The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-22
From the mississippi Southern Star, January 6.
Meeting Of the Legislature.

The legislature convened in this city on yes
terday. The senate, having organized at the
called session, met and adjourned over until to-
day. The house Representatives, for the pur.
pose of organizing, called to the chair DR.. Jno
w. King, of Coahoma and proceeded to the
election of officers Dr. j. s. Catchings, Of
Kinds, and General w s. Patton, of Lauderdale
were respectively put in nomination for speaker
| Upon the first ballot, Catchings received AZ
votes, Patton 40, and King g. Neither having
msjerty of all the votes cast, they proceeded &c
second ballot, which resulted as follows; Pat
ton, 46 Catchngs, AZ; King,2. Gen. Patton
was declared duly elected, and, upon being in.
! Quoted into office, spoke, in a forcible and i'm
pressive manner, as folowes
aGentlemen of the house of representatives
feel highly fattered by the high and unex
pected honor you have done me in calling me to
preside over your deliberations, and for which
thank you. Stranger as | am to the most o.
you, and unknown as am to fame, my eleva
ton to this seat must have been the result of .
fortunate conjuncture of circumstances rather
than of any merit in me. The rivalries, ami.
mosities, and asperities engendered by the late
heated and animated canvass, together with the
probability before us of a long and laborious
session, not to speak of my inexperience, all in
dueus, onerous, and responsible. But with
your kind consideration for any involuntary err
rors that may commit, and with your kind
sistance, hope to acquit myself to your salts
faction. again thank you, gentlemen, for this
testimony of your good will"
Fleming Swami and David Dozier were pu
in nomination, and the house proceeded TO bal
lot for clerk which resulted rs follows: Swanr
| 81. Dozier %.
Pending the election Of doorkeeper, the house
adjourned, to meet at 10 o'clock this morning.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
This able State paper was this day read to tb,
two hotfses of the Legislature, with accompany
ing documents. We have barely room for
/ brief synopsis in the present number Gov
Whitfield recommends
! An amendment 10 the constitution, so as tc
prevent in future, an interregnum in the execu
| tive department of the State.
A modification of the law Of 1850, distribu
ting 100000 to the different counties for com
| mon school purposes, TO the effect that the same
be invested in stock of the United States, anC
the interest therefrom applied to the object dc
signated by the act.
| An additional appropriation for the benefit o
the unatic asylum. And here it might be OBJ
served that if his second recommendation
should be carried out, there will be no funds il
the treasury to apply to this or other objects
The establishment ola deaf and dumb asylum
The abolition of the Office Of vaccine agent
Additional machinery for the penitentiary.
Reduction Of the minimum price of the Chick
asaw school lands.
Repeal Of the law providing for term Of tn,
court of appeals at Oxford.
| Additional inducement be offered to private
company to continue the construction Of the
| Brandon railroad east.
Confine the assistance OF the State, for the
present, TO the Mobile and Ohio and New Or
leans and Jackson railroads, and that the State
take stock in the same.
Repeal Of the act of l84S, for the sale Of the
100000 acres Of land donated to the State by
Congress-reduce the price thereof, and nc
| longer receive Planters Bank bonds in payment
for the sale Of them.
The passage Of a law providing for the con
struction Of leyees, based upon the grant made
to the State by Congress for that purpose.
! Modification of the law Of 1850, in regard Il
tax sales
A law imposing tax upon lands within ter
miles Of projected railways, and that the tax
payers should receive a certificate Of stock il
the company TO the amount paid.
A law for the disposition of the lands donated
on account of the Mobile and Ohio railroad.
Modification of the militia system.