senate
chamber was the only strictly constitutional place
for the vote to be counted, and that the senate
should invite the house to attend upon whatever
constitutional functions may devolve upon the
two houses. Mr.. Bayard, after remarking that
he wished only to facilitate the object Of the res
olution in the usual and regular manner, said he
did not now propose to refer to the action OF the
senate a year ago, when all were preparing for
certain possible contingencies which subsequent
events rendered unnecessary. Time had settled
many of the questions then possible. Mr. Nor
gan Of Alabama thought the senate chamber too
small to accommodate the house on that day.
Besides the house was considering resolu-
ton, offered by himself, which had passed the
senate, regulating the electoral count, and he
deemed it discourteous to reverse their rule before
the house had taken action. Mr. Hill of Georgia
believed in referring the resolution, and said the
whole question had lost much OF its interest be-
cause everybody believed that Garfield had been
elected by the people according to the constitu-
ton, and II all the people the other side OF the
chamber should 60 home he would still be de-
clared elected, and inaugurated president. Mr..
Edmunds said the constitution had nothing to do
with party, and that senators had to do with con-
stitutonal duty. In this instance it was OF no
consequence who performed this duty except as a
precedent where it might have great importance
The resolution was finally referred by strict
party VOTE except that Mr. Davis of Illinois voted
with the republicans
The city is becoming more and more interested
In the success OF
THE ,sArcrpAr,ov RAIL,
az the committees propress in their ARRANGEMENTS
and the advanced state ot tho plars devised
n,raoar ,rsr.a a u...a and ,n.griadar, sroc,ao,o
equaled in the history OF the national canital
The new national museum building. covering on,v
a trifle less than three acres, will afford annie
space for several thousand people, without anv
one being uncomfortably crowded. The heating
apparatus is perfect. as was tested yesterday,
while the outside air was so cold the interior of
the building was thoroughly comfortable, while,
in addition to the steam heat there will be five
thousand gas jets burning The fact that there is
only one grand apartment in the building ensures
the free circulation of air as well as the unim-
peded movement OF the guests at the ball. The
frescoes Will be particularly handsome, including
the shields oil the different states OF the Union,
ana alegoricai representations OF art, commerce,
agriculture, etc In the CENTER Immediately be-
neath the DOME VIII stand statue oil the Goddess
OF Liberty hfteen feet In height, bearing torch.
Ihis Is being made after an original design, the
small model OF which shows a very fine figure
ana FACE that is really beautiful. The receiving
party, which will consist OF the newly-inaugurated
president and his vile and ex-Presidents Grant
and Hayes and their wives, will stand in the center
OF the rotunda, where all present will have the
best DOgslDle ODpOrtunity of speinp and kin1