Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-05-07
AN EXTRA SESSION OF TIE LEG.
ISLATURE.

upon tue members oil the old Legislature
to meet for the purpose of making pro-
vision in case u quorum Of the Senate be
not elected for the ensuing year.
The House met at nine o'clock. The
Speaker, Hon. VIM. Sprague, took the
Chair, and called tho House to order
The roll was then called, and it being as
certained that a quorum was present,
MIR. Matthewson, Of Scituate, moved
that his Excellency the Governor, and
the Honorable Senate, be informed OF
the fact. The Speaker then appointed d
Mr.. Matthewsen to do that duty, who
proceeded to the Senate and immediate
ay returned and acquainted the House
that he had informed the Senate that a
quorum Of the House had convened, and
were ready to proceed to business.
The following message was then re-
ceived from the Governor:
Gentlemen ofthe Senate, and of }
The House Of Representatives.:
Having been convinced after the most
careful inquiry, that there might be an
uncertainty as to the election of quo
rum Of the Senate, l could not consist
emily with my sense Of duty hesitate in
taking the step which has brought you
together.
therefore apprize you that the con-
tingency may probably exist, and it is
for your wisdom to determine whether
under the circumstances any provision
Is essential TO the public safety.
JOHN BRowN FRANCIS.
Newport, May 6, 1884.
Mr.. Allen, moved that committee of
one from each county be appointed on
the subject Of His Exccllency's commu-
nicatioa.
The following persons were then sew
orally Observation-Disclosures in italics declin-
cd serving. Henry Y. Cranston, james
Chace, Joseph DuJce, Robert. Gray
Jeremiah N. Clarke, Joseph L. Tilling-
hast, Peter Pratt, Elisha Matthe wson, -
Christopher Allen, James D'Woy, Ben
jamin Modbury, 1hos Remington, Is. B.
and the Speaker, VIM. Sprague.
On motion Of Elisha r. Potter, the
House then adjourned till 1 o'clock, for
the purpose Of allowing the Committee
time to report. Mr.. Potter said that it
was necessary that the committee should
make their report as early as possible, as
the House had only till midnight to at
tend to this business.
1T II o'clock, the House being cal
led,
Mr.. Christopher Allen, from the COM
mittee 10 whom was referred the Cover
nor's commune alton, begged leave to
report by bill.
The bill was then read first timo.
Mr.. Allen moved that the rule requir-
ing that bill should be read on two sep
arate DAYS, be suspended.
The iule being suspended, the bill was
read second time.
A considerable debate ensucd in re-
gard 10 the provisions of the bill, and Sc
veral amendments were offered. The
bill finally passed in the following shape,
which is in all its essential features, pre-
cisely the same as the Act passed in Jan.
uary, 1882, denominated the "Pe,petua.
ton .4ct."
An act in relation to the Election o
General Officers:
Sec. |. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly, and by the authority thereof
it il enacted, That whenever it shall ap.
pear by the report Of the Committee ap.
pointed to count the votes given in foI
General Officers at the annual Genera
Election, that Governor, or Lieut.. Co
vernon and six Senators, or seven Sena
tors without a Governor or Lieut.. Gov.
ernor are not elected, all officers, civil
and military, elected by the General As.
sembly during the political year preced.
ing such general election, be and arc
hereby declared to be continued in thei,
respective Offices, with as full power and
authority as they before had, until a
quorum Of the Senate as aforesaid sha
be elected.
Sec. 2. And be It further enacted,--
That whenever i shall appear by the re.
port Of the committee ps aforesaid, tha,
there is no election az aforesaid, the
Speaker ofthe House Of Rcpresen tatives
shall forthwith issue his warrant to each
town or city clerk in the State, requir.
ing him to cause the freemen Of his