The Portland Gazette

Legislature of Maine.

IN SENATE—Wednesday, Jan. 2, 1822.

Present, the following Senators, notified by the Executive:—

John McDonald, York,
Mark Dennet,
Josiah Peirce, Cumberland.
Geo. Bradbury,
Nathan'l Greene,
Daniel Rose, Lincoln.
Peleg Tallman,
Jonas Wheeler,
Ebenezer Poor, Hancock.
And. Witham,
Jeremiah O'Brien, Washington.
Thomas Bond,
Rufus Burnham, Kennebec.
Abraham Morrell,
Jas. W. Ripley,
Cornelius Holland Oxford.

At half past 10 o'clock, the Board was called to order by Daniel Rose, Esq.—whereupon it was ordered, that Messrs. McDonald, Bradbury and Tallman, be appointed a Committee to wait on Benjamin Ames, Esq. Speaker of the House of Representatives, exercising the office of Governor, and the Council, and inform them that a quorum of the Senate were assembled and ready to be qualified according to the Constitution. They accordingly attended, and administered the customary oaths to the members present. After the Speaker and Council had retired, the Senate proceeded to the choice of a Chairman, and elected Hon. George Bradbury.

Messrs. Tallman, Bond and Ripley, were then appointed a Committee to receive, sort and count the votes for President, who reported the whole number of votes to be 16, of which Daniel Rose, Esq. had 15, and was elected.

The Senate then proceeded to the choice of a Secretary. The first attempt proved abortive—the second ballot resulted in the choice of William B. Sewall, Esq. who received 10 votes.—After the Secretary was qualified, a message was sent to the Council informing them of the organization of the Senate.

The following communication to the President of the Senate, from the Hon. Benj. Ames, was then read:-

Council Chamber, Jan. 2, 1822.

Gentlemen of the Council,

The Senators of the State of Maine for the present political year, having been qualified to enter upon the duties of their place by having taken and subscribed the oaths required by the constitution, and chosen their President.

I have no longer any authority, as I apprehend, to exercise the office of Governor, and therefore resign the same, that it may be filled according to the provisions of the constitution.

BENJ. AMES.

In consequence of the above resignation the President of the Senate was called upon to exercise the office of Governor until the one chosen by the people should be qualified to exercise the functions thereof, and accordingly vacated the chair. Whereupon the Senate proceeded to the choice of a President pro tempore. The committee appointed to receive the votes, reported the whole number of votes to be 15—10 of which were for the Hon. George Bradbury, who was accordingly elected.

The Rules and Orders of last year were adopted until further orders. Messrs. Tallman, Wheeler and Morrill, were appointed a committee to prepare Rules and Orders to be observed by the Senate during its present session.

The committee appointed for that purpose, selected Capt. John Merrill as Messenger for the Senate.

Messrs. Ripley, Bond, Pierce and O'Brien were appointed a committee to receive and examine the returns of votes given in the several towns and plantations in the State for Senators.

The Secretary being authorized to appoint an assistant Secretary, thereupon appointed Mr. Thomas B. Sylvester.

Messrs. Tallman, Burnham, Pierce and Dennett, with such as the House may join, were appointed a committee to receive, sort and count the votes given in by the several towns and plantations in this State for Governor.

Adj. to Thursday, 9 o'clock.

Thursday, Jan. 3.

The report of the Committee appointed yesterday, to examine the votes for Senators was read, accepted and sent down.

A Convention of both Houses, to meet at 3 o'clock, P. M. was proposed and agreed to, for the purpose of filling the vacancies in the Senate.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Portland, Wednesday, Jan. 2. 1822.

This being the day appointed by the Constitution of the State for the meeting of the Legislature, a quorum appeared and took their seats.

The House was called to order by Mr. Ames, of Portland, and the Hon. Lothrop Lewis, of Gorham, unanimously appointed Chairman.

Mr. Williams, of Augusta, Commodore Tucker, of Bristol, Gen. Russel, of North Yarmouth, Mr. Hobbs, of Berwick, and Mr. Burr, of Litchfield, were appointed a Committee to wait on the Hon. Daniel Rose, President of the Senate, exercising the duties of Governor, and inform him that a quorum was assembled and ready to be qualified.

At 12 o'clock the acting Governor and the council, attended by the Sheriff of Cumberland, came in and administered to the members the oaths required by the constitution.

Mr. Virgin, Mr. Clapp, Mr. Riggs, Mr. Jewett and Mr. Hoyt, were appointed a committee to collect, sort and count the votes for a Clerk. The whole number given in, was 190—James L. Child, Esq. of Augusta, had 110 and was declared elected.

Mr. Child signified his acceptance by a short address to the House, and was duly qualified by the Hon. Lothrop Lewis, the member from Gorham.

The Clerk presiding, a Committee was chosen, consisting of Mr. Virgin, Mr. Moody, Mr. Adams, Col. Chase and Mr. Whitney, to receive, sort and count the votes for a Speaker; on doing which, it appeared that the whole number of votes was 138—Judge Ames had 78—Mr. Sprague, 58—scattering 2; and Judge Ames was declared elected.

Commodore Tucker was charged with a message to the Senate, to inform that body that the House is duly organized and ready to proceed on business.

Mr. Sprague was charged with a similar message to the Governor and Council.

Adj. to 3 o'clock, P. M.

Afternoon.—Met according to adjournment.

Mr. McDonald came from the Senate with a message informing of the organization of that body by the election of Daniel Rose, Esq. President, and William B. Sewall, Esq. Secretary, and that they had also elected Hon. George Bradbury, President of the Senate Pro tem, to act while Mr. Rose should exercise the duties of Governor.

Mr. Flint, of New Vineyard, Mr. Starr, of Jay and Mr. Thomas, of Eden, were appointed Monitors.

The Rules and Orders of last year were adopted for the government of the House until others shall be established.

A Committee, consisting of Mr. Lewis, Mr. Nowell, and Mr. Adams, was appointed to report a set of Rules and Orders.

Mr. Williams, of Augusta, Mr. Dunlap, of Brunswick, Mr. Hayes, of South Berwick, Mr. Quinby, of Wiscasset, and Mr. Millikin, of Frankfort, are appointed a Committee on contested elections.

James Means, from Westbrook, appeared, was qualified and took his seat.

The Clerk was authorized to appoint an assistant Clerk.

On motion of Mr. Sprague,

Ordered, That all messages from the Senate to the House of Representatives, and from the House of Representatives to the Senate, be communicated by the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives respectively: and that all papers be transmitted by them or their respective assistants.

Sent up for concurrence.

A Joint Committee, consisting of Messrs. Tallman, Burnham, Pierce and Dennet of the Senate, and Sprague, Emery, Dunlap, Lewis Parsons of the House, were appointed to count the votes given in by the several towns and plantations for Governor.

Messrs. Nowell, Russell, and Murray were appointed a Committee to examine the returns of members, and report a list thereof, with the numbers of their respective seats.

Hezekiah Torrey, of Deer Isle, appeared, was qualified and took his seat.

Adjourned until tomorrow morning at nine o'clock.

Thursday, Jan. 3.

On motion of Mr. Mace,

Ordered, That the several ordained Ministers of Portland be requested to officiate as Chaplains to this House, in turns, according to seniority, and that Mr. Mace, of Lisbon, Mr. Croswell, of Jefferson, and Mr. Cobb, of Durham, be a committee to wait on the several Clergymen, and inform them of this order.

Mr. Lewis, of Gorham, of the committee to report Rules and Orders, reported a code of regulations, which was accepted.

Ordered, That the Clerk procure 300 copies to be printed, for the use of the members.

On motion of Mr. Hammond,

Ordered, That Mr. Hammond, of Eliot, Adams, of Cherryfield, and Riggs, of Georgetown, be a committee to inquire and report what further assistant officers and attendants, if any, be necessary for the House to appoint.

A report came from the Senate, upon the return of votes given in by the several towns and plantations in the State, for Senators—by which it appears there is one vacancy in the county of York, and that Josiah W. Seaver and Alexander Rice are the constitutional candidates;—one in the county of Cumberland, and that Josiah W. Mitchell and William Buxton are the constitutional candidates;—one in the County of Somerset, and that Eleazer Coburn and Wentworth Tuttle are the highest candidates;—one in the county of Penobscot, and that Isaac Case and Simeon Stetson are the highest candidates.

A message came from the Senate proposing a convention of both houses, this afternoon, at 3 o'clock, to fill the vacancies in the Senate. The house concurred and the Clerk is charged with a message to inform the Senate thereof.

At 3 o'clock—Agreeably to appointment the two houses met in convention, and filled the vacancies in the Senate as follows, viz:

In the vacancy in York, the whole number of votes was 146
Necessary to a choice, 74
Josiah W. Seaver, Esq. had 115
Alexander Rice, Esq. 30
Scattering, 1

In the vacancy in Cumberland, the whole number of votes was 147
Necessary to a choice, 74
Wm. Buxton, Esq. had 90.
J. W. Mitchell, Esq. 57

In the vacancy in Somerset, the whole number of votes was 147
Necessary to a choice, 74
Wentworth Tuttle, Esq. had 84
Eleazer Coburn, Esq 60
Scattering, 3

In the vacancy in Penobscot, the whole number of votes was 147
Necessary to a choice, 74
Isaac Case, Esq. had 82
Simeon Stetson, Esq 64
Scattering, 1

And Messrs. Seaver, Buxton, Tuttle and Case, were severally declared to be elected members of the Senate.

A committee consisting of Mr. Hays, of South Berwick, Com. Tucker of Bristol and Mr. Elden of Buxton, was appointed to enquire why the laws published by the authority of the State have not been delivered according to the resolve of March 14. 1820.