Joint Session of Congress

Congress assembled in joint session on 2/13/1861 to count the electoral vote. The New York Times reporter stated that rumors spread throughout the Capitol that Southern sympathizers would interrupt the counting of the electoral vote, possibly seizing control of the Capitol building, but that did not materialize.

VP Breckinridge presided. Sens. Seward, Douglas, and Lane occupied the center of the front row, facing Breckinridge and the House Speaker. The entire room was packed with members of Congress and visitors, but throughout the proceedings, no one expressed an opinion as to what was taking place (no applause or heckling). After Breckinridge declared Lincoln and Hamlin to be the president-elect and vice president-elect, those gathered rose and left in an orderly manner, again with remarkably little noise. [New York Times, 2/14/1861]