COLUMBIA, S. C., December 15, 1876.

To the Honorable the Senators of South Carolina:

I have the honor of informing the Senators that yesterday, 14th December, instant, the election returns for Governor and Lieutenant Governor were opened and published by the honorable W. H. Wallace, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in the presence of the members of the House and Senators; that Wade Hampton having received a majority of the votes cast for Governor, and W. D. Simpson having received a majority of the votes cast for Lieutenant Governor, were declared duly elected to these offices respectively. That thereupon His Excellency Wade Hampton was inaugurated as Governor, and the oath of office was administered to him; and I was inaugurated as Lieutenant Governorthen and there taking the oath prescribed in the Constitution. Under the provisions of the Constitution I am ex officio President of the Senate, and am entitled to the privilege of presiding over that body when present. The law-making power of the State is, by virtue of the Constitution, vested in the General Assembly, to be composed of the Senate and a House of Representatives, organized according to its provisions.

The two Houses together compose the General Assembly, and each is an integral part thereof.

The Supreme Court of this State, the Court of last resort, has decided that the body over which the Hon. W. H. Wallace presides as Speaker is the constitutional House of Representatives, and consequenly it must be a portion of the General Assembly. Such being the case, I respectfully submit that it is the duty of the Senators composing the Senate to unite with the House, and thus organize the General Assembly. Should this union take place and the Senate thus form a part of the General Assembly, the legislative power of the State will be in full action.

I respectfully announce to you that, as Lieutenant Governor, I am present in the city of Columbia, and am prepared to discharge the duties of your presiding officer, which devolve upon me under the provisions of the Constitution, and I hereby claim the right of taking my seat as President of the Senate.

With great respect, your obedient servant,

W. D. SIMPSON,

Lieutenant Governer and ex officio President of Senate.

Ou motion of Mr. SWAILS, the communication was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to report as early as practicable.

On motion of Mr. MAXWELL, at 12:50 P. M., the Senate adjourned.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1876.

The Senate assembled at 12 M., and was called to order by Hon. S. A. SWAILS, President pro tem.

The roll was called, and, a quorum answering to their names, the PRESIDENT announced the Senate ready to proceed to business. Prayer by Rev. C. W. Mossell.

On motion of Mr. B. H. WILLIAMS, the reading of the Journal of yesterday was dispensed with.

Mr. WALKER asked and obtained leave of absence, with the announcement that he had paired with the Senator from Marion. Mr. HOWARD sent to the desk the following communication:

SENATE CHAMBER,

COLUMBIA, S. C., December 16, 1876.

Honorable S. A. SWAILS, President pro. tem. of the Senate:

SIR-I had intended visiting my home to-day, and for that purpose "paired" with the Senator from Chester, who is now absent from his

seat.

I request that this communication be spread on the Journal, as my reason for not voting in the Senate.

R. G. HOWARD,

Senator from Marion.

PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House sent to the Senate the following resolution :

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That the Governor be requested to communicate to the General Assembly a statement of the circumstances under which a commission as Circuit Judge was issued to T. H. Cooke in December, 1875.

Ordered for consideration on Monday next.

The House also sent to the Senate:

Bill (House) to regulate the appointment and salary of Trial Justices in the County of Barnwell;

Bill (House) to make appropriations to meet the ordinary expenses of the State government for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1876. The above Bills received their first reading, were ordered for a second reading and consideration on Monday next, and to be printed.

The Sergeant-at-Arms announced

MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR.

Messages Nos. 9 and 10, from His Excellency the Governor, were presented to the Senate by Mr. Charles J. Babbitt, Private Secretary.

The PRESIDENT announced that the Messages related to Executive business.

PETITIONS, &c.

Mr. CLINTON presented sundry contingent accounts of the Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate; which were referred to the Committee on Contingent Accounts and Expenses of the Senate.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

Mr. GAILLARD, from the Committee on Engrossed Bills, reported as duly and correctly engrossed, and ready for a third reading:

Bill to amend Section 37, Chapter XVI, Part I of Title V of the General Statutes of South Carolina, relative to examination of County offices;

Bill to establish and charter Yauhanna Ferry, in Georgetown County; Joint Resolution to authorize and require the Comptroller General to return to Henry C. Corwin a certain legislative pay certificate;

Joint Resolution to amend a Joint Resolution requiring past due claims in Newberry County to be registered;

Bill relative to the annual examination of the bonds of the various County officers.

Ordered for consideration on Monday next.

NOTICES OF BILLS.

Mr. TAFT gave notice that he will on Monday next, or some subsequent day, ask leave to introduce

Bill to amend an Act entitled "An Act to reduce all Acts and parts of Acts providing for the assessment and taxation of property into one Act, and to amend the same."

BILLS INTRODUCED.

Mr. COCHRAN asked and obtained the unanimous consent of the Senate to introduce, without previous notice,

Bill to authorize County Commissioners to submit to the qualified electors of their several Counties a proposition to alter the fence laws, and to provide for effectuating the same.

The Bill received its first reading, was ordered for a second reading and consideration on Monday next, and to be printed.

Mr. WHITTEMORE asked and obtained the unanimous consent of the Senate to introduce, without previous notice;

Bill relative to stenography and public printing;

Bill to amend an Act entitled "An Act to fix the salaries of certain public officers;"

Bill to prevent and punish any person or persons for setting up, or attempting to set up, or maintaining a government of the State in opposition to the legitimate and lawful government of the State.

The above Bills received their first reading, were ordered for a second reading and consideration to-morrow, and to be printed.

Mr. CORWIN asked and obtained the unanimous consent of the Senate to introduce, without previous notice,

Bill to ascertain the indebtedness of the County of Newberry, and to regulate the payment thereof.

The Bill received its first reading, was ordered for a second reading and consideration to-morrow, and to be printed.

RESOLUTIONS.

Mr. TAFT introduced the following resolution:

Resolved That a Committee of be appointed to cancel, by cutting the same, all bills of the Bank of the State now in the State Treasury. On motion of Mr. TAFT, the Rule was suspended, and the resolution. considered immediately.

On motion of Mr. WHITTEMORE, the resolution was amended by the addition of the words "and the said Committee shall report to the Senate the number and amount of said bills so cancelled."

On motion of Mr. TAFT the resolution was further amended by filling the blank with the word "five."

The question was then taken on agreeing to the resolution as amended, and decided in the affirmative.

Messrs. Taft, Cannon, Duncan, Johnston, Maxwell, were appointed said Committee.

Mr. B. H. WILLIAMS introduced the following resolution:

Whereas the Senate, at its present session, is without a Chaplain to perform the usual devotional service; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Rev. C. W. Mossell be elected Chaplain of the Senate during its present session.

Mr. B. H. WILLIAMS moved that the Rule be suspended, and the resolution considered immediately.

Objection being made, the resolution was ordered for consideratiɔn on Monday next.

GENERAL ORDERS.

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the General Orders on the Calendar, to wit:

Joint Resolution (by Mr. Corwin) to amend a Joint Resolution requiring past due school claims in Newberry County to be registered;

Joint Resolution (by Mr. Corwin) to authorize and require the Comptroller General to return to Henry C. Corwin a certain legislative pay certificate.

The above Resolutions received their second reading, and were considered as in Committee of the Whole.

There being no amendments,

Ordered, That they be engrossed for a third reading.

Bill (House) to make appropriation for the payment of the salary and mileage of the members of the General Assembly, and the salaries of the subordinate officers and employees, and the expenses incidental thereto.

The Bill was read by its title, and referred to the Committee on Fi

nance.

Joint Resolution (House) relative to the election of Circuit Judges. The resolution was read by its title, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

EXECUTIVE SESSION.

On motion of Mr. DUNCAN, at 12:30 P. M., the Senate went into Executive Session.

After the disposal of Executive business, the Senate returned to open session.

On motion of Mr. JETER, at 12:50 P. M., the Senate adjourned.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1876.

The Senate assembled at 12 M., and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.

The roll was called, and, a quorum answering to their names, the PRESIDENT announced the Senate ready to proceed to business. Prayer by Rev. C. W. Mossell.

On motion of Mr. DUNCAN, the reading of the Journal of Saturday was dispensed with.