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tatives concur in the amendment to the bill,” (referred to above.)

Jany. 18.-The committee on enrolled bills reported that they had presented it to the President.

All the bills are signed by the president of the Senate, and Speaker of the House, before presentation to the President of the United States.

They are signed by these officers while their respective bodies are in session.

Classifying new Senators.

Upon the

appearance of the senators from the new state of Arkansas, with the view of arranging them in their proper class, Mr. Benton, Dec. 5th, 1836, submitted the following resolution, which was adopted.

Resolved, That the Senate proceed to ascertain the classes in which the senators of the state of Arkansas shall be inserted, in conformity with the resolution of the 14th of May, 1789, and as the Constitution requires. On motion, by Mr. Benton,

Ordered, That the secretary put into the ballot-box three papers of equal size, numbered 1, 2, 3. Each of the senators of the state of Arkansas shall draw out one paper. No. 1, if drawn, shall entitle the member to be placed in the class of senators whose term of service will expire the 3d day of March,

1837: No. 2, in the class whose term of service will expire on the 3d of March, 1839: and No. 3, in the class whose terms will expire the 3d of March, 1841. Whereupon, the papers above mentioned were put by the secretary into the box, and the Honourable Ambrose H. Sevier drew No. 1, and is accordingly of the class of senators whose terms of service will expire the 3d day of March, 1837; and the Honourable Mr. S. Fulton drew No. 3, and is accordingly of the class of senators whose terms of service will expire the 3d day of March, 1841.

Upon the swearing in of a new President and Vice President, it is necessary that the Senate should be in session on the 4th of March. It therefore becomes the duty of the President of the United States, to specially convene the senators; hence the following notice was issued, the 6th Jany. 1841:

The President of the United States,

To

Senator of the State of

Certain matters, touching the public good, require that the Senate of the United States should be convened on the 4th of March next; you are desired to attend at the senatechamber, in the city of Washington, on that day, then and there to receive and to delibe

rate on such communications as shall be

made to you.

M. VAN BUREN.

WASHINGTON, Jany. 6, 1841.

Journal of the Senate, 1841.

March the 2d.

1841.}

Vice President Johnson said, "yesterday, I intimated that I should, some time during the session of this day, feel it my duty to retire from my seat, for the purpose of giving the Senate an opportunity of selecting a presiding officer, for the convenience of organization on the 4th of March."

In conformity with the above summons, the Senate assembled in their chamber, in the city of Washington. The Vice President was duly qualified, and presided, when the President of the United States, Ex-President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Heads of Departments, and Foreign Ministers having entered the senate chamber, whereupon the Senate proceeded with them to the eastern portico, where the President of the United States delivered his address, and took his oath of office prescribed by the Constitution of the United States.

When the Senate elects a president pro tempore, notice of the election is sent to the House of Representatives, and also to the President of the United States.

RULES

FOR CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

1. The president having taken the chair, and a quorum being present, the journal of the preceding day shall be read, to the end that any mistake may be corrected that shall be made in the entries.

2. No member shall speak to another, or otherwise interrupt the business of the Senate, or read any newspaper, while the journals or public papers are reading, or when any member is speaking in any debate.

3. Every member, when he speaks, shall address the chair, standing in his place, and when he has finished shall sit down.

4. No member shall speak more than twice, in any one debate, on the same day, without leave of the senate.

5. When two members rise at the same time, the president shall name the person to speak; but in all cases the member who shall first rise and address the chair, shall speak first.

6. When a member shall be called to order, by the president, or a senator, he shall sit down; and every question out of order shall be decided by the president without debate, subject to an appeal to the senate; and the president may call for the sense of the senate on any question of order.

7. If the member be called to order by a senator, for words spoken, the exceptionable words

shall immediately be taken down in writing, that the president may be better enabled to judge of the matter.

8. No member shall absent himself from the service of the senate, without leave of the senate first obtained. And in case a less number than a quorum of the Senate shall convene, they are hereby authorised to send the serjeant-at-arms, or any other person or persons by them authorised, for any or all absent members, as the majority of such members present shall agree, at the expense of such absent members respectively, unless such excuse for non-attendance shall be made, as the senate, when a quorum is convened, shall judge sufficient; and in that case, the expense shall be paid out of the contingent fund. And this rule shall apply as well to the first convention of the senate at the legal time of meeting, as to each day of the session, after the hour has arrived to which the senate stood adjourned.

9. No motion shall be debated until the same shall be seconded.

10. When a motion shall be made and seconded, it shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the president, or any member, delivered in at the table, and read, before the same shall be debated.

11. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received but to adjourn, to lie on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or to amend; which several motions shall have precedence in the order they stand arranged, and the motion for adjournment shall always be in order, and be decided without debate.

12. If the question in debate contain several points, any member may have the same divided ;

1;

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