Weekly Courier Journal

THE ELECTORAL VOTE.

Joint Convention of the Two Houses of Congress, With Mr. Ingalls Presiding

The Votes of the States For President and Vice President Counted By Tellers.

Washington, Feb. 13.-The chamber of the House presented a lively scene this morning. Although nothing of a sensational character was expected, the galleries were filled an hour before noon by a crowd of interested spectators, who were eager to witness the ceremonies attending the counting of the electoral vote. The ladies were in a large majority, and, with their handsome costumes, formed a pretty frame to the kaleidoscopic picture presented on the floor below. The corridors in the rear of the galleries were thronged with sightseers who were contented, if by rising on their tiptoes, they could glance over the shoulders of the more fortunate persons who had secured a foothold in the doorways. Many ladies were upon the floor, pleading with members for passes to the already overflowing galleries. Beside the Speaker's chair was placed one for Senator Ingalls, who, as presiding officer of the Senate, was to preside over the joint assembly, and in the rear in front of the clerk's desk were placed a number of richly upholstered chairs and lounges for the accommodation of the Senators. At noon the Speaker's gavel hushed the hum of conversation, and the chaplain made an appropriate prayer. At five minutes before one the legislative proceedings were suspended and, a few minutes afterward, the Senate was announced and the Senators, headed by officers, filed into the chamber. Senator Ingalls leaned on the arm of Secretary McCook, and Capt. Bassett carried the box containing the returns from the Electoral College. The Representatives remained standing until the Senators had taken the seats assigned them, and then Senator Ingalls, seated on the right hand of the Speaker, called the joint assembly to order. Mr. Ingalls said: "This being the day and hour appointed for opening the certificates and counting the votes of electors for President, the Senate and House of Representatives have met together, pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the United States. If there be no objection to the vote of the State of Alabama, the certificate will be read by the tellers, who will make the list of the votes thereof." The presiding officer then broke the seal of the certificate of Alabama and handed it to Senator Manderson, one of the tellers, who read the document in a clear voice. It was in due form, and showed that the ten electoral votes of Alabama had been cast for Cleveland and Thurman. The certificate gave in minute detail the proceedings of the meeting of the electors in Montgomery, and contained the ballots cast by each elector for President and Vice President. It was accompanied by a statement of the Governor of Alabama certifying to the election of the electors therein named. Its reading consumed seventeen minutes. The reading having been concluded, the presiding officer said: "Following the precedents observed on former occasions, unless in any case there may be a demand that the certificate be reported in full, the tellers having ascertained the certificates are in due form and properly authenticated, will omit the executive certificate of the election of the electors and the preliminary and formal statement of the proceedings of the college." The certificate from the State of Arkansas was handed to Senator Harris, and he read that portion of it which certifies that the seven votes of that State were cast for Cleveland and Thurman. A laugh ran through the assembly when Senator Harris announced that Jeff Davis (one of the electors) gave one vote for Grover Cleveland. At the suggestion of Senator Edmunds, the work of the tellers was lightened by dispensing with the reading of any part of the certificates, and requiring them, after careful examination, merely to state the manner in which the votes had been cast. A smile ran over the assembly when by a slip of the tongue Mr. Ermentrout announced that the electors of Florida had cast four votes for Levi P. Morton for Vice President. The smile broadened into a hearty laugh when, a few moments afterward, Senator Harris, by a similar error gave the electoral vote of Indiana to Grover Cleveland. It was some time before the laughter died out, and he was permitted to correct his error. The State of Oregon having been reached the presiding officer said: "The President of the Senate has received two certificates and two other papers purporting to be certificates from the State of Oregon. As required by law he opens them all and delivers them to the tellers, who will read, if there be no objection, only that which is authenticated by the certificate of the electors, certified by the Governor of the State of Oregon to have been duly appointed in such State as appears in the copy of such certificate transmitted to the two houses of Congress by the Secretary of State." After applause, Senator Manderson said: "The tellers have examined the different certificates presented to them and find but one in duplicate that is certified by the Governor of the State of Oregon, over the great seal of that State. It seems to be in due form, and by it it appears that Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, received three votes for President and Levi P. Morton three votes for Vice President." There was no objection. The certificates from the remaining States having been examined by the tellers and their contents announced to the joint assembly, a lull of a few minutes enabled the tellers to foot up their figures. Senator Manderson, on behalf of the tellers, announced the result of their labors. The Presiding Officer, upon receiving the result, said: The state of the vote for President of the United States, as delivered to the President of the Senate, is as follows: The whole number of electors appointed to vote for President of the United States is 401, of which a majority is 201. Benjamin Harrison, of the State of Indiana, has received for President of the United States 233 votes and Grover Cleveland, of the State of New York, has received 168 votes. The state of the vote for Vice President of the United States as delivered to the President of the Senate is as follows: The whole number of electors appointed to vote for Vice President of the United States is 401, of which a majority is 201. Levi P. Morton, of New York, has received 233 votes and Allen G. Thurman, of Ohio, has received 168 votes. This announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate is by the law a sufficient declaration that Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, is elected President of the United States, and that Levi P. Morton, of New York, is elected Vice President of the United States, each for the term beginning March 4, 1889, and will be entered, together with a list of the votes, on the journal of the Senate and House of Representatives. No demonstration of applause followed this declaration and Senator Ingalls proceeded: The counting of the electoral votes having been concluded and the result declared, the joint meeting of the two houses is dissolved and the Senate will now return to its chamber. In five minutes the Senators had retired, but it required a much longer time to induce the large assemblage of ladies to vacate the chamber.