The Portland Gazette

The two branches of the Legislature, it will be perceived, were organized on Wednesday. In the Senate the greatest unanimity prevailed in the choice of a President; there were several candidates for the secretaryship, but on the second trial Mr. Sewall, had a large plurality. After Mr. Ames in the character of officiating Governor, had qualified the Senate, he addressed to them a few remarks explanatory of the course he deemed proper to pursue, in present circumstances: he said that by his construction of the constitution, his office of Speaker of the late house of representatives expired on the commencement of Wednesday, and consequently that all the duties which devolved on him as speaker ended with it; he now discharged the duties of Governor, not by any clause of the constitution, but by the necessity of the case, which necessity would terminate on the election of a President of the Senate. He said he should therefore retire to the Council Chamber and wait until he was notified of the election of a President of the Senate, and should then take his seat in the House, of which he was a member, and leave the President of the Senate to perform the remaining duties of Governor until one should be declared chosen by the people.

The course thus marked out was pursued, and the Representatives were qualified by Mr. Rose. Notwithstanding considerable excitement existed relative to the Speaker, the choice was effected at the first trial; the Clerk was elected by nearly an unanimous vote; the particulars will be found under their appropriate head.

The members of both branches were very punctual in their attendance, in the Senate every member chosen was present and in the House there were but few absent, as will be seen by the result of votes for Speaker. The vacancies in the Senate were filled by convention of both houses yesterday afternoon. Mr. Seaver was chosen in York, Mr. Buxton in Cumberland, Mr. Turtle, in Somerset and Mr. Case in Penobscot.

The Committee appointed to count the votes for Governor, have not yet reported; they will probably be ready this morning, and we may expect the speech tomorrow.