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for concurrence, I give the following outline. "A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr., their clerk."

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed the bill entitled an act; and reads the title. The president hands it to the secretary, who gives it its first reading. Sometimes, a bill receives its first and second reading by unanimous consent. Every bill must receive its first and second reading before it can have any other action taken upon it in the Senate. The president, at the time he hands it to the secretary, says, "The first reading of a bill." The clerk usually reads it by the title. If consent has been granted, the clerk rises again to read the bill; when the president says, "The second reading of a bill." The secretary reads the bill again by its title. If consent has not been given to read the bill twice on the same day, it will come up in order for its second reading on the next day After the bill has been read a second time, a motion is generally made to commit it to the appropriate committee.

The committee, at a proper time, report it back, either with or "without amendments," to the Senate; after which it is considered as in committee of the whole, the president not leaving the chair. The bill being read by the secretary, and no amendment being of

fered, the president says, the bill has now been considered as in committee of the whole. No amendment being offered, the bill is reported to the Senate. The question will be on ordering it to a third reading. He then rises, and says, "As many as are in favour of its being ordered to a third reading, will say aye. The contrary opinion will say no." If the ayes have it, he will say, the ayes have it, or it is agreed to. The next day, or, if the Senate unanimously consent, the bill, the same day, receives its last reading. When the clerk rises to read the bill, the president says, "The third reading of an engrossed bill. The bill being read, he asks "shall this bill pass?” He puts the affirmative and negative question in relation to the bill, and, if it is carried, he says, "It is agreed that this bill do pass." The title of the bill is then read; when he generally, in a short way, says, "Shall this be the title of the bill?" and no one objecting, he says, the title is agreed to. It sometimes, however, happens that the bill, when committed, is reported to the Senate with an amendment. I have, therefore, thought it proper to extract a case of that kind from the journal.

Mr. Wright, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 529,) entitled," an act supplementary to the

act entitled, "an act establishing a mint, and regulating the coin of the United States, reported the same with an amendment; which was read, Jany. 9th, 1837.

The Senate proceeded to consider, as in committee of the whole, the foregoing bill, together with the amendment reported thereto; and the said amendment having been agreed to, the Vice President reported the bill to the Senate, and the amendment was concurred in. The presiding officer says, "The bill is still open for amendment." If no amendment is proposed, the president then says, "The question will be on engrossing the bill as amended, and reading it a third time, which was concurred in.

Ordered, That the amendment be engrossed, and the bill be read a third time. Jany. 10.-The amendment to the bill (the foregoing) having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, the bill was read a third time as amended; when, Resolved, That this bill do pass with an amendment. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

Jany. 12, 1837.-A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Franklin,

their clerk.

"Mr. President: The House of Represen

E

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

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