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fied, and a quorum being in attendance, it is customary to adopt the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that the Senate is ready to proceed to business.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed, to join such committee as may be appointed by the House of Representatives, to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that quorums of the two houses have assembled, and that the two houses are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make.

[The standing rules of the Senate direct that the committees shall be appointed by ballot, but the senators, not having time to elect the committee to wait on the President, it is the practice for some senator to move to suspend the rule relative to balloting, and that the president name the committee, which being agreed to, he asks of what number the committee shall consist. "Two" being named, he says, "the committee will consist of two." The president of course names the mover of the resolution, and associates some other senator with him.]

Resolved, That each senator be supplied during the present session, with three such newspapers, printed within the United States, as he may choose; provided the same be fur

nished at the usual rate for the annual charge of newspapers; and provided that, if any senator shall choose to take any newspaper other than daily, he shall be supplied with as many such papers as shall not exceed the price of three daily papers.

The second day, the president takes the ehair at the hour to which the Senate stands adjourned; and a quorum being present, he says, "There is a quorum of senators present; the secretary will read the minutes of yesterday." The journal is read, to the end that any mistake may be corrected that shall be made in the entries.

The House of Representatives sends the following communication by their clerk :

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Who says, "Mr. President, I am directed to inform the Senate, that a quorum of the House of Representatives has assembled: one of the representatives from the State of has been duly elected Speaker thereof, and that it is now ready to proceed to business." The clerk also informs the Senate, that the House of Representatives concur in the resolution of the Senate, for the appointment of a joint committee to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that quorums of both Houses have assembled, and that Congress is ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make: and have

appointed A. B. C. a committee on their part. Sometimes the clerk notifies the Senate, that the House has adopted the joint resolution, and asks the concurrence of the Senate.

The joint committees report to their respective Houses, "That they waited upon the President of the United States, and informed him that quorums of the two Houses had assembled, and that they are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make; and that the President replied, that he would make his communication in writing to the two Houses of Congress this day, at 12 o'clock."

The private secretary of the President, after being announced at the bar of the Senate, informs that body that he has a message in writing from the President of the United States. This message the president submits to the Senate, which is read by the secretary.

The message being read, some senator moves, that thousand copies of the message be printed for the use of the members. The president of the Senate then submits to the Senate a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting his annual report, and the annual report of the other officers of the government; of which, on motion, extra copies are usually ordered to be printed.

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"Resolved, That the Senate will, on tomorrow, proceed to elect a secretary of the Senate.

Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate proceeded to the election of a secretary; and, on counting the ballots, it appeared that had a majority of the votes, and

was duly elected."

The secretary of the Senate, at the time of taking the oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States, must take an oath or affirmation in the following form: "I, A. B., secretary of the Senate of the United States of America, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will truly and faithfully discharge the duties of my said office to the best of my knowledge and ability." The sergeant-at-arms is elected in the same manner, and takes the oath prescribed by law.

"Resolved, That the Senate will, on tomorrow,proceed to appoint the standing committees.

Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate proceeded by ballot to the appointment of the standing committee, in conformity with the 34th rule, as follows:"

"In the appointment of the standing committees, the Senate will proceed by ballot, severally to appoint the chairman of each committee, and then, by one ballot, the other members necessary to complete the same;

and a majority of the whole number of votes given shall be necessary to the choice of a chairman of a standing committee. All other committees shall be appointed by ballot, and a plurality of votes shall make a choice. When any subject or matter shall have been referred to a committee, any other subject or matter, of a similar nature, may, on motion, be referred to such committee.

After the election by ballot of a chairman for each committee, the following entry is made on the journal:

Ordered, that Mr.

be chairman of the Committee of Foreign Relations, and so on, through all the committees.

It frequently happens that the other members of the committees are not chosen till the succeeding day.

I find that when the Senate had proceeded by ballot, and elected the chairmen of three several committees, the president of the Senate was authorized to appoint the remaining committees for that session. Thus, Sept. 6th, 1837. Journal of the Senate.

"The Senate proceeded, agreeably to order, to the appointment by ballot, of the standing committees, and ordered that Mr. Buchanan be chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Ordered, That Mr. Wright be chairman of the Committee on Finance.

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