Part 203

Counting Electoral Votes.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House agree to the report of the joint committee appointed 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, and have appointed Messrs. MACON and TALLMADGE, tellers, on their part.

Ordered, That Mr. FRANKLIN be appointed a teller of the ballots for President and Vice President of the United States, on the part of the Senate, in place of Mr. GAILLARD, absent from indisposition.

A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House is now ready to attend the Senate in opening the certificates and counting the votes of the Electors of the several States, in the choice of a President and Vice President of the United States, in pursuance of the resolution of the two Houses of Congress; and that the President of the Senate will be introduced to the Speaker's Chair, by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The two Houses of Congress, agreeably to the joint resolution, assembled in the Representatives' Chamber, and the certificates of the Electors of the several States were, by the President of the Senate, opened and delivered to the tellers appointed for the purpose, who, having examined and ascertained the number of votes, presented a list thereof to the President of the Senate, which was read, as follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------+ | President. | Vice President. | States. +----------+----------+----------+----------+ | James | De Witt | Elbridge | Jared | | Madison. | Clinton. | Gerry. |Ingersoll.| ------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ New Hampshire | - | 8 | 1 | 7 | Massachusetts | - | 22 | 2 | 20 | Rhode Island | - | 4 | - | 4 | Connecticut | - | 9 | - | 9 | Vermont | 8 | - | 8 | - | New York | - | 29 | - | 29 | New Jersey | - | 8 | - | 8 | Pennsylvania | 25 | - | 25 | - | Delaware | - | 4 | - | 4 | Maryland | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | Virginia | 25 | - | 25 | - | North Carolina | 15 | - | 15 | - | South Carolina | 11 | - | 11 | - | Georgia | 8 | - | 8 | - | Kentucky | 12 | - | 12 | - | Tennessee | 8 | - | 8 | - | Ohio | 7 | - | 7 | - | Louisiana | 3 | - | 3 | - | ------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+ Totals | 128 | 89 | 131 | 86 | ------------------+----------+----------+----------+----------+

The whole number of votes being 217, of which 109 makes a majority; JAMES MADISON had for President of the United States 128 votes, and ELBRIDGE GERRY had for Vice President of the United States 131 votes:

Whereupon, the President of the Senate declared JAMES MADISON elected President of the United States, for four years, commencing with the fourth day of March next, and ELBRIDGE GERRY, Vice President of the United States, for four years, commencing on the fourth day of March next.

The votes of the Electors were then delivered to the Secretary of the Senate; the two Houses of Congress separated, and the Senate returned to their own Chamber; and, on motion, adjourned.

THURSDAY, February 11.

Vice President Elect.

On motion, by Mr. FRANKLIN,

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause to be transmitted to ELBRIDGE GERRY, Esq., of Massachusetts, Vice President elect of the United States, notification of his election to that office, and that the President of the Senate do make and sign a certificate in the words following, to wit:

"Be it enacted, That the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, being convened at the city of Washington, on the second Wednesday of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen, the underwritten President of the Senate, pro tempore, did, in the presence of the said Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and count all the votes of the Electors for a President and Vice President of the United States; whereupon it appeared that JAMES MADISON, of Virginia, had a majority of the votes of the Electors as President, and ELBRIDGE GERRY, of Massachusetts, had a majority of the votes of the Electors as Vice President; by all which it appears that JAMES MADISON, of Virginia, has been duly elected President, and ELBRIDGE GERRY, of Massachusetts, has been duly elected Vice President of the United States, agreeably to the constitution.

"In witness whereof, I have herewith set my hand and caused the seal of the Senate to be affixed, this ---- day of February, 1813."

And that the President of the Senate do cause the certificates aforesaid to be laid before the President of the United States, with this resolution.

MONDAY, February 22.

Capture and Destruction of the Java.

The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I lay before Congress a letter, with accompanying documents, from Captain Bainbridge, now commanding the United States' frigate, the Constitution, reporting his capture and destruction of the British frigate, the Java. The circumstances and the issue of this combat, afford another example of the professional skill and heroic spirit which prevail in our naval service. The signal display of both, by Captain Bainbridge, his officers, and crew, command the highest praise.

This being a second instance in which the condition of the captured ship, by rendering it impossible to get her into port, has barred a contemplated reward of successful valor, I recommend to the consideration of Congress the equity and propriety of a general provision, allowing, in such cases, both past and future, a fair proportion of the value which would accrue to the captors, on the safe arrival and sale of the prize.

JAMES MADISON.

FEBRUARY 22, 1813.

The Message and accompanying documents were read, and referred to the committee appointed the 9th of November, who have under consideration the naval affairs of the United States, to consider and report thereon.

TUESDAY, February 23.

Naturalized Citizens Claiming Protection.

Mr. LEIB presented the memorial of a number of inhabitants of the city and liberties of Philadelphia, stating that they are natives of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and citizens of the United States by adoption; and that, by a late proclamation, issued by the Prince Regent of said Kingdom, the penalty of death is denounced against such of the natural born subjects thereof as shall adhere or give aid to the United States, thereby subjecting them to the punishment for treason against said Kingdom whenever the United States shall call upon them to take part in the existing war, and praying such provision for their protection as the wisdom of Congress may dictate; and the memorial was read.