Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1889 — STATE VOTES COUNTED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STATE VOTES COUNTED.

THE TWO HOUSES OFCONGRKSS MEET IN JOINT SESSION. Harrison and Morton Founally Declared E'ected President and Vice I’resldent of the United States—The Large Halls of the Capitol Thronged. (Washington (D. C.) special.] It was Schiller who told us that overy road lends to the end of the world. The end of the world for ull Washington on the 13th inst. was the CapitoL It was a bright, clear, cold day. Washington City, the Mecca of the sight-soer in this country, is beginning to assume the aspect which will bo so familiar in the inauguration days. It was known that the proceedings of thu counting of the electoral vote were to be of the most lormal character. There were to be no protests. None of the sensutional scenes which have characterized this ceremony at some periods in our history wore to bo witnessed. There was no question us to the result. It was one of the coldest days of tho season, the thermometer indicating a little below 20 degrees, which is cold wcathor in Washington. Tho joint convention met at 1 p. m., und tho two houses assembled at noon, yet as early as 10 o’clock the conveyances leading to the Capitol were orowded, und the corridors about the House, whore the ceremony was to bo belli, were jammed with people crushing to find soats in the gallery, which was already 11 lied,. The House, as soems to be tho custom on such occasions, had largo number of seats in tho general galleries to bo reserved for members, and mid issued tickets far in excess of tho capacity of these galleries. The Poor of the House was arranged in the usual manner. Extra chairs were placed in all tho vacant spots for tho Senate and for such other distinguished persons as woro to be admitted. Tho Houso .strained its rules and adopted a resolution to udinit to such scanty vacant places us there woro on tho floor tho families of members. Those who were chivalrio gave up their seats to ladies, und the electoral count proceeded as in a joint convention of tho people The galleries at tho Houso end wore flllod early, and in tho dim, uncertain li a lit which is strained down into tho vast House through the stained glass In the ceiling, there seemed to be .all about that expanse one great black fringe lighted up at interval* by human faces. The monotonous aspect was not relieved by the bright colors of the Indies’ dresses, for there seemed to bo a singular somberness of color, even in the diplomatic gallery. Thatgall ;ryatflrstwas empty, but long before the proceedings had begun a few diplomats, and a great many persons who were not diplomats, obtained access through tho swinging doots. Among those present were tho Austrian Mlnistei, young Mr. Edwards, second Heeretary of tlie English legation, the German Minister, nuil one or two minor diplomats unknown to fume.

J im electoral count was conducted not only under different circumstances from any which have preceded it, but it was tho first to be held in accordance witli tho provisions of tho new law, which bears date only on February !S of this year. Tho only outward indication that tiio new law had gone into effect was the fact that Ihe two houses resolved themselves into a joint convention without the customary notice trom the House to the Seriate that tiio lower branch was proparod to meet the Senate in joint convention. In tho Senate tiio presiding officer displayed unusual expedition in dlsnosing of the morning business, and at ilvo minutes before 1 o’clock announced that tire time iuul arrived for tiio execution oi the order of tiio Senate. Then tho Senate, preceded by its Sorgeunt-at-Arms, Mr. Cussidy. and the venerable Doorkeeper, Bassett, formed in line and marched through tho long corridors and beneath the demo to the House. Mr. Bassett boro in either hand a large, brown eoverod box, which contained the certificates of tho electoral colleges, which wore tho official record of tho election of Harrison and Morton. These certificates had boon carefully guarded by the presiding officer of tho Senate since they were received in a private part of the building in a great safe especially prepared for the purpose, and .the safe itself had beon under special guard since the day of tho arrival of the first certificate. Ann in arm with Senator Wilson, of lowa, Avalked ex-Senator Ferry, of Mioliigan. The procession from the Senate arrived in advance of tho appointed hour. The venerable Senator Mon ill, wearing a heavy overcoat, for tho day was sharp; Hoar and Dawes, of Massachusetts, and John Sherman made a notable group on one of the front sofas; Payne and (Joke, Gibson and Blair occupied the next soru; Stanford and Stewart, tho two noted Representatives from the Pacific coast, ivero next. Eustts sat by tho side of Chace, tho Quaker Senator from Itliodo Island, the only member of tho Senate now who always wears a “swallow-tail" cent. Paddock, Ferry, of Michigan, and William E. Chandler sat together. Daniel, the “Columbian orator," of Virginia, and Pasco, of Florida, who looks like a Spaniard, were next, sitting by tiio side of “Sunset" Cox. Mitchell and Cullom wore next. Butler, of South Carolina, sat by Sabin. Palmer, of Michigan, occupied a chair near Randall. McPherson sat close to Saulsbury. On one of the back rows in the space allotted to tho Senate were two of the most conspicuous men in that body—Evarts and Edmunds. Ransom and Breckinridge came in late. The detailed certificates of each State wore waived, and only the rosults real!. There were few incidents of note. In announcing the rosult Mr. Ingalls said: “This announcement of the state of tho vote by tho President of the Senate is by law a sufficient declaration that Ben jamin Harrison, of the State or Indiana, is elected President of tho United States, and that Levi P. Morton, of the State of New York, is elect :d Vice President of the United States, oacli for tho term beginning March 4, 1889.” Jtwili bo remembered that in 1885 Mr. Edmunds, upon tho completion of the count, said that his declaration of the vote was a mere statement of what appeared upon the face of the papers, and that it had no legal effect whatever. This attracted attention, as such a statement was without precedent. Tho announcement, was intended to call attention to the fact that thore was no law which gave to the joint convention the authority to declare who was elected President: that tho only office the joint convention then had was to count the votes and declare the result: and that there was no provision for declaring tho legal effect of that result. The two houses then separated and tho joint convention was dissolved. The reeprd of tho declaration of the vote of the joint convention was entered upon tho journals of the two houses. Nothing now.remains but tho administration of the oath of office on March 4 to make Benjamin Harrison President and Levi I*. Morton Vice President of tho United States.