The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-12-18
xxxvI11 ooNeREss..-Firs. Session.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Z.

Eu WASHINGTON, Dec. T..
The galleries of both Houses were densely
crowded long before business commenced.
SESArE.-The Vice President called the Sen
ate TO order ut noon to-day.
The Rev. Mr.. Sunderland offered o prayer,
expressing gratitude thst though tho storm
drives the Republic still lives.
The credentials of Messrs. Wiley ind Van
Wrinkle, Senators elect from West Virginia,
were presented by Mr.. Collamer.
The credentials OF Mr.. Conness, OF Calif0r'
MIA, were presented by Mr.. Nesmith. and the
credentials Of Mr.. Henderson, Of Missouri, by
Mr.. Foote. Messrs. Conness and Henderson
were qualified and took the oath Of loyalty pre-
scribed by the last Congress.
Mr.. Davis, OF Kentucky, raised question aa
to the right Of the gentlemen from west Vir-
ginia to take seats. He held that there was
constitutionally and legally no such State as
West Virginia, and there could therefore be no
Senators from such State. His object was
simply to put on record his objections.
After some discussion about referring the
credentials Of the Senators from West Virginia
to the Judicory Committee, q test vote was
taken which resulted In admitting tho Senators
by q vote Of 80 to S.
.Ndw-Mcssrs. Buckalew, Davis, Hendcrick,
McDougal and Powell.
u
fcation of the Senator's from West Virginia,
by the usual means Of drawing by lot, which
was adopted. NJ. Van Winkle drew the long
term. expiring in 1869, and Mr.. Wiley the
short term, expiring 1865.
Mr.. Lane, OF Indiana, gavo notice Of the In
PRODUCTION Of bill to repeal the $500 commu.
tation feature of the Enrolment Act, and to
increase the pay of non-commissioned officers
and privates In the army fifty per cent.
The daily hour OF meeting was fixed at IL
o'clock noon.
On motion Of Mr.. Powell, tho Senate ad-
onrncd.
HousE-At 10 O'Clock (noon) Mr.. Ether
idge, Clerk OF the House, raped the members
to order, and said "This being tho time desig-
mated by the Constitution of the United State.
for the meeting of the 3Sth Congress, he would
now proceed to call the roll Of members, and
of such members only whose credentials show
they were regularly elected in accordance with
the laws of their States respectively, and the
laws Of tho United States"
The clerk then read the roll of members from
nll the States excepting Maryland, Virginia,
West Virginia, Oregon, Missouri and Kansas.
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, desired that
tho credentials of those whose names wero not
on the roll to be read.
The Clerk said no had placed on tho roll the
names of oil those whose certificates bore inter
nal evidence of their election In accordance
with the law passed by this House in March
last.
Mr.. Dawes offered q resolution that the names
of the Maryland delegation bo placed on the
rolls Of the House, and moved o previous ques.
ton, which was seconded.
Mr. Allen moved to lay tho resolution on the
table.
The question taken on Mr.. Aliens motion to
lay Mr.. Dawes resolution on the table was do.
cidcd in the negative. Yeas ~, nays o., which
caused applause from the gallery and on the
floor OF the House.
The resolution was adopted, followed by APP
plausc. SO the names of tho Maryland delega-
ton were placed on the rolls.
4. Mr.. Dawes offered resolution directing the
names Of tho Missouri delegation to be placed
on the rolls.
Mr.. Holman raised the question Of order,
that the resolution proposed to instruct tho
Clerk to act contrary to q law Of Congress.
Mr.. Ycoman asked and was excused from
voting. feeling n delicacy In doing 80, as his
seat was contested.
On motion Of Mr.. Fairchild, the credentials
from the Representative Of Oregon were read !,
roll.
On motion Of Mr.. Pike, similar course was
adopted In regard to the member from Kansas.
On motion Of Mr.. Stevens, the same course
was adopted In regard TO the member from
West Virginia.
Mr.. Stevens then asked that the credentials
OF the Louisiana members, Messrs. Beale, Colt
man and Baker, be read. The credentials state
that the election was In accordance with the
laws and constitution of Louisiana, and that
said election was held on the I'd Of November
last. The credentials are signed by ]. L. Red
dell, Governor Of Louisiana.
The names Of the members from West Vir-
ginia were entered upon the rolls.
Mr.. Washburn, Of Illinois, moved that the
House proceed to the election Of Speaker rica
roce, which was agreed to- II was now half.
past one. Mr.. Washburn. of Illinois, nominat-
ed Mr.. Colfax; Mr.. Pendleton, Of Ohio, nomi.
mated Mr.. Cox; Mr.. Ancona nominated Mr..
Dawson; Mr.. Grider nominated Mr.. Mallory;
Mr.. Steele, Of New York, nominated Mr.. Ste6-
bins; Messrs. King and Blair, Of Missouri,
were also placed in nomination. Messrs. PEN
dleton, Dawes, Wordsworth and Pomeroy were
appointed tclers to conduct the election.
The House then proceeded to vote, and the
result was pronounced rs follows:
The whole number Of votes, 1Sl necessary
for choice, %; Mr.. Colfax, received l0l, Mr..
Cox SO, Mr.. Dawson ~, King q, MIR. Mallory
10, Mr.. Stebbins 8, Mr.. Blair 2, Mr.. Stiles l.
The Clerk, therefore, declared Mr.. Colfax
duly aud legally elected Speaker Of the House
for the 3sth Congress. The announcement was
greeted with vocifcrous applause.
Messrs. Dawson and Cox wero appointed to
conduct the speaker to the Chair, which was
followed by applause from tho toor anu gal
lerics. Mr.. Washburn, of Illinois, being the
Oldest consecutive member, was requested by
the Clerk to administer the customary oath,
and also the oath Of allegiance.
The members were then sworn, advancing by
delegations, rs their names were called. when
the names Of the Louisiana delegation were
called, Mr.. Stevens, of Pcnnsy objected to
their being sworn. A brief debate ensued,
when Mr.. Stevens offered = resolution that the
credentials be referred TO tho Committee on
Elections. Mr.. ]. c. Allen, Of Illinois, moved
TO lay the motion on the table, which was lost
by yeas 100. nays "a. Tho resolution OF Mr..
Stevens was adopted by q vote Of 100 to III.
The Clerk then proceeded to administer tho
oath to the delegates from the several Terrific