ment of obligation and gratitude, which I feel ill able to express. To be chosen to preside over the deliberations of the popular branch of the Legislative Assembly of Wisconsin, is a distinction which any one might aspire to with pride. The duties, at all times, difficult and arduous, are rendered doubly so now, from the unexampled impediments which meet us at the threshhold of our proceedings, by the extraordinary course of the Executive and I shall despair of acquitting myself either to the satisfaction of the House or myself, but for the generous and indulgent support which I feel assured will be extended by every gentleman on this floor. Whatever may have been thought in the ballotings, I can see no cause for the excitement of party spirit, and pledge myself as Speaker, to recognize neither one party nor the other.

I tender respectfully, to the House and every individual mem ber of it, my sincere thanks for this expression of their confidence; and humbly trust that I may so demean myself in this most responsible part, as not to forfeit their good esteem.

On motion of Mr. Parsons,

The House proceeded to the election of Chief Clerk.

And the votes having been taken and counted, Messrs. Ham. ilton and Masters, the tellers appointed for the purpose reported that twenty votes had been given for Clerk, and that Mr. Palmer had declined voting.

A motion was then made by Mr. Elmore that Mr. Palmer be excused from voting.

And the question being put,

It was decided in the negative.

And thereupon Mr. Palmer deposited his vote for Chief Clerk. The tellers then reported that twenty-one votes had been giv. en for the said office, and that John Catlin had received twentyone, being the whole number.

The Speaker declared that John Catlin had been unanimously elected Chief Clerk.

Mr. Hunkins moved that the House do now proceed to the

election of Sergeant-at-Arms.

Which was agreed to.

Mr. Platt moved a call of the House, which was made, and

Mr. Hamilton reported to be absent.

Mr. Hamilton having appeared, further proceedings in the call of the House were dispensed with.

The votes were then taken and counted, when Messrs. Dar. ling and Masters, the tellers appointed for the purpose, reported that twenty-one votes had been given, of which William S. Anderson had received eighteen; Mr. Hotchkiss one; and blank

two.

And thereupon the Speaker declared that William S. Anderson, having received a majority of all the votes given, had been duly elected Sergeant.at-Arms.

On motion of Mr. Meeker,

The House proceeded to the election of Assistant Clerk. Mr. Hamilton nominated Charles S. Stevenson for the said office.

"Mr. Darling nominated John F. Meade for the same office. The votes were then taken and counted, and the tellers re ported that John F. Meade had received fourteen votes, Charles S. Stevenson six, and John S. Stevens one, and that there had been twenty-one votes given.

John F. Meade having received a majority of all the votes was declared to be duly elected Assistant Clerk.

Mr. Walker moved that the House do now proceed to elect a Messenger and Fireman, and that they be elected on one ballot. Which was disagreed to.

A message from the Council by their Secretary.

"Mr. Speaker-I am directed to inform the House of Re. presentatives that the Hon. Moses M. Strong of Iowa county has been duly elected President of the Council."

On motion of Mr. Walker,

The House proceeded to elect a messenger.

Mr. Hamilton nominated Wadsworth Hayden for said office. Mr. Walker nominated John Belanger for the said office. And the votes having been canvassed by the tellers appoint. ed for that purpose, the following was reported to be the result: John Belanger received eleven votes.

Wadsworth Hayden received eight votes,

And blank received two.

John Belanger having received a majority of all the votes given, was declared to be duly elected Messenger.

On motion of Mr. Darling,

The House proceeded to elect a fireman.

Mr. Tripp nominated Leander Birge for said office.

Mr. Parsons nominated Jerome Chubbuck for the same office. The tellers having canvassed the votes, reported that there had been twenty-one votes given for the said office; of which Jerome Chubbuck had received eight; Leander Birge twelve; and blank one.

Leander Birge having received a majority of all the votes given, was declared to be duly elected.

On motion of Mr. Manahan,

The House adjourned until six o'clock, P. M.

SIX O'CLOCK, P. M.

On motion of Mr. Hamilton,

The House adjourned until to-morrow, at ten o'clock. A. M.

Thursday, December 8, 1842.

The Journal of yesterday was read.

On motion of Mr. Walker,

Ordered, that the Sergeant-at-Arms and Messenger pro tem. be retained in office until the Sergeant-at-Arms and Messenger eleet appear and are qualified.

On motion of Mr. Olin,

It was ordered that the officers elected on yesterday, who are now present be sworn;

And thereupon John F. Meade, Assistant Clerk, and Leander Birge, Fireman, were sworn by the Speaker for the faithful discharge of their respective duties in office.

On motion of Mr. Walker,

The Sergeant-at-Arms and Messenger pro tem. were several. ly sworn by the Speaker.

Mr. Darling from the Joint Committee, to which the subject had been referred made the following report, to wit:

The joint committee of the Council and of the House of Representatives to which was referred the following joint resolu

tion:

66

Resolved, by the Council and House of Representatives, That the report of the joint committee appointed to wait upon His Excellency the Governor, and inform him that the two houses were organized pro tempore, and ready to receive any commu. nication he might have to make to them, be referred to a joint committee, consisting of three members of each house to report whether there is any valid objection to the Legislative Assembly's holding its annual session at this time; whether it is ex. pedient to adjourn the session of said Legislative Assembly to some other day; whether the Legislative Assembly ought to

take any, and if any, what action expressive of their views relative to the course pursued by the Executive, as exhibited in said report; and generally to report as they may think the circumstances of the case may require, in relation to the said report of the said joint committee." Respectfully

REPORT:

That the report of the joint committee referred to them is as follows.

"That the committee had discharged the duty assigned them, and that the Governor informed the committee, that, "not con. ceiving that the Legislative Assembly had authority by law to meet at the present time, HE HAD NO COMMUNICA TION TO MAKE TO THEM."

Under the above resolution, your committee are required to report,

1st. Whether there is any valid objection to the Legislative Assembly holding its session at this time.

2nd. Whether it is expedient to adjourn the session of said Legislature to some future day.

3rd. Whether the Legislative Assembly ought to take any, and if any, what action expressive of their views relative to the course pursued by the Executive as exhibited in said report: and

4th. Generally to report as they may think the circumstances of the case may require, in relation to the report of said joint committee.

Your committee in the examination of the several subjects, which have been referred to them, have deemed it their duty from the great importance of those subjects, to give them a pa. tient and dispassionate investigation, in the course of which the laws of Congress, and of the Territory, connected with the main question before them, have been attentively referred to and considered.