Washington, Feb. 13—A strong police force was stationed in various parts of the Capitol this morning, in the side occupied by the House of Representatives, where the formality of counting the Electoral votes of the several States for President and Vice President was to take place. Some parts of the building usually open to visitors were closed.
At an early hour the galleries of the Hall of the House of Representatives and all the passages leading thereto, were densely crowded by persons anxious to behold the ceremony of counting the votes.
Lord Lyons, Baron Hulseman and other foreign Ministers were among the distinguished spectators present. On no former occasion was there ever a more animated and exciting scene within the precincts of the Capitol.
Owing to apprehensions of a conspiracy to seize the public buildings, they have been privately guarded, though not in large force, for some weeks past. In addition to other fears, the blowing up of the Capitol was regarded as an event not impossible, and hence every night a thorough examination of the cellars and vaults of that building has been made by the Capitol Police, to be sure that no explosive materials had been there clandestinely deposited for such purpose.
To day the officers of the Artillery were on duty for the purpose of immediately communicating with Congress, should an attempt be made to attack the Capitol, and military forces were ready to advance at a moment’s warning, but there was nothing whatever visible to excite the least apprehension, and it can safely be asserted that never, during the last twenty years at least, has the counting of the Presidential Electoral votes been attended by better, if as good order, as on the present occasion.
The Daily Exchange, Baltimore, MD, February 14, 1861