, 1855-12-14
House of Representatives.

House of Representatives.
MONDAY, Dec. 3rd, 1855.
This being the day prescribed by law
for the meeting of the Legislature, the
House of Representatives temporarily. or
ganized by electing DR.. JOHNSON, Of Che
halls, Speaker, pro teF', and B. F. KENDALI.,
ESQ, of Thurston county, Clerk. The
members were oil in attendance except
Messrs. Van .Cleave, of Pacific, Crosbie,
Of CLARK, elected to fill the vacancy caused
by the resignation of S. D. Smith, ESQ., }
and Il. j. Robinson, of jefferson. We
learn that the member elect from WaIla
Walla, Mr., Craig, has resigned his seat in
the House,
Messrs. Clark, Phillips and McElroy
were appointed committee on credentials.
When the House adjourned until Tuesday
morning at 10 o'clock. w,, .s,,'f
ot/31ra1 ~, -T7TT1 ius y .sgtniS
TUESDAY, Dec. 4th, 1855. 5.,os
The committee on credentials having re-
ported, Chief Justice LANDER, administer
ed tho oath Of Office to the members pres
ent, and the House proceeded to elect
Speaker. '-.'' '"'' ~ '"''
The first ballot resulted in the choice Of
Hon. A. A. DENNY, of King eounty-who
was conducted to the Speakers chair by
Messrs. Morrison Of Pierce, and McElroy
Of Thurston, and returned his thanks to
the House, as follows .gS.de li II
"GENrLEMEN :-You have this day con-
ferred upon me an honor which highly
prize, and for which am truly thankful,
But am web aware Of the fact that in
comforting THIS high honor upon me, you
have also imposed a weighfy responsibility,
and | can but lament my inability to dis
charge the duties you have thus imposed,
We are assembled to-day, under the most
discouraging circumstances. Our infant
Territory is now surrounded by hostile saw
ages our citizens murdered in our very
midst, aud our constituents look to US in
this hour Of gloom to render every exer-
ton, and make every effort in our power,
to secure assistance and insure protection.
Under these circumstances, l am not ex-
pecting too much of you, gentlemen, when
| ask your kind indulgence in the discharge
of the duties this day assumed, heartily
trusting aud believing that you will do all
in your power to render those duties easy,
and thus promote dispatch in the business
now required at our hands." rs.t.,t.. al
The House then proceeded to complete
its organization, which was effected in the
ELwooD Evans, caisf CLERK; y. 'sai ...
Quincy A. Books, AssistEHt Clerk iJJ
JoHN B. DIcKERsoS, Sergeant al Arms; 4
JOIN ScoTT, Door ,Keeper. 81 -.
A motion being made by Mr.. Morrison
to procure the services Of o Chaplain, con
siderable discussion was provoked. ~ s@il
Mr.. Morrow, Of Sawamish, opposed the
motion, because There Is no delegated
authority in the Organic Act, TO get up,
Legislative prayers, and If no authority
exists to create the Office Of Chaplain,
how can the House proceed to 1.-THE Office.
He could not, for one, consent to convert
this Hall into religious Session Room,
nor transform the Legislative Assembly in
to political prayer meeting There is no
power in the law to authorize the election
of a spiritual officer. He believed all had
souls to save or be lost, but Legislative
body, as such, he did not believe had. He
proceeded to give his belief in the saving
power of Grace, and his respect for the
ministerial calling. He believed that they
who employed minister should pay him, !,
but he was not for creating an Office which
would never be paid for BY Uncle Sam,
and certainly their constituents would not
justify them in taxing the Territory. What,
because their constituents have honored
them with seats in this Legislature. are
they to have the special privilege of going
to1HeaSen at the public expense. Such
special privileges he believed anti-demorJ
.r la F'aln5.E aaI ll rHl fI u' .Hl