| those votes be not counted, the highest num ber of votes for that office will be 144. Br in either event, no person has received a m jority of the electoral votes for Vice-Preside of the United States; and I do therefore de clare that, no person having received sud majority, no person has been elected to the office, that Richard M. Johnson, of Kentucky and Francis Granger, of New York, are the two highest on the list; and it now devolve on the Senate of the United States, as previded in the Constitution, from those tre persons to elect a Vice-President of the United States. The PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE then nounced that the object for which the t Houses were assembled, under the Constit tion, had been accomplished, and that the Senators would retire to their Chamber in order. The Senators then rose and retired in the order they came, the members of the House rising in their places and remaining uncovered Mr. THOMAS, from the committee on the part of the House of Representatives, to jo such committee as might be appointed on th part of the Senate, to ascertain and reports mode of examining the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States, and f notifying the persons elected of their election reported: That the joint committee, in further exe tion of the duties with which they were charged by the two Houses of Congress, have agreed to the following resolution, in which their com mittee recommend to the House of Represent atives to concur: 1 Resolved, That a committee of one member of the Senate be appointed by that body, join a committee of two members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by that House, to wait on Martin Van Buren, of New! York, and notify him that he has been duly elected President of the United States for for: years, commencing with the 4th day of March 1837. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ("Congressional Globe," 26th Cong., 2d session, p. 134.) I was ready to receive the Senate and to proceed to count the votes for President and VicePresident of the United States, in conformity with the Constitution, and in pursuance of the joint resolution on that subject. On motion of Mr. Cushing, the House concurred in the following resolution of the Sen-ceeded to the hall of the House of RepresentaOn motion of Mr. Knight, the Senate proate, adopted on the 28th inst. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to join such committee as may be appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to ascertain and report a mode of examining the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States, and of notifying the persons elected of their election. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, February 2, 1841. (“Congressional Globe," 26th Cong., 2d session, p. 139.) The committee appointed on Saturday last to ascertain and report a mode of examining and counting the votes for President and VicePresident of the United States, consists, on the part of the House, of Mr. Cushing, Mr. Jones of Virginia, Mr. Granger, Mr. Dawson, and Mr. Atherton; on the part of the Senate of Mr. Preston, Mr. Hubbard, and Mr. Huntington. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, February 3, 1841. ("Congressional Globe," 26th Cong., 2d session, p. 140.) Mr. Cushing said he was instructed by the joint committee appointed to examine the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States, and to notify the persons elected of their election, to ask that the House concur in the following resolution: Resolved, That the two Houses will assemble in the Chamber of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the 10th of February, at twelve o'clock, and the President of the Senate shall be presiding officer; that one person be appointed a teller on the part of the Senate, and two on the part of the House of Representatives, to make a list of the votes as they shall be declared; that the result shall be declared to the President of the Senate, who shall announce the state of the vote, and persons elected, to the two Houses as aforesaid, which shall be deemed a declaration of the persons elected President and Vice-President of the United States, and, together with a list of votes, be entered on the journals of the two Houses. The resolution was concurred in. tives, preceded by their Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms. After the votes had been counted, the Senators returned to the Senate Chamber, where the following resolutions were adopted: be appointed by the Senate to join a committee Resolved, That a committee of one member of two members to be appointed by the House of Representatives, to wait on William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, and inform him that he has been constitutionally elected by the electors of the several States President of the United States for four years from the 4th day of March, 1841. Mr. Preston was appointed on the part of the Senate. Resolved, That the President of the Senate do cause John Tyler, of Virginia, to be notified that he has been duly elected Vice-President of the United States for four years from the 4th day of March, 1841. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, February 10, 1841. ("Congressional Globe," 26th Cong., 2d Session, pp. 159, 160.) This being the day specially set apart by a joint resolution, for the two Houses to convene in joint meeting, at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of opening and counting the electoral votes given by the several States for President and Vice-President of the United States, and the hour of twelve o'clock having arrived, On motion of Mr. Briggs, it was Ordered, That the Clerk inform the Senate that the House is now ready to receive the Senate, and to proceed in opening the certificates, and in counting the votes, of the electors for President and Vice-President of the United States. The Clerk having delivered the said message, The Senate attended in the Hall of the House. The President of the Senate was invited to a seat provided for him on the right of the Speaker, which he occupied; and the Senators having taken the seats set apart for their accommodation, The Vice-President of the United States, in presence of the two Houses of Congress, proceeded to open the certificates of the electors. of President and Vice-President of the United States, beginning with those of the State of Maine, and ending with the State of Michigan, and the tellers, Mr. Preston on the part of the Senate, and Mr. Cushing and Mr. John W. Jones on the part of the House, having read, counted, and registered the same, making duplicate lists thereof, and the lists being compared, they were delivered to the Vice-President of the United States, and are as follows: The President of the Senate then announced the state of the vote to the two Houses of Congress, in joint meeting assembled, and declared that William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, having a majority of the whole number of electoral votes, is duly elected President of the United States, for four years, commencing with the fourth day of March next, 1841; and that John Tyler, of Virginia, having a majority of the whole number of electoral votes, is duly elected Vice-President of the United States, for four years, commencing with the fourth day of March next, 1841. The joint meeting of the two Houses of Congress was then dissolved, and the Senate returned to its Chamber. Mr. Cushing, from the joint committee appointed to ascertain and report a mode for ascertaining the votes for President and VicePresident of the United States, and of certifying the persons elected of their election, presenting the following in continuation of their report: Resolved, That a committee of one member of the Senate be appointed by that body to join a committee of two members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by that House, to wait on William Henry Harrison, of Ohio, and to notify him that he has been duly elected President of the United States for four years, commencing with the 4th day of March, 1841. The resolution was then adopted nem con. The House then adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. HOUSE FIFTEENTH PRESIDENTIAL TERM. 1845-1849. JAMES K. POLK, President; GEORGE M. DALLAS, Vice-President. IN SENATE. Monday, February 3, 1845. On motion it was ordered that the Chair appoint the committee; when Messrs. Walker, Woodbury, and Dayton, were announced as ("Congressional Globe," 28th Cong., 2d Session, pp. the committee on the part of the Senate. 233, 234.) On motion by Mr. Walker, it was, Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to join such committee as may be appointed by the House to ascertain and report a mode of examining and counting the votes for President and Vice-President, and of informing the persons elected of their election. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, February 4, 1845. ("Congressional Globe," 28th Cong., 2d Session, p. 240.) Mr. Burke moved that the House take up and concur with the following resolution from the Senate. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to join with such committee as may be appointed by the House to ascertain and report a mode of examining and counting the votes for President and Vice-President, and of informing the persons elected of their election. The motion was agreed to, and the resolution was concurred in. IN SENATE. Wednesday, February 5, 1815. (“Congressional Globe," 28th Cong., 2d Session, p. 243.) A message was received from the House of Representatives, informing the Senate that that body had concurred in its resolution for the appointment of a joint committee to count the votes for President and Vice-President elect; and that Messrs. Burke, Chappell, Severance, C. J. Ingersoll, and Vance, were appointed a committee on their part. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, February 5, 1845. ("Congressional Globe," 28th Cong., 21 Session, p. 243.) The committee on the part of the House, appointed yesterday by the Speaker in conformity with the resolution of the House to join the committee of the Senate, "to ascertain and report a mode of examining and counting the votes for President and Vice-President, and of informing the persons elected of their election," consists of the following members: Messrs. Burke, A. A. Chapman, J. R. Ingersoll, D. L. Seymour, and Vance. IN SENATE. Friday, February 7, 1845. ("Congressional Globe," 23th Cong., 2d Session, p. 256.) Mr. Walker, from the committee appointed on the part of the Senate to join such committee as might be appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to ascertain and report a mode of examining the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States, and of informing the persons elected of their election, reported in part the following resolution: Resolved, That the two Houses will assemble in the Chamber of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the 12th day of February, 1845, at 12 o'clock; that one person be appointed teller on the part of the Senate, and two persons be appointed tellers on the part of the House, to make a list of the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States, as they shall be declared; that the resalt be delivered to the President of the Sen ate, who will announce to the two Houses, assembled as aforesaid, the state of the vote, and the person or persons elected, if it shall appear that a choice hath been made, agreeably to the Constitution of the United States, which annunciation shall be received a sufficient declaration of the person or persons elected; and that the said proceedings, together with a list of the votes, be entered on the Journals of the two Houses. The Senate, having considered this resolution, concurred therein. It was then ordered that Mr. Walker be the teller on the part of the Senate. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, February 7, 1845. ("Congressional Globe," 23th Cong., 2d Session, p. 259.) Mr. Burke made the following report from the committee appointed to ascertain and report a mode of examining the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States: "The committee on the part of the House of Representatives, appointed to join such committee as might be appointed on the part of the Senate, to ascertain and report a mode of examining the votes for President and VicePresident of the United States, and of informing the persons elected of their election, report: "That the joint committee, in part execution of the duties with which they were charged by the two Houses of Congress, have agreed to the following resolution, in which resolution their committee recommend to the House to concur: "Resolved, That the two Houses will assemble in the Chamber of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the 12th of February, 1845, at 12 o'clock; that one person be appointed teller on the part of the Senate, and two persons be appointed tellers on the part of the House, to make a list of the votes for President and VicePresident of the United States, as they shall be. declared; that the result be delivered to the President of the Senate, who will announce to the two Houses, assembled as aforesaid, the state of the vote, and the person or persons elected, if it shall appear that a choice hath been made agreeably to the Constitution of the United States, which annunciation shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the person or persons elected; and that the said proceedings, together with a list of the votes, be entered on the Journals of the two Houses." Mr. Burke said as the joint committee had reported a similar resolution to the Senate, which would probably be adopted by that body, he moved that it be printed, and laid on the table until the resolution was received from the Senate. The motion was agreed to. IN SENATE. Wednesday, February 12, 1845. ("Congressional Globe," 28th Cong., 2d Session, pp. 276, 277.) Mr. Brodhead said that the hour having arrived which was set apart by a joint resolution of the two Houses for counting the votes for the electors for President and Vice-President, he begged leave to offer the usual resolution. Mr. Brodhead then offered a resolution that a message be sent to the Senate to inform that body that the House was now ready to receive them, and proceed to the opening of the certificates and counting the votes given by the A message was received from the House of Representatives by the hands of Mr. French, their Clerk, giving information that that body was in order to receive the Senate, and proceed to the opening of the certificates, and counting the votes given by the electoral col-electoral colleges. leges of the several States for President and Vice-President of the United States. The message being read, the Senate proceeded in a body, headed by the President pro tem., and preceded by their Sergeant-at-Arms, to the House of Representatives, to execute the joint order of the two Houses. The Senate in the same order returned to the Senate Chamber, and resumed their seats about two hours thereafter, when The resolution having been agreed to, a message was accordingly sent to the Senate by B. B. French, Esq., the Clerk of the House. The Senate soon after entered the Hall of the House of Representatives, two abreast, preceded by their Sergeant-at-Arms, who was succeeded by their President (the Hon. Willie P. Mangum) and Secretary (Asbury Dickins, Esq.). The Senators took seats prepared for them in the central area of the House, and the President of the Senate took the chair of the Speaker (the Hon. John W. Jones), the lastnamed officer being seated on his left. The tellers (the Hon. Robert J. Walker of the Senate, and the Hon. Edmund Burke and the Hon. John P. Kennedy of the House of Representatives) took their seats at the Clerk's desk, Mr. Walker, from the committee on the part of the Senate appointed to join the committee on the part of the House to report as to the mode of counting the electoral votes for President and Vice-President, and informing the persons elected of their election, reported in further execution of their duty a resolution declaring the result, and proposing the appoint-assisted by the Secretary of the Senate, and B. ment of one Senator, to join such two members as might be appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to wait on the President and Vice-President elect, and inform them of their election. The question was taken on the resolution, and it was adopted. On motion, the Chair was authorized to appoint the committee on the part of the Senate, when Mr. Walker was appointed. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, February 7, 1845. ("Congressional Globe," 28th Cong., 2d Session, p. 260.) The joint resolution received from the Senate in relation to counting the presidential vote was, on motion of Mr. Burke, taken up and agreed to. The House then adjourned. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, February 12, 1845. ("Congressional Globe," 28th Cong., 2d Session, p. 277.) Mr. Burke stated that one of the tellers appointed on the part of the House [Mr. Joseph R. Ingersoll], to count the votes of the electors for President and Vice-President, was unable, from indisposition, to attend; and he, therefore, moved that another teller be appointed in his place. This motion being agreed to, The Speaker appointed Mr. J. P. Kennedy to serve as teller in place of Mr. Ingersoll. B. French, Esq., the Clerk of the House. L. Machin, Esq., principal Clerk of the Senate, and D. Gold, Esq., principal clerk in the office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, acted as recording clerks, being seated in front of the Clerk's desk at a table prepared for their use in the central area. The galleries were densely crowded in every part, a large number of the auditors being ladies. The President of the Senate rose when the members of the House and the Senators were all seated, and stated the object of their thus assembling to be to count the votes cast by the electors of the respective States of this Union for President and Vice-President of the United States; and handing to Mr. Walker (one of the tellers) a sealed packet, he said: "I deliver to the gentlemen tellers the votes of the electors of the State of Maine for President and Vice-President of the United States, in order that they may be counted." Mr. Walker received the packet; and having broken the seals, the tellers examined the votes, which were announced to be nine in number, all of which were given for James K. Polk of Tennessee, as President of the United States. The same number of votes for the Vice-President were given for George M. Dallas of Pennsylvania. The President next delivered to the tellers the votes of the electors of New Hampshire, and of all the other States of the Union in succession, in the same manner, and they were examined by the tellers, and the result was announced with the same formalities. The final result stood thus: |