ceeded, by ballot, to the choice of a President, for the sole purpose of opening and counting the votes for President of the United States. JOHN LANGDON was elected.

Ordered, That Mr. ELLSWORTH inform the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is formed; that a President is elected for the sole purpose of opening the certificates, and counting the votes of the Electors of the several States in the choice of a President and Vice President of the United States; and that the Senate is now ready, in the Senate Chamber, to proceed, in the presence of the House, to discharge that duty; and that the Senate have appointed one of their members to sit at the Clerk's table to make a list of the votes as they shall be declared; submitting it to the wisdom of the House to appoint one or more of their members for the like purpose.

Mr. ELLSWORTH reported that he had delivered the message; and Mr. BOUDINOT, from the House of Representatives, informed the Senate that the House is ready forthwith to meet them, to attend the opening and counting of the votes of the Electors of the President and Vice President of the United States.

The Speaker and the members of the House of Representatives attended in the Senate Chamber; and the President elected for the purpose of counting the votes, declared that the Senate and House of Representatives had met, and that he, in their presence, had opened and counted the votes of the Electors for President and Vice President of the United States, which were as follows:

[APRIL, 1789.

Mr. MADISON, from the House of Representatives, thus addressed the Senate:

Mr. President: I am directed by the House of Representatives to inform the Senate, that the House have agreed that the notifications of the election of the President and of the Vice President of the United States, should be made by such persons, and in such manner, as the Senate shall be pleased to direct. And he withdrew.

THOMSON, Esq. to notify GEORGE WASHINGTON, Whereupon, the Senate appointed CHARLES Esq. of his election to the office of President of the United States of America, and Mr. SYLVANUS BOURNE to notify JOHN ADAMS, Esq. of his election to the office of Vice President of the said United States.

A letter was received from James Duane, Esq. enclosing resolutions of the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty, of the city of New York, tendering to Congress the use of the City Hall. James Mathews was elected Doorkeeper.

TUESDAY, April 7.

MACLAY,

Messrs. ELLSWORTH, PATERSON, STRONG. LEE, BASSETT, FEW, and WINGATE, were appointed a committee to bring in a bill for organizing the Judiciary of the United States. and BASSETT, were appointed a committee to Messrs. ELLSWORTH, LEE, STRONG, MACLAY, prepare rules for the government of the two Houses in cases of conference, and to take under consideration the manner of electing Chaplains, and to confer thereupon with a committee of the House of Representatives.

The same committee were also to prepare rules for conducting the business of the Senate.

WEDNESDAY, April 8.

The Senate proceeded to ballot for a Secretary, and SAMUEL ALYNE OTIS, Esq., was elected. Cornelius Maxwell was appointed Messen

ger.

THURSDAY, April 9.

Messrs. LANGDON, JOHNSON, and FEw, were appointed a committee to make arrangements for receiving the President, and were empowered to confer with any committee of the House of Representatives that may be appointed for that pur

pose.

MONDAY, April 13.

6934 2 9 4 6 3 6 2 1 1 1

Whereby it appeared that GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq. was elected President, and JOHN ADAMS, Esq., Vice President of the United States of America.

Messrs. JOHNSON, IZARD, and MACLAY, were appointed a committee to confer with any committee appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, upon the future disposition of the papers in the office of the late Secretary of Congress, and report thereon.

The committee appointed to make arrange

The committee appointed the 7th of April, to prepare a system of rules to govern the two Houses in cases of conference, to take into consideration the manner of electing Chaplains, and to confer thereon with a committee of the House of Representatives, reported:

That they had conferred with a committee of the House of Representatives, for that purpose appointed. Whereupon,

Resolved, That, in every case of an amendment to a bill agreed to in one House and dissented to in the other, if either House shall request a conference, and appoint a committee for that purpose, and the other House shall also appoint a committee to confer, such committees shall, at a convenient time, to be agreed on by their chairman, meet in the conference chamber, and state to each other verbally, or in writing, as either shall choose, the reasons of their respective Houses for and against the amendment, and confer freely thereon. The committee above mentioned further reported:

[SENATE.

sident of Congress; and that, at such time thereafter as the President shall signify it will be most conve nient for him, he be formally received by both Houses. That a committee of two members from the Senate, and three members from the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Houses respectively, wait on the Vice President of the United States, as soon as he shall come to this city, and, in the name of the Congress of the United States, congratulate him on

his arrival.

Which report was read and accepted.

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the report of the committee upon rules for conducting the business of the Senate, and, after some progress, adjourned to 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.

THURSDAY, April 16.

The Senate proceeded by ballot to the choice of the committees, conformably to the report of the committee of both Houses, agreed to on the 15th instant: Mr. LANGDON, Mr. CARROLL, and Mr. JOHNSON, were appointed to wait on the President, and Mr. ELLSWORTH, and Mr. DALTON, were appointed to wait on the Vice Presi

dent.

Ordered, That Mr. STRONG, Mr. IZARD, and Mr. LEE, be a committee to report a mode of communication to be observed between the Senate and House of Representatives with respect to papers, bills, and messages, and to confer thereon with such committee as may be appointed by the House of Representatives for that purpose.

The report of the committee appointed to determine upon rules for conducting business in the Senate, was agreed to. Whereupon,

Resolved, That the following rules, from No. I to XIX, inclusive, be observed:

Which was also accepted.

The committee to whom it was referred to consider of, and report respecting the ceremonial of receiving the President, and the arrangements necessary for the reception of the Vice President, agreed to the following report, viz:

That Mr. Osgood, the proprietor of the house lately occupied by the President of Congress, be requested to put the same, and the furniture thereof, in proper condition for the residence and use of the President of the United States, and otherwise, at the expense of the United States, to provide for his temporary accommodation.

That it will be more eligible, in the first instance, that a committee of three members from the Senate, and five members from the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the two Houses respectively, attend to receive the President, at such place as he shall embark from New Jersey to this city, and conduct him, without form, to the house lately occupied by the Pre1st CON.-2

rected that shall have been made in the entries.

II. No member shall speak to another, or otherwise interrupt the business of the Senate, or read any printed paper while the journals or public papers are reading, or when any member is speaking in any de

bate.

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

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

V. When two members rise at the same time, the President shall name the person to speak; but in all cases the member first rising shall speak first.

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

VII. 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 by the President before the same shall be debated.

VIII. While a question is before the Senate, no motion shall be received unless for an amendment,

for the previous question, or for postponing the main question, or to commit it, or to adjourn.

IX. The previous question being moved and seconded, the question from the chair shall be: "Shall the main question be now put?" And if the nays prevail, the main question shall not then be put. X. If a question in debate contain several points, any member may have the same divided.

XI. When the yeas and nays shall be called for by one-fifth of the members present, each member called upon shall, unless for special reasons he be excused by the Senate, declare, openly and without debate, his assent or dissent to the question. In taking the yeas and nays, and upon the call of the House, the names of the members shall be taken alphabetically.

XII. One day's notice at least shall be given of an intended motion for leave to bring in a bill.

XIII. Every bill shall receive three readings previous to its being passed; and the President shall give notice at each, whether it be the first, second, or third; which readings shall be on three different days, unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise.

XIV. No bill shall be committed or amended until it shall have been twice read, after which it may be referred to a committee.

XV. All committees shall be appointed by ballot, and a plurality of votes shall make a choice.

XVI. When a member shall be called to order, he

shall sit down until the President shall have determined whether he is in order or not; and every question of order shall be decided by the President, without debate; but, if there be a doubt in his mind, he may call for the sense of the Senate.

XVII. If a member be called to order for words spoken, the exceptionable words shall be immediately taken down in writing, that the President may be better enabled to judge of the matter.

XVIII. When a blank is to be filled, and different sums shall be proposed, the question shall be taken on the highest sum first.

XIX. No member shall absent himself from the service of the Senate without leave of the Senate first

obtained.

FRIDAY, April 17.

The petition of Leonard Bleecker, to be appointed Sergeant-at-arms, was read, and ordered to lie on the table.

SATURDAY, April 18.

A letter from the Speaker of the House to the President was read, enclosing a concurence of the House, with the resolve of Senate of the 15th, upon the mode of conference between the Senate and House of Representatives; also, a concurrence upon the mode of choosing Chaplains.

On motion,

MONDAY, April 20.

[APRIL, 1789.

JOHN HENRY, from Maryland, and JAMES GUNN, from Georgia, appeared and took their seats.

Messrs. STRONG and IZARD were appointed a committee to wait on the Vice President, and conduct him to the Senate Chamber.

TUESDAY, April 21.

The committee appointed to conduct the Vice President to the Senate Chamber, executed their commission, and Mr. LANGDON, the Vice President pro tempore, meeting the Vice President on the floor of the Senate Chamber, addressed him as follows:

SIR: I have it in charge from the Senate to introduce you to the Chair of this House; and, also, to congratulate you on your appointment to the office of Vice President of the United States of America.

After which Mr. LANGDON conducted the Vice President to the Chair, when the Vice President addressed the Senate as follows:

Gentlemen of the Senate:

Invited to this respectable situation by the suffrages of our fellow-citizens, according to the Constitution, I have thought it my duty cheerfully and readily to accept it. Unaccustomed to refuse any public service, however dangerous to my reputation, or disproportioned to my talents, it would have been inconsistent to have adopted another maxim of conduct at this time, when the prosperity of the country, and the liberties of the people, require, perhaps, as much as ever, the attention of those who possess any share of the public confidence.

I should be destitute of sensibility, if, upon my arrival in this city, and presentation to this Legislature, and especially to this Senate, I could see, without emotion, so many of those characters, of whose virtuous exertions I have so often been a witness from whose countenances and examples I have ever derived encouragement and animation; whose disinterested friendship has supported me, in many intricate conjunctures of public affairs, at home and abroad; those celebrated defenders of the liberties of this country, whom menaces could not intimidate, corruption seduce, or flattery allure: those intrepid assertors of the rights of mankind, whose philosophy and policy have enlightened the world, in twenty years, more than it was ever before enlightened in many centuries, by ancient schools, or modern universities.

I must have been inattentive to the course of events, if I were either ignorant of the fame, or insensible to the merit of those other characters in the Senate, to whom it has been my misfortune to have been hitherto personally unknown.

XX. Before any petition or memorial, addressed to the Senate, shall be received and read at the table, whether the same shall be introduced by the President or a member, a brief statement of the contents of the petition or memorial shall verbally be made by the introducer.

tion, and the fair prospect of a consistent administration of a government of laws; on the acquisition of a House of Representatives, chosen by themselves; of a Senate thus composed by their own State Legislatures; and on the prospect of an Executive authority, in the hands of one whose portrait I shall not presume to draw. Were I blessed with powers to do justice to

his character, it would be impossible to increase the confidence or affection of his country, or make the smallest addition to his glory. This can only be effected by a discharge of the present exalted trust on the same principles, with the same abilities and virtues, which have uniformly appeared in all his former conduct, public or private. May I, nevertheless, be indulged to inquire, if we look over the catalogue of the first magistrates of nations, whether they have been denominated Presidents or Consuls, Kings or Princes, where shall we find one, whose commanding talents and virtues, whose over-ruling good fortune, have so completely united all hearts and voices in his favor who enjoyed the esteem and admiration of foreign nations and fellow-citizens with equal unanimity? Qualities so uncommon, are no common blessings to the country that possesses them. By those great qualities, and their benign effects, has Providence marked out the head of this nation, with a hand so distinctly visible, as to have been seen by all men, and mistaken by none.

It is not for me to interrupt your deliberations by any general observations on the state of the nation, or by recommending or proposing any particular measure. It would be superfluous, to gentlemen of your great experience, to urge the necessity of order. It is only necessary to make an apology for myself. Not wholly without experience in public assemblies, I have been more accustomed to take a share in their debates, than to preside in their deliberations. It shall be my constant endeavor to behave towards every member of this most honorable body with all that consideration, delicacy, and decorum, which becomes the dignity of his station and character; but if, from inexperience or inadvertency, any thing should ever escape me inconsistent with propriety, I must entreat you, by imputing it to its true cause, and not to any want of respect, to pardon and excuse it.

A trust of the greatest magnitude is committed to this Legislature; and the eyes of the world are upon you. Your country expects, from the results of your deliberations, in concurrence with the other branches of Government, consideration abroad, and contentment at home-prosperity, order, justice, peace, and liberty. And may God Almighty's Providence assist you to answer their just expectations.

WEDNESDAY, April 22.

Saturday next was assigned for proceeding to elect a Chaplain.

The petition of William Finnie to be appointed Sergeant-at-arms, was read and laid on the table.

THURSDAY, April 23.

The committee appointed on the 16th of April, to report a mode of communication to be observed between the Senate and House of Representatives, with respect to papers, bills, and messages, and to confer thereon with such committee as may be appointed by the House of Representatives for that purpose, have conferred with a committee of the House, and have agreed to the following report:

When a bill or other message shall be sent from the Senate to the House of Representatives, it shall be

[SENATE.

carried by the Secretary, who shall make one obeisance to the Chair, on entering the door of the House of Representatives, and another on delivering it at the table into the hands of the Speaker. After he shall have delivered it, he shall make an obeisance to the Speaker, and repeat it as he retires from the House. When a bill shall be sent up by the House of Representatives to the Senate, it shall be carried by two members, who, at the bar of the Senate, shall make their obeisance to the President, and thence, advancing to the Chair, make a second obeisance, and deliver it into the hands of the President. After having delivered the bill, they shall make their obeisance to the President, and repeat it as they retire from the bar. The Senate shall rise on the entrance of the members within the bar, and continue standing until they retire.

All other messages from the House of Representatives shall be carried by one member, who shall make his obeisance as above mentioned; but the President of the Senate, alone, shall rise.

Read and accepted. On motion,

Resolved, That a committee, consisting of three members, be appointed to consider and report, what style or titles it will be proper to annex to the offices of President and Vice President of the United States; if any other than those given in the Constitution. Also, to consider of the time, place, and manner, in which, and the person by whom, the oath prescribed by the Constitution shall be administered to the President; and to confer thereon with such committee as the House of Representatives shall appoint for that purpose. [Mr. LEE, Mr. IZARD, and Mr. DALTON, were chosen.]