The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-30
THE ELECTORAL COUNTS.
Interesting Facts Recalled by Hon. Schuyler
ColfaX.
Letter in Boston COngregationalist.

Letter in Boston Congregationalist.
In 1920 in the memorable days of the Missouri
Compromise, there were real, not imaginary,
doubts whether Missouri, which had sent on her
electoral votes, was actually, at the time the
electors were chosen, within the Union as State.
Fortunately, her vote did not decide the result.
And under Mr. Clay's celebrated resolution, the
President of the Senate was directed by Con
gress to announce that if Missouri's votes were
counted James Madison's vote was such mum
Der, and if not counted many. But that, iii
either event, James Madison elected Presi-
dent of the United States Although 1T
prevented any excitement at the counting
over the disputed status of Missouri, the
joint convention proved scene OF great con
fusion, members on either side demanding that
its electoral vote should be counted, or should
not be counted; and the President of the Senate
finally making the official annunciation of the
result amid unseemly interruptions and unpar-
hamentary disorder.
In 1857 the Wisconsin electors. from a snow
blockade, cast their votes on the day after the
one fixed by law. And, on motion of Mr.
Grundy, following the example Of Mr.. Clay IN
avoiding a decision as to their legality the Pres
ident of the Senate was directed, as the Wiscon
sin votes did not affect the result, to make the
same hypothetical announcement as in the Mis-
souri, case But in spite of this attempt thus to
avoid danger, there was another exciting scene
at the joint convention the imposslbllity of tax
ing any vote of senator's and representatives to-
gether ntensfying it. And the President of the
Senate again, amid unanswered questions and
undecided parliamentary points, hurried through
what should be solemn declaration, and the
senators as hurrledly returned to the chamber
In 1869 the question whether Georgia, one of
the ''revolted' States, had become entitled to
representation in the two houses of Congress
was still undetermined and pending But as her
electoral votes transmitted to Washington, did
not decide the election, both houses had agreed
in advance on a concurrent resolution copied
after Mr. Clays of 1920, substituting Georgia"
for missouri"
Although both branches of Congress were Re
publican, both presiding officers Republican, and
the President to be declared elected General
CAN'T of the same political faith with the ma
jority of each house, who had agreed to the
joint resolution directing the very words to be
used in the formal declaration by the President
of the Senate thus apparently insuring orderly
and harmonious actionl, the result was one OF
the most exciting congressional scenes | ever
witnessed, with violent gestieulations and danger
of personal collisions between senators and rep
resentatives, with an intensity OF passionate
feeling that at this distance from that exciting
hour can scarcely be realized.
The Congressional Globe shows that when the
Georgia certificate was opened, General Butler,
then Republican representative from Massa-
chusetts, objected to its vote being counted at
all on four specific grounds And, although
Senator Edmunds made the point of order that
the whole matter had been settled by the con
current resolution, the two houses, under an
other joint resolution, separated to consider
General Buffers objection. The House, agree
ing with him, decided that it should not be
counted But the Senate, by close vote, de-
cided that the president of the joint convention
should dispose of it in the hypothetical manner
prescribed in the concurrent resolution; that is,
if the vote of Georgia were counted General
Grant had so many votes, and if not counted so
many, but in either event, was elected Presi-
dent.
When Mr. Wade, the veteran senator, who
had been elected its presiding officer, and there
ore presided at the joint convention, announced,
1T the reassembling, that the Senate had declared
Governor Buffers objections not in order, and
that he should perform his duty as prescribed by
the concurrent resolution, General Butler APP
pealed. But Mr. Wade refused to entertain the
appeal on the ground that nothing was in order
except for him to make the official declaration,
and General Butler twice moved that the Senate
as ''interlopers.' When Mr.. Wade
presidential result, in the words which the con-
current resolution had instructed him to use,
and the Senate was retiring from the Represent
alive Hall, General Butler offered a resolution 10
the House that the counting of the vote of deor-
gia by the acting Vice president, was a gross act
of oppression, and an invasion of the rights and
privileges of the House But, after three days
debate in the House, although this resolution
was finally modified into referring the matter to
a select committee of inquiry, it was, motion
of General Logan, laid on the table by the deci
sive vote of 100 to So, and Mr. Wade was thus
vindicated by the House