Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-12


South Carolina
Tennessee l2
Texas l3
Vermont 4
Virginia 19
West Virginia
Wisconsin II
Totals 2i9 1852
The New York certificate was read by Mr.
Clay of Kentucky. and as some vague rumors
were in the air that trouble would be made
about the counting of New York, murmur
of relief went up. The manifestation of ap-
plause was quickly suppressed by Mr. Ed
munds, who ordered the sergeant-at arms to
arrest any gentleman or other person who
disturbed the order of the proceedings.
Mr. Edmunds said II have now opened
the certificates of the electors of all the
States, and their votes have been reported.
The tellers will now make their computations
and report the state of the vote"
After the tellers had devoted themselves
to figuring for several minutes, Senator Hoar
read and handed the result of their compu,a-
tions to the presiding officer, who said :
Senators and gentlemen of the House of
Representatives, the tellers have reported TO
the presididg officer the state of the vote,
from which it appears that Grover Cleveland
of the State of New York has received 2l9
L
States, and James G. Blaine of the State of
Maine has received 1872 votes for the same
office that Thomas A. Hendricks of the
State of Indiana, has received 2l9 votes for
the office of Vice President of the United
States, and that John A, Logan of the State
of Illinois has received 1872 votes for the
same office. Wherefore. | do declare that
Grover Cleveland of the State OF New YORK
has received majority of the votes OF the
whole number of electors appointed, as they
appear in the certificates read by the tellers,
and so apes RS to have been elected President
of the United States for the four years com
mencng on thd 4th day of March, 1885; and
that Thomas A. Hendricks of the State of
Indiana has received a majority Of the votes
of the whole number of electors appointed,
as they appear in the certificates read by the
telers, and so appears to have been elected
Vice President of the United States for the
four years commencing on the 4th day of
March, 1885; and As president of the Senate
| make This declaration only As public
statement in the presence of the two Houses
of Congress of the contents of the papers
opened and read on this occasion, and not as
possessing any authority in law to declare
any legal conclusion whatever.
Here the immense audience broke into ap-
plause and cheers.
The Senate at 20 retired to its chamber,
and the House took recess for 10 minutes
On the House heing called to erder Mr..
Keifer of Ohio offered resolution reciting
the result of the JOINT convention of the two
houses. and declaring it the sense of the
House that the constitution and laws had
been duly executed and that no further dec
laraton of these facts is necessary.
Mr. Springer of Ills. said it seemed from
the announcement Of the presiding officer of
the joint convention there was no declaration
of the vote. Contrary to all precedent the
vice president had simply declared that it ap-
peared from the count made by the tellers
that Grover Cleveland received a certain
number of votes, but had disclaimed anv in
tention to make any official declaration of the
result of that vote He preferred that the
matter be referred to the Judiciary commit
tee with instructions to report such resolu-
ton as may be necessary for the purpose of
making known the result of the election.
Speaker pro tem.-The presiding officer of
the Joint convention in making the announce
meut of the vote announced the result that
had been found and simply added the dis
claimer of any authority on his part as pre-
siding officer of the Senate or of the Joint
convention to make any declaration at all.
Mr.. Springer-I move that the whole mat
ter be referred to the judiciary committee.
Speaker-In the judgment of the chair the
declaration made by the presiding officer was
exactly what it should have been.
Mr. Springer-I have not asked the speak
er for his opinion | desire TO state my own.
Speaker-The chair acting as officer rep
resenting the House in joint convention,
would have made protest if anv improper
declaration by the presiding officer.had been
delivered.
Mr.. Randall of Pa. said that the vote OF
the electors mad been announced and that any
ministerial proceeding not essential to
the main fact that Grover Cleveland had
been elected.
Mr. Springer withdrew his motion and Mr.
Cox of New York, stating that the constitu-
ton declared who had been elected Presi
dent and Vice President, moved to lay the
resolution on the table; agreed to-135 q
ll5.
Mr.. Clay of Kentucky then offered the fol
lowing concurrent resolution:
Resolved, That three members of ths
House of Representatives and two members
of the Senate, to be appointed by that body,
to wait on Grover Cleveland and notify hin
that he has been duly elected President Of
the United States, and also to notify Thoma,
A. Hendricks of Indiana that be has beer
duly elected Vice President" Agreed to.
The House went into committee on the
post Office appropriation bill.
Mr.. Horr of Mich, offered an amendment
increasing from "a, loo. 900 to a. ,535 COO tbs
appropriation for the letter carrier system
agreed to.
Pending further action the committee rose
and at $50 the House adjourned until IL to
morrow.