T255 JOURNAL OF THE SENATE FOR 1839-40. General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, begun and held in the City of Nashville, on Monday, the seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-nine,-being the first session of the twenty-third General Assembly of said State: On which day (being that appointed by the Constitution) the following named Senators appeared, produced their credentials and took, their seats;-the several oaths required by the Constitution being administered by WM. H. HUNT, Esquire, an acting Justice of the Peace for the county of Davidson--to wit: From the District composed of the Counties of 4261 Cocke, Jefferson, Blount and Sevier, Grainger, Claiborne, Campbell, Anderson and Roane and Knox, Monroe and M'Minn, Rhea, Bledsoe, Marion and Hamilton, Lincoln and Giles, Smith and Sumner, - Bedford, Maury, Rutherford, Davidson, Wilson, Williamson, Lawrence, Wayne and Hickman, Dickson, Stewart and Humphries, Robertson and Montgomery, Henderson, Perry, M'Nairy and Hardin, Henry, Weakley and Obion, Carroll, Gibson and Dyer, Madison, Haywood and Tipton, Hardeman, Fayette and Shelby, John A. Aiken. John E. Wheeler. Scott Terry. George W. Jones. Timothy Walton.. Williamson Smith. Thomas Love. John B. Ashe. Levin II. Coe. Mr. Frey being called to the Chair, the Senate proceeded (viva voce) to the election of Speaker-Thomas Love and H. H. Brown being in nomination. Those who voted for Mr. Love were Messrs. Aiken, Balch, Coe, Gillespy, Hardwicke, Jones of Hickman, Jones of Lincoln, Laughlin, Smith, Turney, Wheeler, Warner and Yoakum-13. Those who voted for Mr. Brown, were Messrs. Anderson, Ashe, Frey, Gaines, Jennings, Marshall, Reneau, Sevier, Terry and Walton-10. Whereupon the Chairman declared Thomas Love duly and constitutionally elected Speaker, who thereupon made his acknowledgments in the following words, to wit; Gentlemen of the Senate Since you have selected me to preside over the deliberations of your honorable body, permit me to say, that the honor which you have conferred upon me will be ever and always acknowledged and remem bered by me with feelings of gratitude. I am not insensible of the weighty responsibilities that the high office imposes, and I have seen enough of Legislation to know something of the arduous duties that attach to it. Therefore, I feel sensible of my own inability to discharge the duties of this office, unless I am at all times, and under all circumstances, sustained by the friendly aid and cheerful co-operation of Senators. Gentlemen: It will be my constant aim to be faithful and impartial in the line of my official duty, and with a firm reliance on your indulgence, I take the chair. The Senate then proceeded in like manner to the election of principal Clerk-William K. Hill being in nomination, and there being no opposition, was unanimously elected. Whereupon the several oaths prescribed by the Constitution were administered by Wm. H. Hunt, Esq. The Senate next proceeded in the same manner to the election of an assistant Clerk, and, there being no opposition, Wm. Martin was elected without a dissenting voice, who thereupon took his seat at the Clerk's table, when the several requisite oaths were administered by Wm. II, Hunt, Esq. The Senate next proceeded to the election of a Doorkeeper-Randolph D. Casey and Daniel Williams being in nomination. Those who voted for Mr. Casey were Messrs. Love, Aiken, Balch, Coe, Gillespy, Hardwicke, Jones of Hickman, Jones of Lincoln, Laughlin, Smith, Turney, Wheeler, Warner and Yoakum-14. Those who voted for Mr. Williams were Messrs. Anderson, Ash&, Brown, Frey, Gaines, Jennings, Marshall, Reneau, Sevier, Terry and Walton-11. Whereupon, the Speaker declared Randolph D. Casey duly elected, who was thereupon required to give his attendance accordingly. On motion of Mr. Hardwicke, Ordered, that the Clerk acquaint the House of Representatives, by message in writing, that a quorum of the Senate had assembled, were organized, and ready to proceed to the dispatch of public business. Mr. Brown submitted the following: Resolved, That the rules for the governinent of the Senate at the last session be adopted for the government of the present Senate, until otherwise altered or new ones adopted. And the sense of the Senate being thereon had, the said resolution was adopted. And thereupou the Senate adjourned. TUESDAY MORNING, Oct. 8, 1839. On motion of Mr. Marshall, the Rev. R. B. C. Howell was invited within the bar of the Senate, who thereupon, by request offered prayer to the throne of grace. Mr. Terry submitted the following resolution: Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate, under the direction of the Speaker, contract for stationery for the use of the Senate during the present session. And the rule requiring resolutions to lie one day on the table being suspended on motion of Mr. Terry, the said resolution was adopted. Mr. Warner moved a reconsideration, which motion prevailing, the said resolution was, on his motion, ordered to the table. On motion of Mr. Hardwicke, Ordered, that Editors of newspapers and other reporters be permitted to take seats within the bar of the Senate. Mr. Marshall introduced A Bill to amend the law of descents and distributions; and A Bill providing the mode in which the laws of other States of this Union shall be received as evidence in this State. Mr. Turney introduced A Bill to remove the Branch of the Bank of the State of Tennessee from Clarksville, in the county of Montgomery, to the town of Sparta, in White county, "All of which were severally read a first time and passed. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Crockett, their Clerk: Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the Senate that a quorum of the House of Representatives did assemble on yesterday, in obedience to the Constitution of the State. They have elected Joias E. Thomas, the Representative from the county of Maury, their Speaker, Granville S. Crockett their Principal, and Lycurgus Winchester and George W. Allen their Assistant Clerks, and David I. Carr Principal, and, Pleasant M. Hornbeck Assistant Doorkeepers, and are now ready to proceed to public business. And then he withdrew. The following communication was read from Luke Lea, Esq. Secretary of State: |