Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-07
Thirty-Sixth Congressional Session
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1860.

lQere was u large gathering Vi peolhc Ut Ihe
capitol to-day to witness the meeting Of Con.
gress. Both chambers were densely packed
long before the hour Of meeting.
SENATE.
The Senate convened at y o'clock noon pre-.
cisely, Iice.Prcsidcnt Breckenridge in the
chair.
The absentees were Messrs. Benjamin, Clies-
nut, Clay, Gwin, Hammond, Harlan, l~rerson,
Johnson of Arkansas, Mallory, johnson OF
Tennessee, Pugh, Sebastian, Slidell, Tea E,rck,
Thomson, Toolnbs and Wilkinson.
The galleries were we'll filled.
After prayer by the chaplain, Mr.. Bright
moved an order that the Secretary inform the
House that 4 quorum Of the Senate were AS
sembled and ready to proceed to business
Adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Biglcr, it was resolved
that a committee Of three of the Senate, and
such as may be appointed by the House, wait
on the President Of the United States and in.
form him that u quorum of each house were
ready to receive any communication he may
be pleased 10 make.
The President appointed as such committee
Messrs. Bigler, Mason and Collamcr.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick moved an order that the hour
for the daily meetings OF the Senate be II
o'clock until otherwise ordered. Adopted.
a message was received from the House
concurring in the Senate's resolution, and ap-
pointing a committee 10 wait on the President.
Mr.. Clinglnan moved 10 take recess for half
an hour.
Mr.. Trumbull said he vas informed that they
should not get the message to-day.
The Senate then, at ten minutes past | ociH,
adjourned.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
The House was called to order at noon by
Mr.. Speaker Pennington. when 1876 members
answered TO their names. All the South Caro-.
lima members answered to their names, except
Hon. W. Porchcr Miles. OF the Louisiana DEL
egation, but one was presentation. John +.
Bouligny.
The session was opened with prayer by the
chaplain, Rev. Mr.. Stockton. In the PRAYER
the reverend gentleman alluded to the present
unsettled state Of the country, saying that our
good and great and wise men were. all at fault
North, South, East and West-and invoked
Divine aid in their deliberations.
Mr.. McKenty, Of Pennsylvania, appeared in
the place Of Mr.. Schwartze, deceased.
MeSsrs. Barrett, of Missouri, and Jno. Young
Brown, Of Kentucky, Sevcrally appeared and
qualified.
a message was received from the Senate an
%nouncing the appointment Of McSsrs. Blgler,
Mason and Collamcr, rs Il committee, on the
part Of the Senate to wait on the President
and inform him that Il quorum of both Houses
were in attendance and ready to receive any
communications he may be pleased to make.
Mr.. Morehead offered IL resolution for the ap.
pointment of a similar committee, which was
adopted, and the Speaker appointed Messrs.
Morehcad, Of Pa, ltocock, OF Va, and Adams,
Of Kentucky, 4 committee Oh the part Of the
House.
Mr.. Grow called up the motion made Il, the
last session 10 reconsider the vote by which the
homestead bill, reported from the Cu,nmittee On
Agriculture, was referred to the Committee Of
the Whole on the state Of the Union. and he
moved the previous question.
Mr.. Phclp S said the gentleman from pcnnsyl-
vania could call up the motion any other day,
and it should not now be insisted on, aS several
members were absent.
Mr.. Grow explained that his rc;lsou Tor call
ing up the motion now was that they might
have business before the House. for gcntlcnncn
knew that there were special orders for the first
three or four weeks this session.
Mr.. Grow yielded to q suggestion to post
pone the motion for the present, in order that
members might proceed to lraw for their
seats.
On motion Of Mr.. Florence, the daily hour
for the meeting Of the House was fixed 1T noon.
until otherwise ordered.
On motion of Mr.. Grow, a message was sent
to the Senate informing them that u quorum Of
the House was present and ready TO proceed to
business.
The House then, pursuant TO 4 resolution
previously adopted, proceeded TO draw for
seats. All the members retired without the
bar, and as the name Of cash member was
taken from d box and called by the clerk, he
came in and made his choice.
The abSentees were as follows-From Mas
sachusettS, Messrs. Gooch and Dawes; from
New York, McSsrs. Barry. Van Wyck, nlin,
and Clark b. Cochrane; from Pennsylvania,
MeSSrs. Dimmick, Blair and Montgomery;
from Maryland, Mr.. Webster, detained by
sickness;) from Virginia, NcSsrs. Garnett, Gle
mems and Lcake; from North Carolina, McSsrs.
Smith and Vance; from South Carolina, Mr..
Miles; from Georgia, MIR. Crawford from Mis-
siSsippi, MeSSrs. Lamar, Davis, Barksdale and
Mc1ae; from Kentucky, MeSsrs. Mallory and
Simons; from Tennessee, MesSrs. BralSon and
Wright; from Indiana, MeSSrS. Wilson and
Pcttitt; from Illinois, Messrs. F~arneswortil
and Kellogg; from Arkansas, Mr.. llindman:
from Michigan, Mr.. Waldron; from Texas,
Messrs. Regain and Hamilton; from CALIFORNIA;,
Mr.. Scott; from Utah, Mr.. Hooper; from Ne
braska, Mr.. Daily.
Mr.. WaShburn, Of Maine, sail that as he
would vacate his seat on the LIST of January, he
to be excused from serving rs Il member
Of the committee Of ways and means.
The Speaker replied that the committee ap.
at the last session would be continued
throughout this, subject, however, 10 altcra-
from the vacancies which may occur,
which will be filled by him.
Mr.. Washburn was then excused.
Mr.. Grow renewed his motion for I ~reconsi-
Of the reference Of the homestead bill.
If any one wished to discuss it, he would be
he said, to allow an opportunity for
purpose.
Mr.. Washburn, of Illinois, said he understood
the Presidents message would not come