The Yazoo Democrat., 1858-11-06
SENATE.
MONDAY. Nov. ]

ton Of Hon. II. T. Elicit, Senator from Clai.
borne, Hon, I. j. Catchings, of Kinds, was
called to the Chair;
A call of the roll was then ordered, when
the following Senators were present:
Messrs. Farrar, Thompson, Neil, Hathorn,
Drane, Elicit, Catchings of Copiah, Oliver,
West, Catchings of Kinds, Beene, Enloe,
Howry, Stone, Harris, Mason, Harrison, Gov
ington, Jordan, Davs, Wilson, benson, Buch>
anan, McCord, Arthur, Brasier and Reynolds
On motion of Mr. Elicit the Senate pro.
ceeded to the election Of President.
Mr.. Elicit nominated Hon. James Drane
of Choctaw.
Mr.. West nominated Hon. 7. ]. Catchings,
but Mr. Catchings begged leave to decline,
when,
On motion of Mr.. Davis, of Pamela, Mr.
Drane was elected President Of the Senate by
acclamation.
On motion of Mr. Elicit the Senate pro-
ceeded to the election of Secretary Of the
Senate, when
Mr.. Elicit nominated s. S. Calhoon, o.
Yazoo county.
On motion of Mr. Covington, NJ. Calhoou
was elected by acclamation.
The oath was then administered to Mr..
Drane, who, on taking the chair, spoke as
follows:
Senator's: In assuming the position which
you, in your kindness, have assigned me,
return you my acknowledgements for the
honor ana confidence implied in my selection
as your presiding officer.
have not words to express the grateful
emotions of my heart cor an honor at all
times worth the ambition of the most ambi
tous; but to find myself chosen by accla-
nation is indeed doubly grateful to me.
fear, however, that | am more indebted
to the partiaty Of too kind friends, than to
any peculiar fitness of my own, for the po-
s,ton which occupy; and invoke, at your
hands, continuance of the same kind par
tiality that placed me here, to forgive and ex-
cuse the many errors which, no doubt, l shall
commit during the present session.
They, however, promise you, shall be
errors Of judgment which will, at all times,
be cheerfully corrected when brought to my
attention and conviction.
1t will be my highest aim and object to
understand correctly and administer properly
the rules adopted for the government of your
deliberations, and, if at any time, | fail to
understand the one or to perform the other,
assure you it will afford me great pleasure
to be instructed by and defer to the superior
wisdom and understanding Of the Senate
upon all doubtful questions.
From the wsll.known liberality of the
Mississippi Senate, and particularly from the
marked courtesy and kindness shown your
late popular President, am encouraged to
rely confidently on your aid and cooperation
in the discharge Of the delicate and impor
tant duties ! have to perform.
Important and difficult as they may be,
delicate as / know they sometimes are, they
shall, however, be performed promptly and
impartially and with due regard to the
rights, the feelings, and the interests Of every
Senator.
In dOliberative bodies like this, where the
largest liberty and widest range are tolerated
in discussion, it would be remarkable, indeed,
if errors were not sometimes oommitted--if
expressions were not sometimes used in the
heat and excitement Of debate calculated to
arouse the feelings and excite tile passions
if so, let it, l entreat you, be as the spark
emitted fIom the flint and Steel Let the
moment which sees it flash into existence also
see it expire and die forever.
May then, Senators, invoke for myself
and towards each other, that moderation and
forfearance which are SO necessary to pleas
ant deliberations, wise counsels and useful
legislation to the State.
Again returning you my thanks for the
position assigned me, am ready to enter
upon the discharge of its duties.
Mr.. Davis, of Pamela, offered the following
resolutions which were read the first time,
laid upon the table, made the special order OF
the day for Thursday next, and one hundred
and fifty copies ordered to be printed. The
resolutions are as follows:
lst. Resolved, That as it has heretofore
been the practice Of Congress to admit Ter
ritories into the Union as States, without the
proper ratio Of population to entitIe them to
one member in the House of Representatives,
Kansas should have been admitted under
the Lecompton Constitution and Senate Bill.
I'd. Resolved, That hereafter, no new State
should be admitted until she has the neces-
sary population for one member in the lower
House Of Congress-
Sd. ResoIvsd, That no person should be
allowed to vote in the Territories Of the
United States except citizens either native
born or naturalized.
4th. RssOlved, That the Territories Of the
United States, are the common property of
ali the States, and each citizen thereof has
the right to take into the same such property
as he may desire, and be protected BY law 10
all bis rights and immunities therein. That
the doctriue that few rowing squatters, ei-
her by their own authority or the authority
IF Congress, can pass laws prohibiting the
Introduction Of slaves, or any other species