The Senate met, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution, and was called to order by Hon. Pablo De la Guerra, President. The roll of Senators holding over was called by the Secretary, and the following gentlemen answered to their names, to wit: Messrs. Denver, De Long, Gallagher, Harvey, Heacock, Hill, Irwin, Parks, Rhodes, Shafter, Warmcastle, Williamson-12. The roll of Senators elect was called, and the following gentlemen answered to their names, to wit: Messrs. Baker, Banks, Bogart, Burnell, Chamberlain, Crane, Doll, Gaskill, Harriman, Hathaway, Kimball, Kutz, Lewis, Nixon, Oulton, Pacheco, Perkins, Porter, Powers, Quint, Soule, Shurtleff, Van Dyke, and Vineyard-24. On motion of Mr. Shafter, a committee of three were appointed to wait upon Hon. E. Norton, and invite him to administer the oath of office to the members elect Messrs. Shafter, De Long, and Irwin, were appointed such committee. Hon. Judge Norton came forward and administered the oath of office to the members elect, who severally subscribed to the same. Mr. Parks moved that the Rules of the last Session be adopted, with the exception of Rule Number Ten. Carried. Mr. Denver offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Senate now proceed to the election of permanent officers, in the following order: 1. President pro tem. 2. Secretary. 3. Assistant Secretary. 4. Sergeant-at-Arms. 5. Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms. 7. Journal Clerk. 9. Engrossing Clerk. 10. Two Copying Clerks. Mr. De Long moved to lay the resolution on the table. Carried. On motion of Mr. Rhodes, Mr. C. A. Uhrig was elected temporary Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. Crane offered the following resolution : Resolved, That the Senate now proceed to the election of a President pro tem. Mr. De Long moved to lay the resolution on the table. Carried. At thirty minutes past twelve o'clock, on motion of Mr. Warmcastle, the Senate adjourned until eleven o'clock, A. M., to-morrow. PABLO DE LA GUERRA. Attest: C. W. TOZER, Secretary of Senate. IN SENATE. Tuesday, January 7th, 1862. SENATE CHAMBER, Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Absent-Messrs. Doll, Porter, Thomas and Watt. Mr. Holden, member elect, came forward and took the oath of officeadministered by Hon. Judge Cope. Mr. De Long offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the Senate now proceed to the election of its permanent officers, in the following order: 1. President pro tem. 2. Secretary. 3. Assistant Secretary. 4. Sergeant-at-Arms. 5. Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms. 6. Minute Clerk. 7. Journal Clerk. 8. Enrolling Clerk. 9. Engrossing Clerk. 10. Two Copying Clerks. Adopted. FOR PRESIDENT PRO TEM. Mr. Soule nominated Mr. J. McM. Shafter. Mr. Shafter having received a majority of all the votes cast, was declared duly elected: Who then came forward and made the following remarks: SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT PRO TEM. SENATORS: My election to this, the chief place in your immediate gift, second only to that of the Executive officer, who is the constitutional President of the Senate, especially when made by a vote, the spontaneity and universality of which is unprecedented in this body, I may well regard as a distinguished honor. I am left only the use of that often repeated, but sincerely uttered expression, I thank you, and beg you to accept the assurances of my profound and grateful acknowledg ment. We are here, one of those bodies composing a separate department of the Government. Standing nearest the source of power, it is our duty to collect and represent the enlightened judgment of the people, and to provide for their wants and necessities by the enactment of wise laws. It is the result of all experience that nothing conduces so much to that result as a strict adherence to those settled forms of procedure which have been devised to that end. It has never been my fortune to witness a departure from those forms, upon the pretexts by which such departure is often invoked, without feeling that justice and purity had received a wound, and that another chain was thrown around the limbs of expedition. I invoke your co-operation in the attempt to adhere strictly to these rules. I may not be able to justify your partiality, but of this be assured; superadded to what of ability I may possess, shall be a vigilant, and if need be, laborious attention. The parliamentary history of our country presents, unfortunately, many instances where parliamentary law has been administered with anything but accuracy and justice, where the object of settled rules, as stated by the old Speaker Onslow, has been disappointed, and they have not been "a shelter and protection to the minority against the attempts of power." Permit me to say that from all concurrence on my part with any attempt thus to subvert the law, if any such is supposable, you will be exempt. I cannot consent to confine myself to a mere expression of good intentions as to personal demeanor toward you, but to assure you that you will not observe any exhibitions of fretfulness and impatience, sometimes 3 |