On motion by Mr. Mason, The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Breckinridge, Bright, Clingman, Hunter, Mason, Mitchel, Nicholson, Polk, Powell, Rice. Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Anthony, Bingham, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Cowan, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Harris, Howe, Johnson, King, Lane, Morrill, Nesmith, Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, Wilkinson, Wilson. No further amendment being proposed, On the question to agree to the resolution as modified on the motion of Mr. Clark, It was determined in the affirmative. So the resolution was agreed to. On motion by Mr. Powell, Ordered, That leave be granted to withdraw the petition and papers of J. T. Pickett. On motion by Mr. Foot, Ordered, That leave be granted to withdraw the petition and papers of George Earhart. On motion by Mr. Clark, The Senate adjourned. FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1861. Mr. Kennedy submitted the following motion for consideration: Ordered, That the Secretary of the Senate procure from the publishers, for the library of the Senate, twenty copies of the Annals and Register of Debates of Congress, and pay for the same out of the contingent fund of the Senate, at a price not exceeding that heretofore paid for the same. Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia, to whom was referred the report of the Secretary of War, relating to the reports of Major Steen and Lieutenant Mullan on the movement of troops overland to the northern portion of the department of the Pacific, submitted a motion that the report be printed. The Senate proceeded, by unanimous consent, to consider the motion; and The motion was agreed to. Mr. Mason submitted the following resolution for consideration: Whereas the presence of a military force concentrated and permanently quartered at the seat of government of the United States is a departure from all former usage of the government, and dangerous to the rights and liberties of the people: Therefore, Resolved, That the President be requested to inform the Senate what is the number of troops of the Army of the United States now quartered in this city, the respective arms of service to which they belong, and the purpose for which they were brought here; and that he further inform the Senate when the said troops are to be withdrawn from this city; and if not to be withdrawn, for what purpose they are to be retained here, and whether it is in contemplation of the Executive to increase said force, and to what extent. The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Douglas, the 13th instant, relative to the forts, arsenals, navy-yards, and other public property within the limits of the seceded States; and An amendment being proposed by Mr. Clark, After debate, and the consideration of executive business, SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1861. The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Douglas, the 13th instant, relative to the forts, arsenals, navyyards, and other public property within the limits of the seceded States; and On motion by Mr. Wilson, Ordered, That the further consideration of the resolution be postponed to Monday next. On motion by Mr. Fessenden, that the Senate proceed to the consideration of executive business, 20 27 10 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Bingham, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Cowan, Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Harlan, Harris, Howe, Johnson, King, Lane, Morrill, Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, Wilkinson, Wilson. Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Bright, Clingman, Douglas, Hunter, Mason, Mitchel, Nesmith, Nicholson, Powell, Thomson. So the motion was agreed to; and After the consideration of executive business, MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1861. Mr. Cowan presented the credentials of the Hon. David Wilmot, elected a senator by the legislature of the State of Pennsylvania, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the Hon. Simon Cameron. The credentials were read, and the oath prescribed by law was administered to Mr. Wilmot, and he took his seat in the Senate. The Vice-President laid before the Senate a letter of the governor of the State of Indiana, communicating a copy of a joint resolution passed by the legislature of that State on the 11th instant, requesting Congress to call a convention of the States to take into consideration the propriety of amending the Constitution, so that its meaning may be definitely understood in all sections of the Union; which was read. Ordered, That it lie on the table and be printed. On motion by Mr. Breckinridge, The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Douglas, the 13th instant, relative to the forts, arsenals, navyyards, and other public property, within the limits of the seceded States; and, After debate, and the consideration of executive business, TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 1861. Mr. Hale submitted the following resolutions; which were read and ordered to be printed : Resolved, That William Hickey be, and he hereby is, appointed Acting Secretary of the Senate during the present infirmity of the Secretary; and that said Acting Secretary be, and he is hereby, empowered to do and perform all official acts pertaining to the office of Secretary of the Senate not specifically devolved on the Secretary by law, and under the same responsibilities now devolved on the Secretary, and after giving like official bond; and that he so continue until the further order of the Senate, and that the salary of the said William Hickey be continued the same as it now is. Resolved, That the resolution of the Senate passed the 8th of December, 1855, appointing the said William Hickey chief clerk, and Joseph H. Nicholson in the place made vacant by his appointment, be, and the same is hereby, repealed. On motion by Mr. Grimes, Ordered, That leave be granted to withdraw the papers in relation to the claim of James B. Thomas, the petition of James Harriot, two petitions of H. W. Granger and others, the petition of Ann Mathieson, the petition of J. W. Rea and Ann Mathieson, and the petition of Margaret Ann Marble. The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Douglas, the 13th instant, in relation to the forts, arsenals, navyyards, and other public property, within the limits of the seceded States; and, The amendment proposed by Mr. Clark being under consideration, and a further amendment being proposed by Mr. Simmons, After debate, and the consideration of executive business, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 1861. Mr. Hale submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That the Senate will adjourn without day on Saturday the 23d instant, at one o'clock, p. m. The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Douglas, the 13th instant, in relation to the forts, arsenals, navy yards, and other public property, within the limits of the seceded States; and, After debate, and the consideration of executive business, THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1861. On motion by Mr. Hale, that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the resolution submitted by him, the 19th instant, in relation to the appointment of an Acting Secretary of the Senate, It was determined in the affirmative; and The Senate proceeded to consider the said resolution. On motion by Mr. Bayard, that the resolution lie on the table, Yeas.... It was determined in the negative, {es.... On motion by Mr. Trumbull, 11 26 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Bayard, Breckinridge, Bright, Clingman, Douglas, Johnson, Nesmith, Nicholson, Powell, Rice, Thomson. Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Cowan, Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Hale, Harlan, Harris, Howe, King, Lane, Morrill, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, Wilkinson, Wilmot, Wilson. On motion by Mr. Hale, Ordered, That the further consideration of the resolution be postponed to to-morrow. Mr. Powell submitted the following resolution; which was read: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to pay to the committee clerks of the Senate of the last session of the Thirty-sixth Congress, excepting those of Finance, Claims, and Printing, the usual compensation for sixty days. On motion by Mr. Foster, The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted by Mr. Kennedy, the 15th instant, for the purchase of twenty copies of the Annals of Congress and the Register of Debates for the use of the Senate; and, On motion by Mr. Foster, Ordered, That the motion be referred to the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate. The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Douglas, the 13th instant, in relation to the forts, arsenals, navyyards, and other public property, within the limits of the seceded States; and, Ordered, That the further consideration of the resolution be postponed to to-morrow. After the consideration of executive business, The Senate adjourned. FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 1861. On motion by Mr. Hale, The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by him, the 19th instant, in relation to the appointment of an Acting Secretary of the Senate. On motion by Mr. Bright, that the further consideration of the resolution be postponed to the first Monday in December next, Yeas. It was determined in the negative, Nay...... On motion by Mr. Hale, 12 26 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Bayard, Breckinridge, Bright, Clingman, Douglas, Johnson, Mitchel, Nicholson, Polk, Powell, Rice, Thomson. Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Bingham, Clark, Collamer, Cowan, Dixon, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Hale, Harris, Howe, King, Lane, Morrill, Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, Wilkinson, Wilmot, Wilson. On the question to agree to the resolution, It was determined in the affirmative. So it was Resolved, That William Hickey be, and he hereby is, appointed Acting Secretary of the Senate during the present infirmity of the Secretary; and that said Acting Secretary be, and he is hereby, empowered to do and perform all official acts pertaining to the office of Secretary of the Senate not specifically devolved on the Secretary by law, and under the same responsibilities now devolved on the Secretary, and after giving like official bond; and that he so continue until the further order of the Senate, and that the salary of the said William Hickey be continued the same as it now is. Mr. Hale submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That the Senate will, on Saturday the 23d instant, at two o'clock, p. m., proceed to the election of a Sergeant-at-arms and Doorkeeper and an Assistant Doorkeeper. Mr. Rice submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to communicate to the Senate all reports made since May 2, 1860, by James W. Taylor in reference to the operations of the reciprocity treaty. On motion by Mr. Nicholson, Ordered, That William R. West, alias Mooney, have leave to withdraw his petition and papers. On motion by Mr. Powell, The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution yesterday submitted by him to make an allowance to the clerks of certain standing committees of the Senate at the last session of Congress; and, On the question to agree to the resolution, |