Alexandria Gazette & Advertiser

Congress of the United States.

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS, 2d SESSION:

MONDAY, DEC. 2, 1822.

SENATE.

At 12 o'clock the president of the senate, pro tempore, Mr. Gaillard, took the chair of the senate. A quorum of the members being present.

On motion of Mr. Barbour, a committee was appointed to join the committee of the house of representatives, to inform him that the two houses were ready to wait on the president of the United States, and in form him that the two houses were in session, and ready to receive any communication which he might have to make to them; and Mr. King, of New York, and Mr. Macon, were appointed; and the senate adjourned.

At 12 o'clock precisely, the speaker (Mr. P. P. Barbour, of Virginia,) took the chair, and Mr. Samuel Burch, principal clerk in the office of clerk of the house of representatives, called over the roll of members, when it appeared that a quorum of the members were present.

On motion of Mr. Taylor, of New York, a message was ordered to be sent to the senate, informing that body that a quorum of this house was formed, and was ready to proceed to business.

On motion of Mr. Taylor, also, it was ordered, that a committee be appointed to act jointly with such committee as may be appointed by the senate, to wait on the president of the United States, and inform him that the two houses were in session, and ready to receive any communication which he might have to make to them.

After receiving a message from the senate, by their secretary, that they had formed a quorum—

On motion of Mr. Taylor, it was ordered, that the house do now proceed to the election of a clerk, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Thomas Dougherty, esquire, late clerk of this house.

This being an office to which persons other than members of the house may be elected, nominations of candidates are, by the rules of the house, required previous to election; and seven persons were nominated as candidates for the office.

The balloting took place.

Mr. Hill, from the committee of tellers, reported, that the whole number of votes given in was 154, of which William Milnor received 14, Samuel Burch 10, Levi H. Clarke 19, B. S. Chambers 17, S. D. Franks 15, Tobias Watkins 12, Robert Temple 13, Edward W. Duval 5, S. A. Foot 9, James H. Pleasants 13, Mr. Briggs 5, J. S. Williams 4, M. St. C. Clarke 9, and of the other votes not more than three were given to any candidate.

Mr. Taylor, from the committee appointed to wait on the president of the United States, reported that the committee had performed that duty, and had received for answer that the president would, to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, make a communication to the house in writing.

Another balloting then took place for clerk, the result of which was as follows: Whole number of votes 149; for Mr. Temple 15, Mr. Foot 9, Mr. L. H. Clarke 29, Mr. Milnor 12, Mr. Franks 13, Mr. M. St. Clair Clark 12, Mr. Burch 6, Mr. Watkins 10, Mr. Chambers 20, Mr. Goldsborough 4, Mr. Pleasants 13, no other person voted for having more than three of the remaining votes.

A third balloting then took place, which resulted as follows, viz: Whole number 149: for Mr. Temple 23, Mr. Foot 8, Mr. L. H. Clarke 24, Mr. Milnor 9, Mr. Franks 13, Mr. M. St. Clair Clark 14, Mr. Watkins 12, Mr. Chambers 20, Mr. Pleasants 15, no one other person voted for having received more than four votes.

A fourth balloting then took place, in which Mr. Temple received 28 votes, Mr. Foot 6, Mr. L. H. Clarke 26, Mr. Milnor 7, Mr. Franks 8, Mr. St. C. Clark 17, Mr. Goldsborough 7, Mr. Watkins 6, Mr. Chambers 25, Mr. Pleasants 17.

A fifth balloting took place, which gave to Mr. Temple 46 votes, Mr. L. H. Clarke 21, Mr. Franks 10, Mr. M. St. C. Clark 21, Mr. Chambers 28, Mr. Pleasants 8, and there were 9 scattering votes.

The sixth ballot gave to Mr. Temple 54, Mr. L. H. Clarke 12, Mr. Chambers 29, Mr. M. St. C. Clark 24, Mr. Pleasants 17, Mr. Franks 9, and 3 scattering votes.

The House then adjourned, without having made an election of Clerk.