Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-08
THE THIRTY-EIGHrm CONGRESS-.
Election of Schuyler Colfax as Speaker

SENATE

SENATE.
The vice president called the senate to order
at noon to-day.
The Rev. MIR. Sunderland offered prayer,
expressing gratitude that though the storm
drives the republic sull lives.
The credentials Of Messrs. Wiley and Van
Wlnkle, senators elect from West Virginia,
were presented by Mr.. Collamer. The Gre
dentialS of Mr.. CONFESS OF California, were
presented by Mr.. Nesmith, and credentials of
Mr. Henderson of Missouri, by Mr.. Foot.
Messrs. CONFESS and Henderson we're quail
fed and took the oath of loyalty prescribed by
the last congress. 49, 49,
mr. t4x7Is raised the question as to the
right of gentlemen from West Virginia to
take seats He held that there was constItu-
tionally and legally no such state as West
Virginia. There could therefore be no sena-
tors from such state. His object was sim
ply to put on record his objections. He did
not believe that Virginia was like the poly
pus, that could be separated into several seq
ments and yet live and have separate being.
He believed the old state to be intact, and
that this whole thing is fragrant violation of
the constitution. He therefore desired to
take the yeas and nays on the admission of
the alleged senators.
Mr.. FooT asked what was the question be-
fore the body.
The president said there was nome
MIR. DAVIS then moved to refer the creden.
tials of the gentlemen from West Virginia to
the judiciary committee.
Mr.. TRUMBuLL said there was no such COM
mittee.
Mr.. HALE said that when the credentials
were presented the question was on receiving
and reading and then qualifying the parties.
In the case of Gen. Shields, senator from
Minnesota, this was the course pursued, and
then the credentials were referred.
Mr.. FEssENDEN said that he had made the
motion in case of Gen. Shields, and the mat
ter being referred the committee subsequent
ly reported. In this case motion could be
made to refer to a select committee.
Mr.. FooT said the question has never been
made rs to senators elect being sworn in.
The president said the usual practice was
to present the credentials. A motion could
then be made to qualify or the subject be
postponed.
Mr.. FEssENDEN said it was unnecessary to
refer to a committee as the matter could be
considered in the senate.
After further debate Mr.. Davis as a test
question moved that the oath of Office be adj
ministered to the gentlemen from West Vir-
ginia, which was carried, by yeas So, nays 5.
The nays being Messrs. Buckaew, Davis,
Hendricks McDougal and Powell
Mr.. SHERMAN submitted resolution that
the committee on the judiciary inquire and
report whether the Hon. Robert Wilson is
still senator from Missouri. Mr.. B. Gratz
BrowR, having been elected a senator by the
legislature of Missouri, but not appearing
here yet. Mr.. Wilson who was appointed by
the governor at the last session, to fill a va
cancy, was still in his seat to-day.
The resolution was not voted on.
On motion of Mr. FooT, a resolution was
adopted appointing a committee of three, in
connection with committee on the part of
the house, to wait upon the president of the
United States, and inform him of the readienss
of congress to receive his annual message.
Messrs. Foot, Trumbull, and Nesmith, were
appointed the committee on the part of the
senate.
Mr.. FooT offered resolution for the class.
ification of the senators from West Virgins
by the usual means of drawing by lot, which
was accepted-Mr. Van Wrinkle to fill the
long term, expiring in 1863, and Mr.. Wiley
the short term, expiring in 1865.
Mr.. LANE of Indiana gave notice of the in
PRODUCTION of bills to repeal the $500 commu
tation feature of the enrolment act, and tc
increase the pay of non commissioned officers
and privates in the army 80 per cent.
The daily hour of meeting was fixed at l.
o'clock noon. On motion of Mr.. Powell
the senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. ETHERIDGE, clerk of the last house o
representatives, raped the member to ordel
at noon and said: This beng the time de-
signed by the constitution of the United States
for the meeting Of the 36th congress, he woult
now proceed to call the roll of members, ant
of such members only whose credentials show
they they were regularly elected in accord
ance with the laws Of their states respectively
and the laws of the United States" The
clerk then read the roll OF members from all
the states except from Maryland, Virginia
Western Virginia, Oregon, Missouri anC
Kansas.
Mr.. STEVENS of Pennsylvania desired t;ia
the credentials of those whose names were
not on the roll be read. The clerk said he
had placed on the roll the names of all those
whose certificates bore internal evidence OF
their election in accordance with the law