The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-01-17

Sth /" John Cook.
eth &C. II. NJ. Mathews.
lOM :" ia. Chapline.
All the new members present were
qualified. .....,--.r,t
Messrs. Cook, Mathews, Raymond.
o'Brien and Wright were absent, but
Messrs. Raymond and O'Brien subse-
quently came in and were qualified.
The Senate balloted for President.
LIST ballot.-Hawkins votes, SteVen-
sons, Price ., Slack l, Kitchen l.
End ballot.-Stevenson 10, Hawkins
4, Peck l.
Stevenson was elected, conducted to
the chair, and said: .EtE
Senator's II am very thankful to you
for the expression of your preference,
which you have just given, in selecting
me as Your presiding officer during the
present term of the Senate. s...
We commence our laborS this session
under circumstances different from
those which have existed since the form
ton of our State. The rebellion which
disturbed the peace of our own people,
and which for u time imperlled the eN-
istence of the nation itself, is ended; the
triumph of popular liberty IS complete
throughout the whole land.
This changed condition of things inn
poses upon us the necessity of careful
and .judicious legislation. Our young
State is fairly started upon the high
road to prosperity; wise and liberal laws
will do much to place it in n position
second in importance to no other in the
great Union of States. Into your hands
the people have committed the power of
creating such laws. That you will dis
charge the duties of this trust faithtul-
ly, there can be no doubt. 1 can only
promise gentlemen that, with your
counsel and assistance, l Will to the
best of my ability perform mine.
Ellery Il. Hall, of Fairmont, who was
Secretary of the Constitutional Conven-
ton of West Virginia, Clerk of the Sen
ate under the restored government OF
Virginia, and who has held the same
position in the new State ever since its
organization, was unanimously elected
Clerk of the Senate, on motion OF MIR.
Maxwell.
On motion of Mr.. Mahon, Mr.. a. D.
Hngans, of Preston county, who was
the always obliging Sergeant-at-arms
of the last two sessions, was reelected
by reclamation.
MeSSrs. Huntington and Mahon were
nominated for DoOrkeeper.
Mr.. Mahon was elected-ll to 5.
Mr.. Henry NJ. Mathews, Senator elect
for the 9th district, presented through
the President, u paper showing that he
had taken the oath TO support the Con-
stitution of the United States and OF
this State.
On motion of Mr.. Burdett, Mr.. Ma
thews was permitted to address the
Senate in explanation of his position.
Mr.. Mathews spoke for about half an
hour, milking very graceful anu dig
nitied address.
taken by Mr.. Mathews was not the
oath required by law, and thus the
matter rests for the present.
Mr.. L. w. S. Moore was appointed
Assistant Clerk, and allowed 81 per
day.
Masters E. II. Dillon and Charles II.
Humphrey were appointed pages.
Messrs. Hawkins and Maxwell were
directed to inform the House that the
Senate was organized. u
Messrs. Maxwell and Chapline were
appointed on n joint committee TO wait
upon the Governor and inform him of
the organization of the Legislature.
The officers elected We're then quail
fed. except the DOorkeeper. who was
absent.
on motion of Mr.. Hawkins, the Sen
ate resolved to meet daily ut 10 o'clock
| a. NJ. until otherwise ordered.
The Governors message was here re-
ceived and read.
On motion of Mr.. Burdett,
ReeOIUed, That 5000 copies of the Gov
ernor's message be printed for the use of
Legislature; and that the documents ac-
companying the message be referred to
IA special committee of three on the part
of the House, andtwo on the part Of the
Senate, to report what portions OF the
! said documents, and the numbers of
| each should be printed.
| The committee on the part of the Sem
ate are Messrs. Maxwell and Hawkins.
| After adopting tho rules of the last
Senate, until otherwise ordered, nd
jOurned.