CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE FIRST SESSION OF THE THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS commenced this day, conformably to the constitution of the United States; and the Senate assembled at the city of Washington From the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. The Honorable Millard Fillmore, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate, resumed the chair. Mr. Underwood presented the credentials of the Honorable Henry Clay, chosen a senator by the legislature of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, for six years, from the 4th day of March, 1849; which were read; and the oath prescribed by law was administered to him, and he took his seat in the Senate. Mr. Mangum presented the credentials of the Honorable James Shields, chosen a senator by the legislature of the State of Illinois, for the term of six years, commencing the 4th day of March, 1849; which were read; and the oath prescribed by law was administered to him, and he took his seat in the Senate. On motion by Mr. Sturgeon, Ordered, That the Secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate has assembled, and that the Senate is ready to proceed to business. On motion by Mr. Dodge of Iowa, Resolved, That each senator be supplied, during the present session, with newspapers, as heretofore, not exceeding the cost of four daily Ordered, That the daily hour of meeting of the Senate be 12 o'clock, until otherwise ordered. On motion, The Senate adjourned. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1849. The Honorable William L. Dayton, from the State of New Jersey; the Honorable Thomas J. Rusk, from the State of Texas; the Honorable William K. Sebastian, from the State of Arkansas; and the Honorable Hopkins L. Turney, from the State of Tennessee, attended. Mr. Badger submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That fifty additional copies of the Journal of the Senate be printed for the use of the Senate. -Mr. Cass submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to furnish each member of the Senate, who has not already received them, one copy of the constitution and other books ordered to be furnished to the senators by the resolutions of February 18, 1847. On motion, The Senate adjourned. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1849. The Honorable Solon Borland, from the State of Arkansas, and the Honorable James W. Bradbury, from the State of Maine, and the Honorable Daniel S. Dickinson, from the State of New York, attended. Mr. Mangum submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Vice President be authorized to employ a clerk during the present session; and that such clerk be paid the same rate of compensation as heretofore paid to persons employed in that capacity. On motion, The Senate adjourned. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1849. Mr. Calhoun presented the credentials of the Honorable Jeremiah Clemens, elected a senator by the legislature of the State of Alabama to supply the vacancy occasioned by the decease of the Honorable Dixon H. Lewis; which were read; and the oath prescribed by law was administered to him, and he took his seat in the Senate. On motion by Mr. Greene, Ordered, That William H. Prentiss have leave to withdraw his petition and papers. On motion by Mr. Cass, The Senate adjourned. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1849. On motion by Mr. Rusk, The Senate adjourned. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1849. Mr. Pearce presented the credentials of the Honorable David Stewart, |