The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-04
lHlRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS..-SECOND SESSION.

WAsnrNGroN Dec 3.-There was large gather.
ing of people at the Capitol to day to witness the
meeting of Congress. Both Chambers were densely
packed long before the hour of meeting.
SENATE.
The Senate convened at II O'clock, n0on pre-
cisely, Vice President BRECKENRIDGE in the
chair.-The abseutees were Messrs Benjamin,
Chesnut, Clay, Gwin, Hammond, Harlan, Iverson
johnson, of Arkansas, Mallory, johnson, of Tennes
,Pugh, Sebastian, Slidell. Ten Eyck Thompson.
Toombs and Wilkinson. galleries were ell
filled.-After prayer by the Chaplain, Mr. BRIGHT
moved an order that the Secretary inform the
House that quorum of the Senate were assembled
and ready to proceed to business Adopted On
motion of Mr.. BIGLER it was resolved that com.
mittee of three of the Senate, and such as NAV be
appointed by the House, wait on the President of
the United States and inform him that quorum of
each House were ready to receive any communica
ton he may be pleased to make.-The PRESI-
DENT appointed as such committee Messrs. Big
Ter, Mason and Collamer.-Mr FITZP ATRICK
moved order that the hour for the daily meeting
of the Senate be IL o'clock until otherwise ordered
Adopted.-A message was received from the
House concurring in the Senates resolution, and
appointing a committee to wait on the President
Mir. CLINGMAN moved to take recess for
half an hour.-Mr. TRUMBULL said he was in
formed that they should not get the Message to-
The Senate then, at ten minutes past
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House was called to order at noon and about
two hundred members responded to their names
Mir. MckENTY, of Pennsylvania, appeared in
the place of Mr.. Schwartze deceased -Messrs.
BARRETT, of Missouri, and JOHN YOUNG
BROWN, OF Kentucky, severally appeared and
quallided.-A message was received from the
Senate announcing the appointment of Messrs.
Bigler, Mason and ColIamer as a commit
tee the part of the Senate to wait on the Presi
dent and inform him that quorum of both Houses
were in attendance and ready to receive any com
municatlon he may be pleased to make.-Mr
MOREHEAD offered a resolution for the appoint
ment OF a similar committee, which was adOpted
and the SPEAKER appointed Messrs More
head, Bocock and Adams, of Kentucky,
committee on the part of the House.-Mr. GROW
called up the motion made at the last session to re-
consider the vote by which the Homestead bill, re-
ported from the Committee on Agriculture was
referred to the Committee of the Whole on the
State OF the Union, and he moved the pre-.
vious queston.-Mr. PHELPS said that
the gentleman from Pennsylvania could call
up the motion any other day, and it should
not now be insisted on several members were
absent.-Mr. GROW explained that his reason
for calling up the motion now was that they might
have business before the House, for gentlemen knew
that there were special orders for the first three or
four weeks this sesson.-Mr. GROW Welded to
suggestion to postpone the motion for the present
in order that members might proceed to draw for
their seats.-On motion of Mr.. FLORENCE the
daily hour for the meeting of the House was fixed
at noon, until otherwise oTdered--On motion of
Mr.. GROW, message sent to the Senate in
forming them that quorum of the House was
present and ready to proceed to business.--The
House then, pursuant to resolution previously
adopted, proceeded to draw for seats. All the
members retired without the bar, and as the name
of each member was taken from box and called
by the Clerk, he came in and made his choice
The absentees were as follows:-From Massachus-
etts, Messrs. Gooch and Dawes from New York,
Messrs Barr, Van Wyck, Olin, Clark b. Cochrane:
from Pennsylvania, Messrs. Dimmck, Blair and
Montgomery; from Maryland, Mr.. Webster,
detained by sickness) from Virginia, Messrs Gar
nett, Leake and Clemens; from North Carolina
Messrs Smith and Vance; from South Carolina,
Mr.. Miles; from Georgia, Mr.. Crawford; from Mis-,
sissippi, Messrs. Lamar, Davis, Barksdae, McRae;
from Kentucky, Messrs. Mallory and Simms; from
Tennessee Messrs Brabson and Wright; from Ind-
ana, Messrs. Wilson and Pettitt; from Illinois,
Messrs. Farnesworth and KellOg; from Arkansas
Mr.. Hindman; from Michigan, Mr.. Wadron; from
Texas; Messrs. Reagan and Hamilton; from Caifor-
mia, Mr.. Scott; from Utah. Mr. Hooper; from Ne
braska, Mr.. Daily.-Mr. WASHBURN, of Maine,
said that he would vacate his seat on the lst of
January, he asked to be excused from serving as a
member ofthe Committee of Ways aud Means-
The SPEAKER replied that the Committees ap-
pointed at the last session, would be continued
throughout this, subject. however, to alterations
from the vacancies which may occur, which will be
filled by him. Mr. Washburn was then excused-
MIR. GROW renewed his motion for a re-consdera-
tion of the reference of the Homestead Bill If
any wished discuss it, he would be willing he
said, to allow an opportunity for that pun pose.-
MIR. WASHBURN, of Illinois, said he understood
that the Presidents Message would not come in till
to morrow, and he moved to adjourn. which was
carried, and at half past O'Clock the House ad
journed.