New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-10

meDt. Secretary SchurZ has repned 10 the
speech of Senator Dawes in regard to the
killing of Big Snake.
COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
GARFIELD AND ARTHUR DECLARED ELECTED A
QUIET But INTERESTING SCENE IN THE HALL
OF THE HOUSE OF REPREsESTATIvEs-InE VOTE
OF GEORGIA.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON. Feb 9.--PrObsbly never before In
the history of the country have the proceedings at
tending the declaration of the election OF Presi-
dent and Vice president of the United States been
more commonplace and uninteresting than were the
incidents and routine which preceded the declara-
ton to-day of the election of Garfield and Arthur.
Or course there was an immense throng of specta-
tors as there always is any unusual occasion; Dut
il the visitors expecting to witness anything OF
o sensational sort they went away disappointed. AS
early as O'clock persons bearing tickets OF admls-
sion to the gaerie. of the House of Representatives
began to pour in. and at IL O'clock when the House
was called to order nearly every seat i'll the CALLER
les was occupied, and the corridors were filled with
a disappointed throng of persons who failed to gain
admission.
The hour before noon was spent by the House In
Committee of the Whole on the Legislative, Execu-
tive and Judicial Appropriation bill. Not five men,
bers paid any attention whatever to the proceedings
and at last the confusion on the floor became so
great as to drown the voice of the clerk,
who was reading the bill by paragraphs, for
amendment. Several times Mr.. Carlisle, who was in
the chair, was obliged to beg members to keep quiet
SO that the clerk could be heard by the chairman of
the Appropriations Committee, who sat a few feet
away A few minutes before the committee
arose, and, amid great confusion, resolution was
adopted providing for the admission to the floor of
ladies who held tickets but had not been able to
secure seats in the galleries 10 which they had
tickets.
The appearance of the Capitol at IL O'clock to-day
was very different from that which was witnessed
four years ago. Then q double line of police
men in uniform guarded the long passageway
between the House and the Senate, and an
unknown number of detectives, ont of uniform,
watched to prevent the assault upon the custOdians
of the electoral certificates their passage to the
Representatives Chamber, which was threatened,
and which it is now known was prepared. Then
such portion of Henry Watterson's hundred thou
sand unarmed men as would come were here, and
the arsenal and barracks about the Capitol were
we'll filed with Federal soldiers. The correspond
ence between Geueral Sherman and General Han
cock, published for the first time during the cam.
paign of last summer disclosed what the presence
of the troops meant
To-day there was no double line of armed and
uniformed policemen in the corridors of the Capitol
The regular force was ample and had little to do.
and there were no soldiers sleeping their arms in
the barracks. At five minutes past IL
the Senate arrived at the main door
of the House and was duly announced
The members of the House arose and remained
standing until the Senators had taken their places
on the two inner rows of seats. Heading the pro-
s,ion OF Senators it advanced came the vener-
t.ipv tha
hogany boxes which contained the electoral certif-
Gates. There was display of force, except that
four unuiiformed policemen attended to protect the
boxes.
The scene was somewhat impressive as the Con-
press of the United States was called to order by
the Vice-Presdent. Few members of either House
were absent. Senator Blaine did not make
his appearance and was said TO be ILL.,
Another distinguished absentee Senator David
Davis. Senators Logan and Lamar sat to-
Qether and conversed amably. BY the side
of Senator Edmunds sat Senator Wade Hampton.
Senators Bruce and Jones, of Nevada. came in
together and Senators Brown and Hill, of Georgia.
walked arm in arm. Soon after the proceed
incs had begun Senator Conkling appeared
nd the door of the House. and after mo-
ments hesitation strobe down the aisle in his most
impressive manner: stopped to speak to a brother
lie brought for his accommodation. The members
of the House occupied seats wherever they could
find them The last doubt that the election of Gar
field would be censtitutionally declared was dis
pelied when Mr. Springer made his appearance with
placid SMILE and seated himself at Senator Coke's
left hand. Many of the members surrendered their
seats to ladies' and the usually sombre appearance
of the chamber was relieved by their bright ribbons
and wrsppings Among the distinguished visitors
on the floor were Secretary Evarts and Attorney
General Devcns.
The convention Of the two houses was called to
order by the Vice-President, who then proclaimed
the business to be transacted. He handed the GER
tifcates of Alabama to Sepator Hamlin. one OF the
tellers on the part of the Senate. Mr. Hanln read
with great deiiberation the proceedings of the
Alabama Electoral College, omtting nothing what
ever. His example was followed by Senator Thur
man, who read the proceedings and certificates of
the Arkansas electors. 1t was evident that this
mode of proceeding would consume many hours, and
Representative Reagan of Texas, moved that the
tellers be allowed, upon ascertaining that the
certificate OF each State was in regular form, to
omit the reading Of everything except the certif-
Gates. ihis was done by unanimous consent and
greatly facilitated the business
When the certificate Of the Georgia electors was
opened, Mr. Springer, who had remained quiet for
some time, demanded that the proceedings and GER
ti6cates be read In full. This was done. and the
vice-President then announced that, 1t having ap-
peared that the electors Of the State of Georgia had
cast their ballots on day different from that fixed
by the act OF Congress- made in pursuance of the
Constitution Of tie United States the telsrs wouId
not record the vote Of that State until the remainder
Of the certificates had been read and the
result recorded. No question was raised at
ceeded. Senator Edmunds. who up to This
point had been very intent upon the proceedings,
had carefully noted the result of each certifcate
upon Q tally sheet spread before him. relaxed his
vigilance and left the hall for short period. Sena-
tor Conkling opened newspaper and became in.