The Portland daily press., 1885-02-12
COUNTING THE VOTE.
Mr.. Edmunds Declares Cleveland
and Hendricks Elected.
A Large Number Of Spectators Witness
the FOrmaIities.

WAsHINoToN, Feb. H. Washington is essen
TALLY community of sight-seers. Crowds are
easily gathered upon the more important occa-
sions This has seldom been illustrated in q
more striking way than it was this morning.
1t was known that the proceedings of the joint
convention for the counting of the Electoral
votes were to be of the most formal character
There were to be no protests. Belva Lockwood
could probably not find Congressman who
would present her burlesque memorial, and
the report that Mr.. Smalls of South Carolina
would object to the counting of the vote of
that State seems to have no basis. Besides, il
was the coldest day of the season. The ther-
mometer already touched zero, and the Signal
Bureau had predicted that the mercury wo uld
indicate 10 degrees below zero before the day
ended. The joint convention was to assemble
81 noon, the House was to meet at IL O'Clock.
Yet long before the House met this morning
the galleries were crowded with people who
had come to see the vote counted. The door
ways were crowded with ladies and men strug-
Cling to secnre the best seats. Before the gavel
fell, every gallery seat was taken and hundreds
were turned away. Then gallant member
moved to allow the ladies to be admitted on
the aoor, which OF course was carried, and in
q few moments the variegated plumes and
wraps OF the new comerS made bright fringe
OF color inside the bar of the House. The
House was struggling along with routine busi-
ness, but such was the buZzing that very little
of it was heard by the members. By some
order not understood the line of admission to
the galleries seemed to be drawn ON the color
line, for the public gallery, usually dark with
colored faces, revealed only one negro standing
back in an alcove.
At precisely noon the Senate, headed by its
Sergeant-a arms, old Isaac Bassett, with two
boxes containing the electoral votes, and Sem
ator Edmunds, with a black skull-cap upon
his head, filed in at the main door and down
the QanpWQv intQ the front eaata
At 1902 Mr.. Edmunds, calling the assembly
to order, said:
"The two Houses OF Congress have met in
pursuance OF the Constitution and laws, and
by concurrent resolution for the purpose of
executing the duty repaired by theiConstitu-
tion and laws in the matter Of counting the
electoral votes flor President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States cast by the electors
OF the several States for the term commencing
March 4, 1885. The tellers appointed BY the
two Houses will please take their places"
Senators Hoar and Pendleton and Repre-
sentatives Clay and Keifer having taken their
places at the Clerks desk, Mr.. Edmunds said
"The President of the Senate will open the
certificates of the several States in alphabetical
order and now opens the certificate for the
State of Alabama"
He handed to the chairman of the tellers on
the part of the Senate the certificate from
Alabama received by mail, and to the chair
man of the tellers on the part OF the House of
Representatives the certificate received by
messenger. The certificates were read by
Senator Hoar, who announced 10 electoral
votes for Grover Cleveland and 10 electoral
votes for Thomas A. Hendricks for Vice Presi-
dent.
Mr.. Sherman asked unanimous consent that
| only the operative parts of the certificates be
read, the formal parts being inspected by the
| tellers.
This was agreed TO, and only the statements
| OF the votes cast were read, as follows: