James L. Orr, commissioners of South Carolina, in reference to the existing relations of South Carolina with the United States, addressed by them to the President of the United States on the 1st of January, 1861, and returned by the President to the said commissioners, for the reason that it was of such a character that he declined to receive it, and requested that the same should be read.

The reading of the paper being objected to by Mr. King,

The President (Mr. Fitzpatrick in the chair) decided, that objection being made to the reading of the paper, the question should be determined by a vote of the Senate, under the 14th rule, and without debate. From this decision Mr. Trumbull appealed; and,

On the question, Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judgment of the Senate? Yeas....

It was determined in the affirmative, Nays....

On motion by Mr. Trumbull,

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The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Benjamin, Bragg, Bright, Brown, Clay, Clingman, Davis, Douglas, Fitch, Green, Gwin, Hemphill, Hunter, Iverson, Kennedy, Latham, Mallory, Mason, Nicholson, Pearce, Polk, Powell, Pugh, Rice, Saulsbury, Sebastian, Seward, Slidell, Toombs, Wigfall, Yulee. Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Bigler, Bingham, Chandler, Clark, Dixon, Doolittle, Durkee, Fessenden, Foster, Grimes, Hale, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, Wilkinson, Wilson.

So the decision of the Chair was sustained.

On the question, Shall the paper presented by Mr. Davis be read? Yeas....

It was determined in the affirmative, Nays..

On motion by Mr. King,

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The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Baker, Benjamin, Bigler, Bright, Brown, Cameron, Clay, Clingman, Crittenden, Davis, Dixon, Douglas, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Foster, Green, Gwin, Hale, Hemphill, Iverson, Kennedy, Latham, Mallory, Mason, Polk, Powell, Pugh, Rice, Saulsbury, Sebastian, Seward, Slidell, Toombs, Wigfall, Wilson, Yulee.

Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Bingham, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Doolittle, Durkee, Fessenden, Harlan, King, Ten Eyck, Trumbull, Wade, Wilkinson. The paper was then read by the Secretary; and

After debate,

On motion by Mr. Bigler,

Ordered, That the further consideration of the motion to print the message of the President and the accompanying documents be postponed to to-morrow at one o'clock.

A message from the House of Representatives by Mr. Hayes, chief clerk:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:

H. R. 554. An act to extend the right of appeal from decisions of circuit courts to the Supreme Court of the United States.

H. R. 892. An act making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the government for the year ending June 30, 1862.

The House of Representatives having ordered the printing of certain documents, I am directed to notify the Senate thereof.

The bill (H. R. 554) to extend the right of appeal from decisions of circuit courts to the Supreme Court of the United States was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

The bill (H. R. 892) making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the government for the year ending June 30, 1862, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the joint resolution (S. 54) proposing certain amendments to the Constitution of the United States; and

An amendment being proposed by Mr. Clark,

On motion by Mr. Wilson,

Ordered, That the further consideration of the resolution be postponed to and made the special order of the day for to-morrow, at half past twelve o'clock.

On motion by Mr. Chandler,

Ordered, That the Vice-President be authorized to appoint a member to fill the vacancy in the Committee on Commerce, occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Hamlin; and

Mr. Baker was appointed.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill (S. 230) declaratory of the acts for carrying into effect the ninth article of the treaty between the United States and Spain; and

On motion by Mr. Iverson,

Ordered, That the further consideration of the bill be postponed to and made the special order of the day for Wednesday, the 23d instant, at one o'clock.

On motion by Mr. Bigler, that the Senate reconsider the vote postponing the bill (H. R. 701) to secure contracts, and make provision for the safe, certain, and more speedy transportation, by railroad, of mails, troops, munitions of war, military and naval stores between the Atlantic States and those of the Pacific, and for other purposes, and making it the special order of the day for to-morrow, at one o'clock. It was determined in the affirmative, {Nays... Yeas

On motion by Mr. Iverson,

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The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators pr sent, Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Bigler, Bingham, Cameron, Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Davis, Doolittle, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes,

Gwin, Hale, Harlan, Johnson, of Tennessee, Kennedy, King, Latham, Mallory, Nicholson, Pugh, Rice, Seward, Simmons, Sumner, Ten Eyck, Thomson, Wade, Wilkinson, Wilson.

Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Benjamin, Bragg, Bright, Clay, Clingman, Crittenden, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Green, Hemphill, Iverson, Lane, Mason, Powell, Saulsbury, Slidell, Toombs, Yulee.

So the motion to reconsider was agreed to; and

On the question to agree to the motion to postpone the bill and make it the special order for to-morrow, at one o'clock,

It was determined in the negative; and

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (H. R. 701) last mentioned.

A motion was made by Mr. Wilkinson to refer the bill to a select committee, consisting of five members.

On motion by Mr. Rice, that the bill be postponed indefinitely.
After debate,

On motion by Mr. Rice,

The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1861.

Mr. Seward presented a memorial of citizens of the State of New York, dwelling in the city of New York, praying the adoption of such measures, either of direct legislation or of amendment of the Constitution, as will restore peace to the country.

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

Mr. Sumner presented a memorial of the Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, now in session at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, praying certain amendments of the Constitution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Hale presented the credentials of the Hon. Daniel Clark, elected a senator by the legislature of the State of New Hampshire for the term of six years, commencing on the 4th day of March, 1861; which were read.

Mr. Rice presented the petition of W. C. Jewett, praying that, in view of the present disturbed condition of the country, the further action of Congress upon the Pacific railroad measure may be indefinitely postponed.

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Hayes, chief clerk:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives has passed a bill (H. R. 915) for the relief of Hockaday and Liggit, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate.

Mr. Brown presented the petition of the Rev. Charles J. White, parish priest of St. Matthew's Church, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, praying that authority may be granted to sell certain city lots now held by the ecclesiastical authorities of that church; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia.

Mr. Kennedy presented a petition of twelve thousand citizens of Baltimore, Maryland, praying the adoption of the resolutions introduced into the Senate by Mr. Crittenden on the 18th of December last. Ordered, That it lie on the table.

Mr. Kennedy presented the petition of Mrs. Serena McLane, widow of the late Captain George McLane, United States Army, who was killed in battle by the Indians, praying a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Bigler presented a petition of soldiers of the war of 1812, residing in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, praying that pensions may be granted to all the survivors of that war, and to the widows of those who have died or may hereafter die; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Bigler presented a petition of citizens of Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, praying that pensions may be granted to all the survivors of the war of 1812, and to the widows of those who have died or may hereafter die; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Bigler presented a memorial of citizens of Pennsylvania, praying the passage of a joint resolution providing for the call of a national convention, to be held at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, to take into consideration the present disturbed condition of the country. Ordered, That it lie on the table.

Mr. Bigler presented six petitions of citizens of Philadelphia, praying the passage of the resolutions introduced into the Senate by Mr. Crittenden on the 18th December last.

Ordered, That they lie on the table.

On motion by Mr. Slidell,

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by him the 9th instant, calling for certain information in relation to the appointment of the present acting Secretary of War; and,

After debate,

On the question to agree to the resolution,

Yeas.

It was determined in the affirmative, Nays..

On motion by Mr. Saulsbury,

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The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Baker, Benjamin, Bigler, Bragg, Bright, Clay, Clingman, Collamer, Crittenden, Davis, Dixon, Fessenden, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Foot, Foster, Green, Hemphill, Hunter, Iverson, Johnson, of Tennessee, Kennedy, Lane, Latham, Mallory, Nicholson, Polk, Powell, Pugh, Rice, Sebastian, Slidell, Ten Eyck, Wigfall, Yulee.

Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Anthony, Bingham, Cameron, Chandler, Clark, Doolittle, Grimes, Hale, King, Saulsbury, Seward, Simmons, Sumner, Trumbull, Wade, Wilkinson, Wilson.

So the resolution was agreed to.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the joint resolution (S. 54) proposing certain amendments to the Constitution of the United States; and,

On motion by Mr. Wilson,

Ordered, That the further consideration of the joint resolution be postponed to and made the special order of the day for to-morrow at one o'clock.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Hayes, chief clerk:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives having ordered the printing of certain documents, I am directed to notify the Senate thereof.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion of Mr. Bigler to print the message of the President of the United States, with the accompanying documents, yesterday communicated to the Senate; and, After debate,

On motion by Mr. Mason,

Ordered, That the further consideration of the motion be postponed to and made the special order of the day for Saturday next at one o'clock.

On motion by Mr. Benjamin,

The Senate adjourned.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1861.

The Vice-President laid before the Senate the proceedings of the Common Council of the city of New York, held on the 4th instant, and approved by the mayor of that city on the 5th instant, in relation to the present disturbed condition of the country.

Ordered, That they lie on the table.

Mr. Bigler presented three petitions of citizens of Philadelphia, without distinction of party, praying the passage of the resolutions introduced into the Senate by Mr. Crittenden on the 18th December last.

Ordered, That they lie on the table.

Mr. Bigler presented a petition of Columbia, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, praying the passage of the resolutions introduced into the Senate by Mr. Crittenden on the 18th December last.

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

Mr. Cameron presented eleven petitions of citizens of Philadelphia, praying the passage of the resolutions introduced into the Senate by Mr. Crittenden on the 18th December last.

Ordered, That they lie on the table.

Mr. Davis, from the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia, who were instructed, by a resolution of the Senate of the 11th December last, to inquire and report whether any and to what extent the expenses of that branch of the public service can be reduced, submitted a report, (No. 290;) which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. Bragg, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the petition of James T. V. Thompson, reported a bill (S. 533) for the relief of James T. V. Thompson; which was read and passed to a second reading.