Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-02-21
STATE VOTES COUNTED.
THE rwo HOUSES OF CONGRESS MEET
IN JOINT SESSION.

Harrison and Morton Formally Declared
Elected President and Vice President OF
the United states-The Large Halls OF
the Capitol Ihronged.
Washington ID. o. spec.al.l
IL was Schiller who told us that every
road leads to the end OF the world. The
end Of tho world for all Washington on the
18th inst. was the Capitol. It was a bright.
clear. cold day. Washington City. the
Mecca OF the sight-seer In this country. Is
beginning 10 assume the aspect which will
be so familiar In tho inauguration days. II
was known that the proceedings OF the
counting Of the electoral vote were to be OF
the most formal character. There were to
he no protests. None of the sensational
scenes which have characterized this cere-
mony at some periods In our history were
TO be Witnessed. There was no ques-
tion as to the result. 1t was one OF the
coldest days Of the season. the thermome-
ter indicating little below 20 degrees.
which is cold weather in Washington. The
Joint convention met at 1 p. M. and the
two houses assembled at noon, yet as
early as 10 O'Clock the conveyances leading
to the Capitol were crowded. and the corri-
dors about the House. where the ceremony
was to be held. were jammed with people
crushing to find seats in the gallery. which
was already filed. The House. as seems to
be the custom on such occasions, had
caused large number OF seats in the gen.
eral galleries to be reserved for members.
and had issued tickets far in excess of the
capacity OF these galleries.
The floor OF the House was arranged in
the usual manner. Extra chairs were
placed in all tho vacant spots for the Sem
ate and Tor such other distinguished per-
sons as were to be admitted. The House
| strained its rules and adopted a resolution
to admit to such scanty vacant places as
there were on the floor the families OF
members. Those who were chivalric gave
up their seats to ladies. and tho electoral
count proceeded as in joint convention
| OF the people.
The galleries at tho House end we're filled
| early. and in the dim. uncertain light which
Is strained down into the vast House
| through the stained glass in the ceiling,
| thore seemed to be all about that expanse
! one great black fringe lighted up at inter-
walls by human faces. The monotonous as
| pect was not relieved by the bright colors
| OF the ladies' dresses, for there seemed to be
a singular somberness Of color, even in the
diplomatic gallery. That gallery at first was
| empty. but long before the proceedings had
begun few diplomats, and great many
persons who were not diplomats. obtained
access through the swinging doors. Among
| those present were the Austrian Minister.
! young Mr.. Edwards, second Secretary OF
the English legation. the German Minister,
| and one or two minor diplomats unknown
! to fame.
The electoral count was conducted not
only under different circumstances from
any which have preceded it, but 1t was the
first to be held in accordance with the pro-
visions of the new law. which bears date
only on February of this year. The only
outward indication that the new law had
gone into effect was the fact that the two
houses resolved themselves into joint
! convention without the customary notice
from the House to the Senate that the lower
branch was prepared to meet the Senate in
Joint convention.
In the Senate the presiding officer dis
played unusual expedition in disposing OF
| the morning business, and at five minutes
before l o'clock announced that the time
had arrived for the execution of the order
of the Senate. Then the Senate. preceded
| by its Sergeant at Arms. Mr.. Cassidy. and
the venerable Doorkeeper, Bassett. formed
| In line and marched through the long corri-
dors and beneath the dome to the House
Mr.. Bassett bore in either hand large
brown covered box, which contained
the certificates OF the electoral col
leges. which were the official record OF the
election OF Harrison and Morton. These
certificates had been carefully guarded by
the presiding officer OF the Senate since they
were received In private part Of the build
Ing in great safe especially prepared foI
the purpose. and the safe itself had been
under special guard since the day OF the ar
rival OF the first certificate.
Arm in arm with Senator Wilson, OF Iowa
walked ex-senator Ferry, OF Michigan.
The procession from the Senate arrived In
advance Of the appointed hour. The vener-
able Senator Morrill,. wearing heavy over
coat, for the day was sharp; Hoar and
Dawes. of Massachusetts,, and John Sher-
man made a notable group on one of the
front sofas; Payne and Coke. Gibson and
Blair occupied the next sofa; Stanford and
Stewart the two noted Representatives
from the Pacific coast, were next. Eustis
| sat by the side OF Chace, the Quaker
Senator from Rhode Island. the only
member of the Senate now who always
wears "swallow-tail" coat. Paddock
Ferry, OF Michigan. and William l.. Chand-
Ter sat together. Daniel. the "Columbiar
orator" OF Virginia, and Pasco. OF Florida
who looks like Spaniard. were next, sit
ting by the side OF Sunset" Cox. Mitchell
and Cullom were next. Butler, OF South
Carolina. sat by Sabin. Palmer. OF Michigan
occupied n chair near Randall. Mcpherson
I sat close to Salisbury.
On ono OF the back rows in the space al
lotted to the Senate were two OF the mos
conspicuous men in that body-Evarts anC
Edmunds. Ransom and Breckenridge came
in late. The detailed certificates of eacf
State were waived, and only the results
read. There were few incidents Of note. Ii
announcing the result Mr. ingalls, said:
This announcement OF the state Of tn,
vote by the President OF the Senate is by
law sufficient declaration that Benjamin
Harrison, OF the State OF Indiana, is elected
President of the United States. and tha
Levi Il. Morton, OF the Stato OF New York
is elected Vice President OF tho United
States. each for the term beginning Marcel
4, 1888"
1t will be remembered that in 1885 Mr.
Edmunds, upon tho completion OF the count
said that his declaration OF tho vote was
mere statement of what appeared upon tn,
face OF the papers. and that it had no lega
effect whatever. This attracted attention
as such statement was without precedent
The announcement was intended to call at
tention to the fact that there was no Law
which gave to the joint convention the au
thority to declare who was elected Prcsl
dent: that the only Office the joint conven
tion then had was TO count the votes anC
declare the result; and that there was n,
provision for declaring the legal effect OF
that result.
The two houses then separated and the
Joint convention was dissolved. The RECORD
OF the declaration OF the vote OF the join
convention was entered upon tho journals
OF the two houses. Nothing now remains
but the administration OF the oath OF Office
on March to make Benjamin Harrison
President and Levi u. Morton Vice Presi
dent Of the United States.
News Notes.
| Tn l. co;1 4. kso hrnxuarxr ~ L. Il