Rhode Island Republican

for Nathaniel Macon	51
Joseph B. Varnum	27
John C. Smith	16
John Dawson	10
Andrew Gregg	2

For N. Macon	53
J. B. Varnum	26
J. C. Smith	17
J. Dawson	7
A. Gregg	3

CONGRESSIONAL REGISTER

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1805.

This being the constitutional day for the meeting of Congress, the two Houses convened at the Capitol.

SENATE.

Twenty members took their seats, whereupon the Vice-President of the United States not being present, the Senate proceeded by ballot to the choice of a President pro tempore. The ballots having been taken, it appeared that SAMUEL SMITH of Maryland, having 15 votes, was duly elected.

It was then ordered that Messrs. Sumter and Mitchill be a committee, to join such committee as may be appointed by the House of Representatives, to inform the President of the United States that the two Houses have formed quorums and are ready to receive any communications he may see fit to make.

The usual orders with regard to the supply of members with newspapers and the choice of Chaplains were then adopted.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

At 12 o'clock an enumeration having been made, it appeared that one hundred and four members were on the floor.

The former Clerk (Mr. Beckley) having communicated this circumstance to the members, and that the number of members present formed a constitutional quorum, submitted the question whether they were ready to proceed to business, which being decided in the affirmative, the Clerk observed that the business usually first attended to, was the election of a Speaker, and submitted whether they would then proceed to such election, which being decided in the affirmative, the Clerk named Messrs. Nicholson, Crowninshield and Thomas a committee to count the ballots; which, being given and counted, Mr. Nicholson reported that the whole ballots given were 106, which were given as follows:

Of which ballots no gentleman having a majority, there was no choice.

Whereupon a second ballot took place which issued as follows:

Whole number of ballots--106

A majority not concurring in any one gentleman there was no election.

A third ballot was then taken, as follows:

Whole number of ballots-106.

This result having been reported by. Mr. Nicholson, and it appearing that NATHANIEL MACON had a majority of the ballots given, he was conducted to the chair by Messrs. Nicholson and J. Randolph; from which he made his acknowledgements to the House.

The House proceeded to elect a clerk by ballot, the Speaker having named the same gentlemen tellers as were appointed on the choice of a Speaker.

On counting the ballots, it appeared that of one hundred and three ballots given, John Beckley had 85, and William Lambert 18, and that consequently John Beckley was duly elected Clerk.

Mr. Nicholson having received the qualification of the Speaker, the latter proceeded to qualify the members present in the geographical order of the states, beginning with New-Hampshire. After which the Clerk was qualified, Mr. Otis delivered a message from the Senate representing that they had chosen Samuel Smith of Maryland, president pro tempore; that they had appointed a committee to join a committee of the House to wait on the President of the United States, &c. and that they had agreed to joint resolution for the choice of two chaplains of different denominations to interchange weekly.

Ordered. On motion of Mr. J. Randolph, that a message be sent to the Senate, informing them that the House have made a quorum, and have chosen Nathaniel Macon their Speaker.

On motion of Mr. J. Randolph,

Resolved, That a committee be appointed on the part of this House, to join with the committee appointed on the part of the Senate, to wait on the President of the U. S. and inform him that the two Houses have formed a quorum and are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make.

On motion of Mr. Thomas,

Resolved, That the rules and orders of the late House be considered as those of the present House until altered or revised.

On motion of Mr. Varnum, the House proceeded to ballot for a Sergeant at Arms; Joseph Wheaton, Solomon Meyer and Richard Stuart having been previously nominated.

The ballots having been counted, it appeared that of 103 ballots given, Joseph Wheaton had 87 votes, and was consequently duly elected Sergeant at Arms.

Mr. Dixon moved the following resolution:

Resolved That Thomas Claxton be appointed Door-keeper, and Thomas Dann Assistant Door-keeper, and that they give their attendance accordingly; which resolution was agreed to, nemine contradicente.

Mr. Dawson moved that 300 copies of the rules and regulations of the late House be printed for the use of the members.

or N. Macon	53
J. B. Varnum	23
J. C. Smith	18
J. Dawson	3
A. Gregg	2
Thomas Moore	1
D. Holmes	1

Mr. Leib suggested the propriety, instead of acceding to this motion, of appointing a committee to draw up a set of rules.

The question was taken on the resolution offered by Mr. Dawson, which was disagreed to--Ayes 38--Noes 52.

Mr. Leib moved a resolution for the appointment of a committee to prepare and report standing rules of proceeding to be observed in this House; which was agreed to, and a committee of five appointed.

On motion of Mr. Nicholson,

Resolved, That a committee of Ways and Means be appointed agreeably to the standing rules and orders of the House--Ayes 86.

On motion of Mr. Leib, a Committee of Commerce and Manufactures was appointed.

On motion of Mr. Southard, a Committee of Elections was appointed.

On motion of Mr. Nicholson, a Committee of Claims was appointed.

On motion of Mr. Thomas, a Committee of Revisal and Unfinished Business was appointed.

On motion of Mr. Conrad, a Committee of Accounts was appointed.

On motion of Mr. Newton, it was resolved that the standing hour of meeting be 11 A. M. until otherwise ordered--Ayes 87.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Clerk representing the measures taken by him in execution of the order of the House of Feb. 28, 1805, relative to the supply of Printing and Stationary for the House: by which it appeared that proposals for Printing had been received, from A. and G. Way, Solomon Myer, R. Dinmore: from Bonson and Fulton for paper; and from Edgar Patterson for the Stationary; and that contracts had been made with A. and G. Way for the Printing, and with Edgar Patterson for the Stationary.

Referred to the Committee of Accounts.

On motion of Mr. Thomas, a committee consisting of 17 members was appointed to enquire and report whether any and what alterations are requisite in the acts relative to post offices and post-roads.

On motion of Mr. Newton, resolved that the Clerk cause the members to be furnished with three newspapers; or with newspapers not exceeding in price three daily papers.

Mr. J. Randolph, from the committee appointed on the part of the House, to wait on the President, in conjunction with the committee appointed by the Senate, reported, that the committee had performed that service, and had received for answer that the President would make a communication to the two Houses to-morrow at 12 o'clock by way of Message.