Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-12-07
Prom the New Orleans Bee
TEXAS.
HE FIRST CONGRESS,


OPENING OF THE FIRST CONGRESS.
The interesting spectacle of people
disenthrallcd from the power Of the parent
state, establishing government congenial
to their feelings and principles, is now pre-
scented in Texas. The first congress of
the republic opened its first session on the
4th inst, by proceeding to the election OF
its officers and nominating committee TO
wait upon the president to receive his mes
sage. That document gives sketch of
the political state of the country, recon-
mends the adoption of such measures as
are necessary to meet the public exigen-
cies, and developes the resources of the
country. 1t declares that all the solicitude
OF congress should be directed towards rem
dering the financial operations safe and Sc
cure, organizing the army, defining the du-
ties of the secretary of war, his response
bilities, &c., and making provision for the
judiciary, as well as for the post Office de-
partment. One thousand copies of the
message were ordered to be printed, and
both houses thereupon adjourned. They
met again at 2 O'Clock the same day, and
were exclusively occupied with preparatory
business, such as appointing committee to
draft and prepare their rules.
On the 9th discussion took place upon
the resolution for the appointment of chap
lain. 1t was finally laid upon the table in
virtue of an article of the declaration Of
independence which declares shat no pre-
ference shall be given one religion over an
other" In the afternoon session a novel
incident occurred which somewhat disturb
cd the tranquility of the house. The speak,
er had just taken the chair, and on the list
having been called, it was found that quo.
rum was present: at this moment the re-
port of pistol was heard within the pre-
cincts of that plot Of ground on which the
representative hall is built. A resolution
was adopted, and an order issued to the
door keeper TO arrest the parties engaged in
the affray forthwith, after considerable dis
cussIon as to the power of the house to act.
The pistol had been fired in the course of
dispute between some individuals. Order
being established, and the members of the
senate having now entered the representa-
tive hall, in compliance with the accepted
invitation of the morning, the speaker briefly
repeated the object of the invitation; reci-
ted the section in the constitution, and pro.
ceeded to break open the seals. Messrs.
Baker and Allen were requested to act as
tellers; when the aggregate returns Of
those in possession Of the speaker, were as
follows
For President.
Samuel Houston, majority Of 1904
For Vice President.
kirabeau B. Lamar, majority of 1928
For the Constitution as it Isl
Unanimous with the exception of 223
In faror Of being annexed to the U. S.
Unanimous, with the exception of 81
The president Of the senate rose, and
addressing the speaker, said, 1" Sir, having
complied with your invitation and that duty
prescribed to US by the constitution relative
to the returns of election, now read in
our presence, we beg leave to retire. y
The house of representatives rose and re.
manned standing until the members Of the
senate had retired.
We see nothing further Of interest in the
proceedings. The following are the pay.
ments of the republic as stated in the re.
port addressed to the secretary of the trea.
sury by the auditor and comptroller.
The whole amount of claims audited
and paid by treasury orders, from the frs
Of January last, at which time our onlces
were established up to the twenty-sev'
enth of September, inclusive were as fol-
lows:
Military claims s225,l24 81
Naval do 27,364 Z;
Civil do S,5S7 8:
Contingent claims 6,427 g.