The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-14
Joint Session of the u. s. Senate
and House Yesterday
To Declare Legally Who Shan Be
President of the States
For the Four Years Beginning
March 4, Next.
Many Ladies Attend the Count and the
Galleries Are Crowded to Over
flowing - Some Laughable
Slips of the Tongue.

OF the House presented lively scene this
morning. Although nothing of a sensa-
tional character was expected the galleries
were filled an hour before noon by a crowd
OF interested spectators who were eager 10
witness the ceremonies attending the
counting Of the electoral vot. The ladies
were in large majority, aud with their
handsome costumes formed pretty frame
to the kaleidoscope picture presented on
the floor below.
The corridors in the rear oil the galleries
were thronged with sight seers who were
contented, il by rising on their tip toes,
they could glance over the shoulders OF
more fortunate persons who had secured
Ipolhold on the doorways. Many ladies'
were upon the floor, pleading with mem.
bcrs for passes To the already overlooking
galleries.
Beside the Speaker chair was placed .
for Senator Ingalls, rs presiding officer Of d
the Senate, who was to preside over the .
joint assembly, and in the area in front oil .
the Clerks desk We're placed number OF .
richly upholstered chairs and lounges tor \
the accommodation OF the Senators.
At noon the Speakers gavel hushed the
hum Of conversation and the Chaplain |
made an appropriate prayer.
At five minutes before | o'clock the
legislative proceedings were suspended aud
few minutes aiterWurd the Senate was
announced, aud the Senators, headed by
officers, filed into the chamber.
Senator Ingalls, leaned on the arm OF
Secretary McCook, aud Capt. Bassett car
ried the box containing the returns from
the electoral colleges. The Representatives
remained standing until the Senators had
taken the seats assigned them, and then
Senator Ingalls,, seated ON the right hand
OF tho Speaker, called The joint assembly
g. order.
Mr. Ingallsthcn said: This being the day
and hour appointed for opening the corlili-
cltcsGnd counting the votes ol Electors for
President. the Senate and House oil Rrp-
ruseu ati"cs have met together pursuant to
the Constitution and laws OF the States.
III there be no objection to the electoral
vote of the State oi Alabama the certit-
cate will be- read by the tcilcrs, who will
make "a list OF the votes thereof"
The presiding officer then broke the
seal OF the certificate from Alabama and
handed il to Senator Henderson, one OF
the teilers, who read the document in q
cleaf voice.
II was in due form and showed that the
ten electoral votes oi Alabama had been
east for Cleveland aud Thurman. The GER
-. iitcaic gave In minute detail the proceed
rs OF the meeting OF the Electors Ia
Montgomery, and contained the ballots
100 by each EIcci0r for President aud
i Nicc-l'rcsidcuL IL was accompanied 10y
statement from the Governor Of Alabama
certifying 10 the election Of the Electors
there named. lis reading consumed sew
entccn minutes.
The reading having been concluded the
presiding officer said: Following the pre-
crdeuts observed ON former occasions, un.
less in any case there may bc demand
that the certificate b. reported in full, the
tellcrs having asceriuincd that the ccrilii-
Gates are in due form aud properly au.
thcnticaicd. will omit the executive GER
tihcaic OF the election Of the electors aud
the preliminary aud formal statement Of
the proceedings OF the College"
Tie certificate from the State Of Arkan'
sas was handed TO Senator Harris, and hc
read that portion OF Il which ccrtiiies that
the seven yon,s Of that State were east iOl
Cleveland and Thurman.
A laugh ran through the Assembly whcr
Senator Harris announced that "Jeii Dawn
yer Cleveland"
Al the suggestion Of Senator Edmund
the work OF the tellcrs was lightencd 10y
the dispensing with the reading OF ans
part OF the certificate aud requiring them
after careful examination, merely 20 stat
the manner in which the votes had beet
cast.
A smile ran over the assembly when b,
" n slip OF the tongue Mr.. Ermcntrout an
nounccd that the electors Of Florida ha
cas-, four votes for Levi T.. Morton 70
Vico.prcsidcnt. The smile broadcncd int
n hearty laugh when, few moments al
tcrward, senator Harris, 10y similor Or
Tor. gave the electoral vote oi Indiana
~ rover Cleveland. II was some time b'
fore the laughter died out and hc was pei
Il mittcd To correct his error.
/ The State Of Oregon having been rcachc
the presiding officer said. 'lhe Prrsidci
i Of the senate has received two certificate
and two other papers purporling TO be CO
tihcatrs from tie state Of Oregon. As Z
onircd by law. he opens them all and d.
liycrs them 10 the tcllcrs, who will read,
thcrc be no objection, only that which
authenticated by the certificate OF u
electors. certified by the Governor OF u
Stale OF Oregon 10 have been duly q
pointed In such state, ~ appears IN Y
eopy OF such certificate transmitted TO u
two houses Of Congress by the Secretary
State
Arcr pause senator Henderson sal
"Thc tel'ers have examined the diilere
certificates presented to them, aud ~
hut one In duplicate form that Is ccrtiii
by the Governor Of the State Of ORG
over the great seal Of that state. IL soei
10 bc In due form, aud by II 4 appears u
BENJAMIN Harrison, Of indiana, recoly
three votes for President aud Low L. Nj
ION three votes for Nicc-ProsidcnL
There was no objection TO the vote bel
40 counted.
The certificates from the rcmaini
States having been examined by the u
ors and their contents announced 10
ioint assembly, lull Of few minutes
ablca the tellrs 20 foot mp their figures
Then Senator Henderson, on behalf
the tcllcrs, announced the result OF III
labon.
The presiding officer, upon receiving