His Excellency the Governor and the honorable Council then withdrew.

The Senate was called to order by Greenleaf Cummings, Clerk of the Senate last year.

The Clerk stated that the first business properly before the Senate would be the selection of a temporary presiding officer. On motion of the Senator from No. 5, Mr. Tufts,

The Honorable Senator from No. 3, Mr. Foster, was chosen President pro tempore of the Senate.

Mr. Foster assumed the chair.

The Senate proceeded to the choice of President, by ballot.

On the first balloting the President pro tem announced the state of the vote to be as follows:

The Senators immediately proceeded to a second ballot.

The President pro tem announced the state of the second

ballot to be as follows, viz.:

Whole number of votes cast,

Necessary for a choice,

Hon. John Burnham,

10

6

1

1

1

7

Herman Foster,

and Hon. Herman Foster, having a majority of all the votes cast, was declared to be elected President of the Senate.

Mr. Foster addressed the Senate as follows:

Senators-I accept the office to which you have elected me, and give you my unfeigned thanks for the honor you have conferred upon me.

We meet under circumstances differing in some important

respects from those which have attended the meeting of the Senate or the Legislature of this State since the establishment of our State or National Government. Events have been transpiring for many months, and are still daily happening, more momentous than have happened in any other period of our history.

A civil war is upon us, commenced by the South against the Union and the Government of our common country, which had been long meditated by some of the principal traitors, and for which there had been much secret preparation before hostilities were openly commenced.

Since that commencement there has been a unanimity of sentiment and purpose, without respect to previous party differences, throughout all the free States, probably more perfect than ever existed in the prosecution of any war in any country, to maintain the general Government of the country at any cost or sacrifice a determination that will prove irresistible, that the Constitution and the laws shall be maintained and enforced throughout all the States of the Union, and that the stars and stripes shall wave in triumph in every State.

We have seen with what alacrity volunteers in our own and every other loyal State have entered the service of our country. It will be the pleasure of all of us, of all the members of the Legislature, to see that ample provision is made for them. These things will impose some new duties upon the present Legislature-duties which will without doubt be performed here with the same promptitude and liberality that they have been in other States.

It seems to be understood that but little legislation is at present required, and expected that the session will be a short one. It is to be hoped that whatever ought to be done will be done as rapidly as can be, and done well.

Senators-I again thank you for the favor with which you have been pleased to distinguish me. I have had very little experience as a presiding officer, but will endeavor to discharge the duties to the utmost of my ability, faithfully and impartially, feeling quite sure that I shall have your friendly forbearance and aid, and that you will kindly excuse the errors I may commit.

On motion of the Senator from No. 1, Mr. Hackett, the
Senate proceeded to the choice of Clerk by ballot.

On the first balloting the President announced the state of the vote to be as follows:

The whole number of votes cast is,

Necessary for a choice,

12

7

2

10

Pierce L. Wiggin has

William A. Preston has

-and WILLIAM A. PRESTON, having a majority of all the votes cast, was accordingly declared elected Clerk.

William A. Preston thereupon appeared, signified his acceptance of the office to which he had been elected, and was duly sworn to the faithful discharge of the duties thereof.

On motion of the Senator from No. 2, Mr. Patten,

The Senate proceeded to the choice of Assistant Clerk, by ballot.

On the first balloting the President announced the state of the vote to be as follows:

The whole number of votes cast is
Necessary for a choice,

Charles Henry Bartlett,

10

6

10

-and CHARLES HENRY BARTLETT, having all the votes cast, was accordingly declared elected Assistant Clerk.

Charles Henry Bartlett thereupon appeared, signified his acceptance of the office to which he had been elected, and was duly sworn to the faithful discharge of his duties as Assistant Clerk of the Senate.

GREENLEAF CUMMINGS, Clerk.

On motion of the Senator from No. 5, Mr. Tufts, the Senate proceeded to the election of door-keeper by ballot, as follows:

Whole number of votes cast,

Chas. H. Roberts had

and was elected.

10

10

On motion of the Senator from No. 4, Mr. Morrill, it was ordered that the rules of the last session serve as the rules of the present session until otherwise ordered.

The following resolution was introduced by the Senator from No. 1, Mr. Hackett:

Resolved, That a message be sent to the House of Representatives that the Senate has assembled and organized, and have

chosen the Hon. Herman Foster as President; William A. Preston Clerk, and Charles H. Bartlett Assistant Clerk; and are ready to proceed in the business of the session. This resolution was adopted.

On motion of the Senator from No. 1, Mr. Hackett, the Senate adjourned.

AFTERNOON.

The following message was received from the House of Rep resentatives, by their Clerk:

Mr. President

The House of Representatives, having assembled, have chosen Hon. Edward H. Rollins Speaker, Edward Sawyer Clerk, and Samuel D. Lord Assistant Clerk, and are now ready to proceed with the business of the session.

They have also adopted, on their part, the joint rules of the two houses of last year, as the joint rules for the present session, until otherwise ordered; in which they ask the concurrence of the honorable Senate.

The House of Representatives have passed a resolution, appointing a committee, with such as the Senate may join, to invite the Rev. Henry E. Parker to deliver an address before both branches of the Legislature, and to report the order of proceedure in the public performances; which committee consists, on the part of the House, of Messrs. Abbott of Concord, Clark of Auburn, Folsom of Dover, Taylor of Sanbornton, Merrill of Tamworth, Lovering of Deering, Powers of Jaffrey, Parker of Goshen, Emerson of Piermont, and Plaisted of Jefferson.

The Senate concurred with the House in the adoption of the joint rules of last session for the government of the Legislature for the present session, until otherwise ordered; and also concurred in the appointment of a joint special committee, to invite Rev. Henry E. Parker to deliver an address, and to make arrangements therefor, and Messrs. Morrill, of No. 4, and Burns, of No. 12, were joined on the part of the Senate. Mr.

Burns, at his own request, was excused by the Senate from serving on said committee, and Mr. Chase, from No. 7, was substituted in his place.

The following further message was received from the House of Representatives, by their Clerk:

Mr. President

Messrs. Blood of Hillsborough, Dearborn of Deerfield, Wentworth of Rochester, Woodman of Gilmanton, Beacham of Ossipee, Freeze of Pittsfield, Capron of Swanzey, Abbott of Charlestown, Shattuck of Landaff, and Gordon of Whitefield, are appointed a committee on the part of the House, with such as the honorable Senate may join, to wait upon his Excellency the Governor, and inform him that a quorum of both branches of the Legislature have assembled, are organized, and are ready to receive any communication he may be pleased to make, in all of which they ask the concurrence of the honorable Senate.

The Senate concurred with the House in the appointment of said committee, and Messrs. Patten and Burnham were joined on the part of the Senate.

The Senator from No. 12, Mr. Burns, introduced the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be requested to lay before the Senate the returns of the votes given for Senators in the several senatorial districts in this State, in March last.

This resolution was adopted, and the returns having been furnished by the Secretary of State, were laid on the table, on motion of Mr. Burns, the Senator from No. 12.

The following message was received from the House of Representatives:

Mr. President

The House of Representatives have passed a resolution appointing a committee, with such as the Senate may join, to prepare and report joint rules for the government of the two Houses the present session: Messrs. Wheeler of Newport, Goodall of Portsmouth, constitute such committee on the part of the House; in which they ask the concurrence of the Senate.